West Virginia Trade Schools

West Virginia’s trade schools offer a clear path to in-demand careers, providing practical, hands-on training for individuals ready to enter the workforce quickly. Whether you’re looking to launch a career in healthcare, master a skilled trade, or dive into technology, WV’s vocational institutions offer diverse programs, flexible learning, and strong career support.

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List of Best Trade Schools in West Virginia

Ben Franklin Career Center

Ben Franklin Career Center is a public Kanawha County Schools career center in West Virginia. Most of its programs are for high-school students; adults with a diploma or GED can enroll in six: practical nursing, phlebotomy, commercial driving, welding, electrical and HVAC. Each adult program has one flat price, from $1,505 to $8,062 in 2024-25 with books. Pell grants are accepted, but there are no federal student loans.

  • 500 28th Street Dunbar, WV 25064
  • Healthcare and Nursing, Skilled Trades, Trucking and Transportation, Welding, Electrical, HVAC and Building Services, Phlebotomy Technician

Carver Career Center

Carver Career and Technical Education Center is a public Kanawha County Schools career center in West Virginia. Most of its programs are for high-school students, but adults who pass an entrance exam can enroll in ten, from cosmetology and barbering to electrical, surgical technology and a veterinary technology degree awarded by BridgeValley. Adults pay a flat price per program; for the six with 2024-25 federal IPEDS figures, tuition and fees ran $3,912 to $10,080.

  • 4799 Midland Drive Charleston, WV 25306
  • Healthcare and Nursing, Skilled Trades, Professional Services, Cosmetology and Barbering, Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management, Electrical, Massage Therapy, Veterinary Services

Fayette Institute of Technology

Fayette Institute of Technology is Fayette County Schools' public career center in West Virginia. Alongside its high-school programs it runs its own adult division: a 1,300-hour daytime Practical Nursing program on the state LPN Board's accredited list, a 1,080-hour evening Electrical Technology program whose graduates can qualify to sit for the state journeyman exam, a ten-month Adult HVAC course and high-school equivalency prep. It offers Pell grants but no federal loans.

  • 300 West Oyler Avenue Oak Hill, WV 25901
  • Healthcare and Nursing, Skilled Trades, Electrical, HVAC and Building Services

James Rumsey Technical Institute

James Rumsey Technical Institute is a public career-technical center whose programs are mostly for high school students from Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. Adults can enroll in four programs with 2026-27 start dates: Automotive Technician, CDL Class A and B, Electrical Technician and HVAC Technician, all taught in person; Automotive, Electrical and HVAC lead to a JRTI certificate. Published program prices run from $3,970.25 to $6,944.

  • 3274 Hedgesville Rd Martinsburg, WV 25403
  • Automotive, Electrical, HVAC and Building Services, Skilled Trades, Trucking and Transportation

Laurel Technical Institute

West Virginia's Laurel campus is Laurel College of Technology in Morgantown, the only Laurel campus that teaches registered nursing: a 20-month ACEN-accredited associate degree, a 16-month LPN/Paramedic-to-ADN bridge (also offered hybrid) and an ADN-plus-BSN pathway announced in 2026. It also teaches cardiovascular technology, electrical, a 20-month HVAC degree, 1,800-hour cosmetology, esthetics, hair styling and nails, but no practical nursing. The ADN totals $43,078 (Fall 2026).

  • 200 Wedgewood Drive Morgantown, WV 26505
  • Healthcare and Nursing, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, Public Safety, Skilled Trades, Electrical, HVAC and Building Services, Welding, Computer and Information Technology, Business, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management

Putnam Career & Technical Center

Putnam Career & Technical Center is a public Putnam County Schools career center that mainly teaches high-school students. Its adult division offers three certificates: Practical Nursing, on the West Virginia LPN Board's accredited list; Medical Assisting, 675 clock hours on site or by distance learning; and Heavy Equipment Operator. The center is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and takes federal Pell grants.

  • 300 Roosevelt Blvd. Eleanor, WV 25070
  • Healthcare and Nursing, Medical Assisting

Ross Medical Education Center

Ross has two West Virginia campuses: Ross Medical Education Center in Charleston and Ross College in Morgantown, which now uses an Earl L. Core Road address. Both teach medical assisting and dental assisting, diplomas of 30 to 36 weeks that end in a six-week externship, and dental students prepare for DANB's infection control and radiation safety exams. Ross listed 2023–24 tuition of $15,990 for either program. ABHES accredited; federal aid accepted.

  • 5707 MacCorkle Ave SE, Ste 20 Charleston, WV 25304
  • 1474 Earl L. Core Rd Morgantown, WV 26505
  • Dental, Healthcare and Nursing, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Tech, Veterinary Services

United Technical Center

United Technical Center is a public career-technical center for Harrison, Taylor and Doddridge counties in West Virginia. Its day programs in welding, electrical, automotive, collision repair, machining, carpentry, masonry and drafting are high-school programs that admit adults if space allows. Practical nursing (12 months) and adult cosmetology (1,800 hours) are for adults only. It offers Pell Grants but no federal loans.

  • 251 Marietta Street Clarksburg, WV 26301
  • Healthcare and Nursing, Medical Assisting, Skilled Trades, Automotive, Construction, Electrical, Welding, Machine Operation, Cosmetology, Computer and Information Technology

West Virginia Junior College

West Virginia Junior College is a private, for-profit career college founded in 1892. It teaches nursing and practical nursing on campus and in hybrid format, respiratory therapy in hybrid format, and business, medical office, dental, pharmacy technician and IT programs online. It awards diplomas, associate degrees and an online RN-to-BSN, and is accredited by ABHES. 2026-27 tuition is billed per quarter: $3,995 full-time for most online programs, $7,155 for nursing, plus fees.

  • 5514 Big Tyler Road, Suite 200 Cross Lanes, WV 25313
  • 148 Willey St. Morgantown, WV 26505
  • 176 Thompson Drive Bridgeport, WV 26330
  • Business, Healthcare and Nursing, Computer and Information Technology, Dental, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Tech, Healthcare Administration

Local Guides

Top HVAC Schools in West Virginia

Best Schools by Specialty in West Virginia

West Virginia’s trade schools are known for their focused training across several key sectors:

Healthcare

In healthcare, All-State Career School in Kearneysville and Wheeling is well-regarded for its medical assistant, medical billing & coding, pharmacy technician, and lpn programs.

American National University in Princeton and Parkersburg offers comprehensive programs in nursing, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, health services management, pharmacy technician, and phlebotomy.

Ross Medical Education Center in Morgantown and Charleston specializes exclusively in allied healthcare, offering over 40 certificate and diploma programs including medical assistant, dental assistant, pharmacy technician, occupational therapy assistant, nursing, and practical nursing.

Ben Franklin Career Center in Dunbar and Putnam Career & Technical Center in Eleanor are strong for practical nursing and medical assisting.

Carver Career Center in Charleston stands out for respiratory therapy and surgical technology.

Skilled Trades

For skilled trades, All-State Career School offers solid programs in hvac, welding, and commercial driving (cdl).

The following schools all provide training in automotive technology, carpentry, electrical technician, hvac technician, and welding:

Putnam Career & Technical Center also features a heavy equipment operator program. James Rumsey Technical Institute includes masonry and firefighting.

Business

In business, American National University is historically known for its strong programs in accounting, business administration, and specialized business fields.

Laurel Technical Institute offers programs in accounting and business administration.

Carver Career Center and Putnam Career & Technical Center provide training in restaurant management/prostart restaurant management.

Technology

For technology, James Rumsey Technical Institute offers advanced programs like advanced it (informatics), coding, app & game design, cybersecurity, and multimedia publishing.

Ben Franklin Career Center features coding app & game design and computer systems repair technology.

Laurel Technical Institute has programs in cloud computing and computer networking.

Fayette Institute of Technology offers computer aided drafting and computer technology.

Understanding Trade School Costs in WV

The average annual cost for the largest programs across these schools ranges from approximately $6,088 (Carver Career Center) to $15,131 (All-State Career School).

Many schools, like Fayette Institute of Technology ($2,610/year) and Putnam Career & Technical Center (with many programs free), offer more affordable options.

Most certificate and diploma programs can be completed in under two years, with many taking as little as 11 to 18 months.

Popular programs based on widespread offerings include medical assistant, practical nursing (lpn), hvac technician, welding, automotive technology, and commercial driving (cdl).

Flexible Learning Options

Recognizing the needs of adult learners and those balancing work or other commitments, several schools in West Virginia provide flexible educational pathways.

American National University offers extensive flexible learning through its Global Meet, Global Teach, and Global Learn programs, providing synchronous and asynchronous online courses, remote student services, and online libraries available 24/7.

Laurel Technical Institute also offers part-time options, evening and weekend sessions, and online/hybrid classes.

Carver Career Center provides some programs in a hybrid format.

Programs at Ben Franklin Career Center and Fayette Institute of Technology offer evening sessions, while James Rumsey Technical Institute has select evening options.

Many programs across schools like Carver Career Center and Putnam Career & Technical Center integrate “Simulated Workplace” models or clinical externships, providing practical, real-world experience that fits into varied schedules.