| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Private nonprofit technical school, independent; campus-based (one hybrid program, no online division) |
| Campuses | 2, both in Washington: Yakima (main) and Perry Tech Sunnyside |
| Credentials | Associate of Applied Science (2 programs) and certificates (11 programs) |
| Programs | 13 in the 2026-27 catalog |
| Program length | 9 to 24 months; most trade programs 12 months |
| Accreditation | ACCSC since 1969; next review November 2028; 2024 ACCSC School of Excellence |
| Federal aid | Yes; cohort default rate 0.0% (FY2021) |
| 2026-27 cost | One rate for all students: total estimated cost $19,780 to $59,205 per program |
| Students | 1,072 in fall 2024 |
| Founded | 1939; first classes January 1941, on the same Yakima site |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
Perry Technical Institute: a private trade school in Yakima since 1939
Perry Technical Institute is a private nonprofit technical school in Yakima, Washington, run independently rather than as part of a college chain. It was founded in 1939 as a gift to the Yakima community and opened to 211 students in January 1941 on the site it still uses. In 2026-27 it offers 13 programs, from a nine-month Medical Assistant certificate to two-year programs in electrical, HVAC/R, instrumentation and IT. All are taught in person except Medical Office Administration & Coding, which is hybrid, and every program ends with an off-site externship or an on-campus capstone. In the 2023-24 school year Perry opened a second campus in Sunnyside for Construction & Carpentry and, later, Medical Assistant. College Navigator counted 1,072 students in fall 2024.
Perry’s 13 programs in 2026-27
Two programs, Business Technology & Accounting and Information Technology & Communication Systems, award an Associate of Applied Science degree, approved by the Washington Student Achievement Council. The other 11 award certificates, approved by Washington’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. The 2026-27 program outlines give each program’s courses and hours.
| Program | Credential | Length | Schedule | Where | Prepares for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural & Diesel Equipment Technology | Certificate of Completion | 12 months, 1,344 clock hours | Day | Yakima | Ag and diesel equipment technician work |
| Automotive Technology | Certificate of Completion | 12 months, 1,344 clock hours | Day or night | Yakima | ASE Education Foundation accredited; MACS Section 609 |
| Business Technology & Accounting | A.A.S. | 18 months, 2,016 clock hours | Day | Yakima | Microsoft Office Specialist; NACPB QuickBooks, payroll and bookkeeping |
| Construction & Carpentry Technology | Certificate of Completion | 12 months, 1,344 clock hours | Day | Yakima and Sunnyside | OSHA 10 and tool-safety cards |
| Electrical Technology | Certificate of Completion | 24 months, 3,000 clock hours | Day | Yakima | Washington third-year electrical trainee status (L&I) |
| HVAC/R Technology | Certificate | 24 months, 2,872 clock hours | Day or night | Yakima | EPA 608 Universal, R-410A, NATE; up to 2,000 hours toward the WA 06A exam |
| Information Technology & Communication Systems | A.A.S. | 24 months, 2,520 clock hours | Day | Yakima | Cisco networking; credit toward the WA Limited Energy (06) license |
| Instrumentation, Automation & Robotics Technology | Certificate | 24 months, 2,688 clock hours | Day | Yakima | – |
| Medical Assistant | Certificate of Completion | 9 months, 720 clock hours | Day | Yakima and Sunnyside | RMA exam (American Medical Technologists) |
| Medical Office Administration & Coding | Certificate | 12 months, 1,344 clock hours | Hybrid: campus 3 days a week | Yakima | AAPC CPC exam |
| Plumbing Technician | Certificate of Completion | 12 months, 1,344 clock hours | Day | Yakima | Up to 1 year toward the WA (01) journey-level plumber certificate |
| Precision Machining & Manufacturing | Certificate | 12 months, 1,344 clock hours | Day | Yakima | – |
| Welding Technology | Certificate of Completion | 12 months, 1,344 clock hours | Day or night | Yakima | AWS and WABO certification tests |
Automotive Technology is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation. Washington Labor & Industries approves HVAC/R as an 06A training program and IT & Communication Systems as a Limited Energy (06) specialty electrical training program. Externships run from 120 hours in five programs to 359 hours in HVAC/R; Construction & Carpentry has two 88-hour placements, and Medical Assistant ends with 160 hours at an off-site healthcare site.
What the main programs cover
Electrical Technology
The two-year program runs eight quarters and 3,000 clock hours (176.5 credits) of day classes. Coursework is built around the National Electrical Code and Washington’s electrical rules in the WAC and RCW, then moves into industrial and construction electrical work, and it closes with a 250-hour externship or an on-campus capstone. Applicants take an enrollment assessment, and sections hold 24 students, 192 in all. Washington L&I may recognize graduates as third-year recognized electrical trainees: the training counts toward journey-level certification but does not complete it.
Instrumentation, Automation & Robotics Technology
This 24-month certificate of 2,688 clock hours (159 credits) covers instrumentation and controls. Students take four instrumentation courses, programmable logic controllers, motor control and industrial computing, plus calculus and physics. Classes run during the day, applicants take an enrollment assessment, and the program ends with a 120-hour externship or an on-campus capstone. It is one of Perry’s larger programs: IPEDS counted 56 completers in 2023-24, second only to Electrical.
Precision Machining & Manufacturing
The 12-month certificate (1,344 clock hours, 75 credits) teaches CNC machine operation, programming in Mastercam, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T). Classes run during the day, and the program includes a 140-hour externship. It is the school’s smallest program by graduates: IPEDS counted 11 completers in 2023-24. The catalog outline does not name a NIMS or other machining credential, so ask what certifications students can earn.
Medical Office Administration & Coding
The program combines medical terminology, office procedures and electronic health records with three coding courses in CPT and ICD-10 and a course on reimbursement. It is the one Perry program that is partly online: students come to campus three days a week for five-hour days and complete the rest online. Sections are capped at 15 students, the smallest at the school. It prepares students for the AAPC’s Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam, and applicants take an enrollment assessment.
Business Technology & Accounting
This 18-month, six-quarter Associate of Applied Science (2,016 clock hours, 116 credits) pairs office software with an accounting sequence. Students prepare for Microsoft Office Specialist exams in Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint and take Fundamentals and Principles of Accounting I and II, computerized accounting in QuickBooks, federal tax and payroll, preparing for NACPB QuickBooks, payroll and bookkeeping certifications. Sections take up to 26 students, the largest at Perry. The program ends with a 120-hour externship or an on-campus capstone.
What Perry costs in 2026-27
Perry publishes one price per program for every student, with no in-state or out-of-state tiers. The 2026-27 catalog prices 9-, 18- and 24-month programs for Summer 2026 starts and 12-month programs for Fall 2026 starts, and says the amounts are estimates and may change. Total estimated costs run from $19,780 for Medical Assistant to $59,205 for Electrical; the 12-month trade programs cost about $26,900 to $29,100.
| Program (length) | Tuition | Tuition and fees | Total estimated cost with books and tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant (9 months) | $16,800 | $17,775 | $19,780 |
| Medical Office Administration & Coding (12 months) | $21,920 | $22,240 | $24,963 |
| Construction & Carpentry (12 months) | $22,565 | $24,035 | $26,920 |
| Plumbing (12 months) | $22,405 | $24,600 | $27,345 |
| Agricultural & Diesel Equipment (12 months) | $22,565 | $23,889 | $28,089 |
| Precision Machining (12 months) | $22,405 | $23,157 | $28,257 |
| Welding (12 months) | $22,565 | $26,985 | $28,835 |
| Automotive (12 months) | $23,535 | $24,859 | $29,074 |
| Business Technology & Accounting (18 months) | $32,960 | $33,410 | $38,370 |
| IT & Communication Systems (24 months) | $48,848 | $50,708 | $53,543 |
| HVAC/R (24 months) | $48,848 | $51,533 | $54,203 |
| Instrumentation, Automation & Robotics (24 months) | $51,800 | $52,486 | $57,066 |
| Electrical (24 months) | $53,920 | $55,000 | $59,205 |
The catalog’s 2026-27 cost of attendance adds living expenses of $12,592 for students living with a parent or $24,344 for those who are not. Tuition can be paid in up to three payments per term. The registration fee of up to $100 is kept only if a student cancels after the fifth day.
Perry takes federal student aid, and every applicant has a financial planning session with the financial aid team. The catalog also has sections on VA education benefits and DoD Tuition Assistance.
Admission, starts and schedules
Applicants must be at least 16 and have a high-school diploma, GED or recognized equivalent, according to the 2026-27 enrollment section of the catalog. Construction & Carpentry, Electrical, IT & Communication Systems, Instrumentation and Medical Office Administration & Coding require an enrollment assessment, and Medical Assistant applicants must pass a criminal background check. Admission is open to applicants who meet these requirements, but section sizes are capped and Electrical has a waitlist of almost three years.
Programs start year-round, and students are placed in a start date by when they pay the registration fee; there is no fixed term calendar. Most sections meet in the day; night sections exist only in Automotive, HVAC/R and Welding. Section sizes run from 15 students (Medical Office Administration & Coding) to 26 (Business Technology & Accounting).
Accreditation and results
Perry has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) since 1969, and its next review is due on 30 November 2028. ACCSC named it a 2024 School of Excellence, one of 19 schools that year, after earlier awards in 2012 and 2017. We found no lawsuits or regulatory or accreditation actions against the school.
College Navigator reports a 79% graduation rate within 150% of normal program time and 84% retention of full-time students from fall 2023 to fall 2024. The three-year federal loan cohort default rate was 0.0% for FY2021.
Washington’s Career Bridge lists completion and employment rates for nine Perry programs, calculated by the state from Washington wage records. The listings do not give cohort years.
| Program | Completion | Employment | State listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive Technology | 88% | 91% | Career Bridge: Automotive |
| Plumbing Technician | 84% | 91% | Career Bridge: Plumbing |
| Agricultural & Diesel Equipment | 82% | 97% | Career Bridge: Ag & Diesel |
| Electrical Technology | 80% | 90% | Career Bridge: Electrical |
| Business Technology & Accounting | 74% | 96% | Career Bridge: BTA |
| Construction & Carpentry | 72% | 78% | Career Bridge: Construction |
| IT & Communication Systems | 72% | 85% | Career Bridge: ITCS |
| Welding Technology | 71% | 86% | Career Bridge: Welding |
| Medical Assistant | 68% | 94% | Career Bridge: Medical Assistant |
We found no current published pass rates for the RMA, CPC, AWS or WABO, or EPA 608 exams, and no ACCSC program-level graduation and employment rates.
Before you enroll
- Electrical Technology has had a waitlist of almost three years. The school broke ground in March 2026 on a $21 million, 42,500-square-foot Electrical building on the Yakima campus, due in June 2027, with $10 million from the state Legislature.
- The trade programs do not make you a licensed journey-level worker. Electrical graduates may qualify as third-year trainees, Plumbing can count for up to one year toward the (01) certificate, and HVAC/R for up to 2,000 of the 4,000 hours for the 06A exam; more supervised work is needed after graduation.
- The two-year programs cost $53,543 to $59,205 in total for 2026-27, about twice the 12-month programs.
- Only two programs award a degree. Perry has no online programs; Medical Office Administration & Coding is its only hybrid program.
- Perry’s Professional Truck Driving (CDL) program is not in the 2026-27 catalog, although an old program page is still on the school’s website.
Moving on to a bachelor’s degree
Perry has transfer pathways for its graduates into three bachelor of applied science degrees: Organizational Leadership & Technical Management at Lower Columbia College (since May 2023; Perry calls it its first transfer degree), IT Management at Central Washington University, and Business Management at Yakima Valley College. Check with the receiving college which Perry credits it accepts.
Two campuses in the Yakima Valley
| Campus | Address | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Yakima (main) | 2011 W. Washington Ave, Yakima, WA 98903 | All 13 programs; the only campus for 11 of them, and for night sections |
| Perry Tech Sunnyside | 437 Barnard Blvd, Sunnyside, WA 98944 | Construction & Carpentry Technology; Medical Assistant |
Sunnyside opened in the 2023-24 school year in the former Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center, under an agreement with the Port of Sunnyside. The new Electrical building is on the existing Yakima campus; no other campus has been announced.
Externships and the alumni job board
Each program ends with an off-site externship or an on-campus capstone, ranging from 120 to 359 hours. Perry’s alumni job board posts openings from local employers, such as medical assistant jobs in Yakima and Sunnyside, and Sunnyside construction students have worked on Habitat for Humanity builds.
What students say
On Niche, Perry Technical Institute is rated 4.54 out of 5 from 203 reviews, with an overall grade of A (checked 15 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise helpful, available instructors and tutors, staff who give extra time to students who are struggling, and the hands-on training. The main complaints are too little lab time for night students and a wish for more hands-on work in the Medical Assistant program. The reviews cover the whole school, and we could not see their dates well enough to tell whether they were invited or posted in bursts.
Facts checked October 2026.
Programs & Courses
Construction and Building Trades
- Construction & Carpentry Technology (Certificate of Completion)
- Electrical Technology (Certificate of Completion)
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology (Certificate)
- Plumbing Technician (Certificate of Completion)
Mechanical, Manufacturing and Welding
- Agricultural & Diesel Equipment Technology (Certificate of Completion)
- Automotive Technology (Certificate of Completion)
- Instrumentation, Automation & Robotics Technology (Certificate)
- Precision Machining & Manufacturing (Certificate)
- Welding Technology (Certificate of Completion)
Business and Information Technology
- Business Technology & Accounting (A.A.S.)
- Information Technology & Communication Systems (A.A.S.)
Healthcare
- Medical Assistant (Certificate of Completion)
- Medical Office Administration & Coding (Certificate, hybrid)
Campus Locations
Yakima, WA 2011 W. Washington Ave, Yakima, WA 98903
Sunnyside, WA 437 Barnard Blvd, Sunnyside, WA 98944