Trade and Vocational Schools in Idaho

Trade schools provide hands-on training programs that build applied, career-focused skills. They’re also known as vocational schools and technical schools.

Labor market analysts expect Idaho to experience a fast-growing demand for workers in multiple skilled professions. Consider these official growth rate projections from the Idaho Department of Labor for 2022-2032:

Vocational schools in Idaho offer programs in these and many other technical fields. Research the state’s trade school network as you consider your practical training options.

More than a dozen higher learning institutions and networks provide vocational and technical training in Idaho. According to the Idaho State Board of Education, the programs these schools offer typically take 6-24 months to complete, depending on your field of study.

Most programs fall into one of six areas:

The following table offers a detailed breakdown of the Idaho vocational school network and the programs you can take.

Accreditation ensures that a school meets or exceeds acceptable educational quality standards. You must attend an accredited school to qualify for federal student loans, and some regulated occupations require that you complete an accredited program to qualify for licensure.

Vocational schools can hold two types of accreditation: institutional and programmatic. Institutional accreditation applies to the entire school, while programmatic accreditation extends only to specific programs. Some programmatic accreditors also accredit freestanding, single-purpose institutions, such as nursing schools.

To qualify for federal financial aid, you should ensure that your vocational school is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Idaho trade schools hold institutional and/or programmatic accreditation from the following ED-recognized agencies:

Vocational school costs primarily include tuition and required fees. Depending on your program, you may also have to pay for:

These costs accompany any living, transportation, and parking expenses that are required to attend your program.

If you need help paying for your program, look first to scholarships and grants. The state government operates the Idaho LAUNCH grant program for trade school students, which can provide up to $8,000 in nonrepayable funding to cover as much as 80% of your tuition and required fees.

The Idaho Division of Career Technical Education operates additional grant and student funding programs. You should explore these early to ensure you don’t overborrow.

As a last resort, you can seek out federal or private student loans. Enroll at a properly accredited school to ensure you will qualify for federal loan funding.

You don’t have to go to vocational school to learn a trade. Instead, you can attend an accredited community college — some offer technical and vocational programs alongside associate degree programs. Examples of these colleges include:

Additionally, 13 Idaho secondary school systems host state-recognized Career Technical Centers. These institutions deliver career-focused technical education at the high school level.

Idaho’s state government also recognizes and supports non-institutional practical training pathways. These include:

You can access more information about these pathways and resources for pursuing them through the state government’s Next Steps Idaho practical training portal.

Idaho’s state government recognized hundreds of individual occupations in its 2023 list of in-demand careers. The list includes many skilled trades projected to head toward high levels of growth and demand among employers.

In this section, you can explore five skilled trades that make especially strong matches for Idaho’s labor market.

CNC operators and machinists specialize in using computer-controlled manufacturing technologies. CNC equipment uses programmed parameters and specifications to create refined industrial outputs, often from raw materials. Examples of these machines include 3D printers, lathes, and milling machines.

While Idaho’s labor market hosts a relatively limited number of CNC operator jobs, the specialized sector appears positioned for strong near-term growth. To become a CNC operator, you typically need to combine technical education with on-the-job training.

You can also earn optional certifications on a voluntary basis. These credentials validate your skills and may enhance your appeal to employers.

Massage therapists use specialized manual techniques to stimulate specific muscle groups, joints, and soft tissues. Patients often seek massage therapy as a drug-free method of treating injuries, pain, and acute or chronic physiological conditions. When used as part of a general wellness plan, massage therapy can also induce relaxation and reduce stress.

In Idaho, massage therapists earn above-average salaries, and demand for their services is projected to head for a sharp increase. Massage therapists must obtain and maintain a license from the state’s Board of Massage Therapy to legally practice in Idaho. Some therapists hold degrees in fields like kinesiology, but a degree is not strictly required to enter the profession.

Reflecting national trends, Idaho’s population is aging. This has created strong demand for many types of medical and healthcare professionals, including medical assistants. Idaho’s Department of Labor expects to add nearly 1,100 medical assistant jobs to the state’s economy from 2022-2032.

Medical assistants are cross-trained professionals who possess both clinical proficiencies and administrative skills. You can enter the profession with a nondegree award from a vocational school.

Medical assistant certification is not a firm necessity. However, certain employers may prefer or require their medical assistants to hold credentials from organizations like the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Modern heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technologies are highly complex. Specially trained technicians ensure their proper installation, maintenance, and repair.

Idaho’s Department of Labor anticipates that more than 1,000 new heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technician jobs will flow into the state’s labor market from 2022-2032. You can complete the required HVAC training at a technical school and continue your professional development in entry-level positions.

In Idaho, you need a license to work in this field as an apprentice, journeyman, or contractor. Licensure is managed by the state’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Board. Refer to this board for specific information on licensure requirements at each level.

An aging population and the ongoing digitization of medical records has created strong demand for medical records and health information technicians. These professionals update and validate patients’ medical records and apply clinical and diagnostic codes to patient files for billing purposes. They also play an important role in safeguarding patients’ private medical information.

You can enter this field by completing a health informatics or medical billing and coding program. These compact programs typically take around one year to complete.

In addition to your academic training, you can complete voluntary certification programs through organizations like the American Health Information Management Association. These credentials are optional, but they may help you advance in the field and qualify for specialized employment opportunities.