Best Accredited Online Vocational Trade Schools

Career and technical education (CTE) schools educate around 12 million Americans each year. If you want to advance your career, you may enroll in an online trade, vocational, or career college that provides specific instruction for your intended profession.

Like other postsecondary institutions, online CTE schools are accredited by independent or federal agencies based on the effectiveness of their programs.

Yes, you can attend vocational schools online. But how does it work exactly?

Online trade schools blend virtual coursework with practical, hands-on training. These programs prepare you for popular roles like licensed practical nurse, HVAC technician, plumber, and electrician.

Some trades may require additional training in the form of an apprenticeship.

To enroll in an online vocational certificate program or associate degree program, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some trade schools also accept the HiSET.

If you don’t have a high school diploma or equivalent credential, consider taking GED prep classes, which many community colleges offer at little to no cost.

Average annual tuition and fees for two-year degree-granting institutions, including trade schools, range from $4,000 to over $19,000.

What you spend will depend on the type of school, the program length, and whether you qualify for financial aid or in-state tuition.

You can minimize debt by applying for institutional grants and scholarships. You should also fill out the FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for federal funding.

Budget for additional expenses as well, like technology fees, books, uniforms, and lab equipment. For example, if you’re training to become a practical nurse, you’ll likely need to buy scrubs.

Some online trade school graduates will need to get a state license or certification after graduating, which can cost money. In California, for instance, electricians must pay $175 in exam and licensure fees.

Certification fees vary by organization, with many offering member discounts.

Auto mechanic programs will teach you how to perform maintenance, identify problems, and complete vehicle repairs. By completing an online trade school program, which takes an average of six months, you may earn a higher entry-level salary. The median annual salary for auto mechanics is $47,770, according to the BLS.

In their auto mechanic programs, you may take coursework in diagnostic equipment, vehicle steering repairs, and brake systems.

If you’re interested in learning about materials, planning, and processes in construction projects, you will have to complete an online postsecondary degree in construction management.

Common coursework includes project scheduling, structural analysis, decision-making, and risk analysis, depending on the level of your coursework. You may earn an associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree in construction management.

Your degree level and experience influence the type of job you can pursue and the amount you’ll earn.

Culinary arts degree programs often have specific tracks, such as baking and pastry arts, food service management, or applied food studies.

Online trade schools often offer associate or bachelor’s degree programs in culinary arts that take one to four years to complete.

Chefs and head cooks earn a median salary of $58,920 per year (BLS, May 2023).

If you’re looking for a job as a hairstylist, nail technician, esthetician, or makeup artist, a CTE certificate program or associate degree in cosmetology might be for you.

Depending on the services you want to offer, you could take courses in safety and hygiene, makeup application, or cutting, styling, and coloring hair during your program.

Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual salary of $35,080 (BLS, May 2023).

Aspiring dental hygienists often complete certificates or associate degrees in preparation to assist dentists.

After completing the program, you will enter a field where these services are in demand. Dental hygienists clean teeth, conduct oral health inspections, and educate patients.

Some dental hygienists eventually complete the master’s or doctoral degrees necessary to become dentists.

Many aspiring electricians attend trade schools online to complete an electrician certificate or associate degree program. In addition to completing programs that take six months to four years, electricians often need hands-on experience for state licensure.

Electricians earned a median salary of $61,590 (BLS, May 2023).

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians earn average salaries of over $70,000 in some areas of the United States. Many aspiring HVAC technicians earn a certificate or an associate degree after completing an HVAC training program in six months to two years.

Samples courses include domestic appliances and cold water AC, basic electricity, and fundamental HVAC maintenance.

Some HVAC technicians complete their training at career, technical, or community colleges, while some opt for five-year apprenticeships.

Occupational therapy helps sick or injured patients improve their quality of life. Aspiring occupational therapy aides may enroll in trade certificate programs online, while occupational therapy assistants must complete associate or bachelor’s degree programs. Occupational therapists need master’s or doctoral degrees in occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy assistants earn a median annual wage of $67,010 (BLS, May 2023).

Lawyers ask paralegals to conduct research, interview clients, and review legal documents, among other tasks.

Aspiring paralegals may choose to complete an online certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree program ranging from three months to four years. Coursework in these programs includes legal research and writing, legal document preparation, and employment law.

Though some colleges offer paralegal certificate programs, the associate degree in paralegal studies is the minimum industry standard.

Many aspiring paramedics complete online certificate or associate degree programs that help them build their skills beyond what they learned as emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

Paramedic training programs take one to two years to complete. EMTs and paramedics earn a median annual salary of $53,180 (BLS, May 2023).

Common course topics in paramedic programs include practical skills, hospital practice, and field internships.

Pharmacy technicians work closely with pharmacists to dispense medicine and keep records. To prepare for this career, aspiring practitioners complete certificate or associate degree programs in pharmacy technology.

Certificate programs take around one year to complete, while associate degrees take two. The median annual salary for pharmacy technicians is $40,300 (BLS, May 2023).

Physical therapy assistants work under licensed physical therapists to create and monitor patient mobility plans.

To become a physical therapy assistant, you will need to complete an associate degree. Many students prefer online trade schools so they can finish their degrees on their own time.

Some physical therapy assistant programs offer accelerated options that let you finish your degree in fewer than two years.

If you’re interested in using diagnostic equipment to identify patient issues, you may decide to pursue a radiology tech program online at a trade school.

To become a radiology technician, you need a minimum of a two-year degree and state licensure. Many radiology technicians pursue additional degrees and certifications.

Radiologic technologists and technicians earn a median annual salary of $73,410 (BLS, May 2023).

Respiratory therapists improve patients’ breathing issues. To prepare for this career, many aspiring professionals pursue two-year associate degrees at online respiratory therapy schools.

Students in these degree programs take courses on cardiorespiratory diseases, integrative systems physiology, and mechanical ventilation.

Respiratory therapists earn the highest annual salaries in California, New York, D.C., Alaska, and Washington.

Veterinary technicians typically earn certificates or associate degrees that prepare them to help veterinarians with tests, surgeries, and pet care. During your vet tech program, you might take classes like veterinary dentistry, veterinary anesthesiology, and veterinary pharmacology, among other requirements.

Veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual salary of $43,740 (BLS, May 2023).

You can pursue a variety of trades and vocations by attending a trade or vocational school. Online trade schools offer programs for hands-on roles, from automotive technician to paralegal.

Here are some of the fastest-growing trades over the next decade, according to the BLS.

With so many online trade schools to choose from, it’s important to know the features you’ll use to compare programs. Here are the top five qualities to look for.

Most schools list their accreditations on their websites, but you can also contact the admissions office directly.

Different trades tend to have different accrediting bodies. For example, dental schools use dental-specific accreditors.

You can find a list of legitimate trade school accreditors on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation‘s website.

A nonprofit college gets its funding from tuition, the government, and endowments. This means that funds go back to the school itself so it can provide a strong educational experience for students.

Many trade and vocational schools are for-profit colleges advertising lower tuition rates. But take caution when considering for-profit schools — they’re often pricier than community colleges, leading more students to take out federal loans.

For-profit schools are also notorious for offering a lower-quality education. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, among four-year institutions, for-profits have the lowest average graduation rate, at just 29%. However, among two-year institutions, for-profits actually have a higher average graduation rate (61%) than both private nonprofit (52%) and public (29%) schools.

Opt for a nonprofit trade school when possible, but if you’re considering a for-profit college, ensure it has accreditation and solid retention and graduation rates.

Online trade schools’ retention and graduation rates can tell you how successful students are.

Retention rate refers to the percentage of students who remain enrolled in a school after their first year. The more students who choose to remain at a trade school, the more likely that the school provides a satisfactory experience.

Graduation rate, in contrast, is the percentage of students who complete a program. A high graduation rate means more students have successfully finished their programs.

Many online vocational schools post their retention and graduation rates on their websites.

One way to evaluate online trade schools is to examine their career outcomes. You’re more likely to find employment in a high-quality trade program.

A good trade school will also offer career resources. That may mean connecting you with apprenticeships, hosting job fairs, and providing resume support.

Reaching out to alumni is a great tool for learning more about the quality of trade schools’ online programs. Alumni can provide real insight into the courses, faculty, and projects a vocational school offers.

Try connecting with trade school graduates through LinkedIn or by asking professionals in the field where they went to school.

Most online vocational schools offer a hybrid structure in which you take classes online and get hands-on training through in-person labs and internships.

The online options available to you will depend on the trade you’re studying. Some skills, like welding and auto mechanics, must be taught in person, whereas other vocations, like web programming and paralegal, can adapt to online learning more easily.

The terms “vocational school” and “trade school” are often used interchangeably.

By definition, vocation means trade or profession. Trade school is more commonly used to refer to hands-on professional training programs, whereas vocational school can refer to any career-based educational program.

Some schools may differentiate the two terms or have their own way of defining them.

Yes, many online trade schools accept financial aid. You can use federal financial aid like loans and grants to attend trade school. That said, the school must be accredited in order for you to be able to use any federal aid.

You can also apply for private student loans and independent scholarships.

While the easiest trade for you will depend on your passions, skills, and interests, many consider HVAC technician and truck-driving trades to be relatively easy to learn.

You may prefer mechanical trades like becoming an electrician because you have a more analytical style of thinking. Or, you may prefer a more creative trade like cosmetology, which gives you more freedom to think outside the box.

Some of the highest-paying trade jobs include construction manager, radiation therapist, dental hygienist, electrical engineering technician, aircraft technician, boilermaker, construction and building inspector, and electrician.

High-paying vocational jobs can earn you nearly $100,000 a year!