Top 8 Alabama Trade Schools
Many lucrative and rapidly expanding job areas don’t call for a four-year degree. Candidates with job-specific abilities and industry credentials are frequently sought after by employers. Moreover, trade school offers a wide range of choices when it comes to postsecondary education. Vocational colleges in Alabama provide thorough and current instruction in a range of industries.

After graduation, trade school students in Alabama may anticipate a promising career. Although the length of time required to graduate differs, the majority of students finish their vocational education in two years. Learn some of the top trade schools in Alabama in this article to choose the best one for your career progress.
Best Trade Schools in Alabama

Programs in the skilled professions, health, business, information technology, and other areas are some of the available career training options for trade school students. It is essential to look for accreditation while looking for the top trade schools. Below is the list of the best trade schools in Alabama.
1. Gadsden State Community College
With high-quality instruction, cutting-edge career development, and significant community involvement, Gadsden State Community College equips a diverse student body for success. There are more than 70 programs available that may be completed in two years or less and train graduates for immediate employment. It is an affordable, accessible, and complete community college.
The institution supports the success of students and teachers with a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Moreover, Gadsden State’s tuition is 39% less expensive than that of a public four-year institution nationwide. The in-state tuition offered is $166 for each credit hour for the programs. Scholarships, federal and state grant programs, veterans’ education benefits, and loans are all forms of financial aid that the college offers to eligible students.
Dental assisting, emergency medical services, automotive collision repair, diagnostic medical sonography, automotive services technology, diesel mechanics, construction technology, salon and spa management, and other study programs are available. In addition, there are programs for people looking to improve their skills or become better-trained employees. The college also offers continuing education and adult education services.
2. Drake State Community & Technical College
Drake State Community & Technical College provides the North Alabama community with flexible industry certification, affordable technical and university-transfer degrees, specialized skills training, and adult and continuing education. The Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) Caring Campus Initiative has chosen Drake State as one of ten community institutions throughout the country.
The college offers 62 programs, leading students to earn associate degrees, short certificates, certificate programs, apprenticeships, and internships, as well as industry certification. The school provides accelerated high school programs, dual enrollment, and flex factors within its high school curriculum. Furthermore, summer programs and boot camps for adult education and community learning are also available.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC) has granted J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College accreditation that makes it eligible to provide Associate Degrees and Certificates. Students who satisfy the requirements are eligible for financial assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities in higher education.
3. George C. Wallace State Technical Trade School
The Alabama Regional Trade School Act of 1947 led to the creation of George C. Wallace State Technical Trade School. The college offers programs in health, including Associate Degree in Nursing, Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Professional Medical Coding, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapist, Surgical Technology, Dental Assistant, Emergency Medical Services, Eye Care Assistant, and Health Sciences Simulation Center.
Career Technical programs include those in child development, cosmetology, criminal justice, electrical technology, engineering graphics, aesthetics, fiber optic training, industrial systems technology, and air conditioning and refrigeration. Basic maintenance technicians and basic MIG welding are also included. George C. Wallace State Community College is authorized to grant associate degrees and certifications by the Commission on Colleges of the SACS.
WCC currently has other career centers and dual enrollment locations in addition to the Wallace Campus in Dothan and the Sparks Campus in Eufaula. Grants, scholarships, and work-study are the three primary forms of financial aid accessible to students. The federal student loan program is not an option for Wallace Community College students.
4. Coastal Alabama Community College
Coastal Alabama Community College is a public two-year college that offers several top-notch trade programs. It has campuses in 15 Alabama cities. 2017 saw the merger of Alabama Southern Community College, Faulkner State Community College, and Jefferson Davis Community College to become Coastal Alabama Community College.
The college offers programs in aviation, arts, humanities, & design, business, healthcare and vet tech, education, social sciences, industry, manufacturing, & construction, tourism & service industry, science, technology, engineering, & math, and welding & marine. The in-state tuition fee per credit hour offered at the college is $164, while for non-residents, it is $289.
In addition to VA and WIOA money, the Coastal Alabama Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping students with other types of financial aid, including institutional, private, state, and institutional programs. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has granted associate degree accreditation to Coastal Alabama Community College.
5. Trenholm State Community College
Established in 1966, Trenholm State Community College is a multi-campus organization that provides associate’s degrees, a huge selection of certificates, and choices for workforce training in the River Region of Alabama. The benefits of Trenholm University include small class sizes, experiential learning, committed teachers, day and night programs, low tuition, online choices, a varied community, extensive financial assistance, and a thriving student life.
General education, associate’s degrees in the arts and sciences, business administration accounting, child and human development, and computer information systems are some of the programs offered.
In addition, dental assisting, respiratory therapy, ultrasound, practical nursing, registered nursing, hospitality management, graphic design, engineering technologies, and line worker training are also available. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has given H. Councill Trenholm State Community College accreditation so that may award associate degrees.
6. Shelton State Community College
One of the biggest two-year universities in the state is Shelton State Community College, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Shelton State Community College is one of 25 coordinated community colleges and technical colleges that make up the state system of public institutions. Academic Programs, Technical Programs, Business Partnerships and Apprenticeships, Health Services Programs, High School Programs, Workforce Development, Adult Education, and Community Education are offered at the college.
The technical programs offered include air conditioning & refrigeration technology, automotive services technology, child development, electrical technology, culinary arts, salon and spa management, welding technology, and wellness, among others. Health services programs include health information technology, associate degree nursing, respiratory therapy, and practical nursing. Students have the opportunity to participate in corporate partnerships through the mechatronics program, Mercedes tech program, Nucor technical program, operations Co-Op program, and technical scholar program.
The tuition fee per credit hour of the offered programs is $166 for resident students. For non-residents, it is $291. Students can avail of grants, scholarships, federal work-study, and other forms of funding to assist with their education. Shelton State Community College does not take part in any loan programs either by the government or the commercial sector.
7. Wallace Community College Selma
Located in Selma, Alabama, Wallace Community College Selma seeks to meet the needs of each student, the community, the state, and the world. It offers state-of-the-art learning-centered educational opportunities and services through a variety of instructional delivery methods.
The college offers associate degrees in arts and science and programs in business administration, criminal justice, computer information systems, and adult education. High school programs, TRIO programs, continuing education, and workforce development are also available. In addition, Cosmetology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Electrical Technology, Masonry/Building/Trade, Welding, commercial truck drivers (CDLs), and Office Administration/Information Processing are among the other fields in which training is offered.
The Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science degrees offered by Shelton State Community College are recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Undergraduate students can receive direct grants for educational costs from the U.S. Department of Education through the Federal Pell Grant Program.
8. Lawson State Community College
Lawson State Community College is an institution with a long history of academic success and an unrivaled track record of civic leadership and service. Among its four divisions, the community college provides a wide range of curriculum options that may be tailored to your requirements.
Business Management and Supervision (AAS), Accounting Technology (AAS); Business Education (AA), Cosmetology and Culinary Arts (AA), Design Engineering Technology (AAS), Electronics and Electrical Technology (AAS); and Graphic Art and Communications (AAS) are some of the courses offered. In addition, the college offers healthcare programs, including Nursing Associate Degree, diagnostic medical sonography, dental assisting, medical radiologic technology, and Practical Nursing, among others.
The variety and breadth of General Studies program offerings are created to meet the requirements of those students who hope to transfer to a four-year institution in the future. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has granted associate degree accreditation to T. A. Lawson State Community College.
Winding Up
In Alabama, the majority of technical schools offer programs that include practical instruction. To offer internship or joint education chances, instructors frequently collaborate closely with nearby businesses. In Alabama, students attending accredited vocational institutions are eligible for both federal and state financial assistance.
Trade Schools in Alabama
The below list of trade schools are available in Alabama:
- Ross Medical Education Center – Huntsville
- Remington College – Mobile
- Blue Cliff College – Mobile
- South University – Montgomery
- Auburn University – Auburn
- Jefferson State Community College – Birmingham
- Lawson State Community College – Birmingham
- Herzing University – Birmingham
- University of Alabama at Birmingham – Birmingham
- Birmingham Southern College – Birmingham
- Wallace Community College – Huntsville
- The Salon Professional Academy – Huntsville
- J. F. Drake State Community and Technical College – Huntsville
- Paul Mitchell the School Huntsville – Huntsville
- Bishop State Community College – Mobile
- University of Mobile – Mobile
- H Councill Trenholm State Community College – Montgomery
- Auburn University at Montgomery – Montgomery
- Gadsden State Community College – Gadsen
- Shelton State Community College – Tuscaloosa