Los Angeles, CA Trade Schools
Browse 4 accredited trade schools and vocational training programs in Los Angeles, California
4
Schools
14
Trade Programs
CA
State
Los Angeles is one of the most affordable trade school markets in the country thanks to California's community college tuition structure. The city is anchored by the nine-campus Los Angeles Community College District, with Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) serving as the flagship for skilled trades training. Specialty schools like Universal Technical Institute Long Beach, UEI College Gardena, and the Cerritos College trades programs add depth across the metro. LA's massive construction pipeline, port operations, healthcare network, and entertainment industry create constant demand for trade graduates.
LA's trade economy is shaped by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (the largest port complex in the Western Hemisphere — driving constant CDL drayage demand), residential and commercial construction across the basin, the entertainment industry (which employs thousands of electricians, carpenters, and lighting technicians), and the region's hospital systems (Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, USC Keck). Wildfire rebuild work has added multi-year demand for residential trades. The push to electrify buildings and add solar/EV infrastructure is driving demand for electricians.
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College sits south of downtown LA. Other LACCD campuses cover the basin: East LA College (Monterey Park), LA City College (Hollywood), LA Harbor College (Wilmington), LA Mission College (Sylmar), LA Pierce College (Woodland Hills), LA Southwest College, LA Valley College (Valley Glen), and West LA College (Culver City). Cerritos College serves southeast LA. UTI and UEI campuses are scattered across the metro.
LA traffic is notoriously brutal and the metro is huge. Metro Rail (especially the Expo, Blue, and Gold lines) reaches several LACCD campuses, but most students drive. The LACCD Promise Program waives tuition for first-time, full-time students for two years. The California College Promise Grant covers fees for eligible residents at any LACCD campus. Combined with Pell Grant, many LA students pay close to $0 in tuition.
Based on local hiring activity and employer demand in the Los Angeles metro.
IBEW Local 11 (one of the largest electrical locals in the U.S.) plus entertainment industry IATSE Local 728 work
Port of LA / Long Beach drayage pays among the highest local CDL rates in the country
Year-round demand across the basin plus commercial retrofitting tied to California energy code
Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, and USC Keck drive sustained MA hiring
Wildfire rebuild work plus entertainment industry set construction; strong union scale through the Carpenters Local 209
4021 Rosewood Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90004
$28,000
1,800 students
1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park, CA 91754
$2,800
35,000 students
400 West Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
$1,238
12,655 students
6055 Pacific Boulevard, Huntington Park, CA 90255
$17,000
900 students
Ready to start your career training? Here's how to get enrolled in a trade school in Los Angeles:
If wait lists are long or commute is an issue in Los Angeles, these nearby cities have additional trade school options.
Los Angeles Community College District tuition is approximately $46 per unit for California residents — among the lowest in the U.S. Most trade diplomas total under $3,000 in tuition. The California College Promise Grant waives fees for eligible residents, and the LACCD Promise Program covers the first two years for first-time students. Private schools like UTI, UEI, and Lincoln Tech run $14,000-$22,000.
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College is one of the oldest and most respected trades-focused community colleges in California, with strong programs in electrical, HVAC, automotive, carpentry, plumbing, culinary, and welding. It's the flagship trades campus for LACCD and has direct ties to many LA-area unions and employers.
IBEW Local 11 admits new apprentices through a competitive application that includes an aptitude test, interview, and references. The 5-year apprenticeship pays you to learn and leads to journeyman status with strong wages and benefits. Many candidates attend LATTC or work as non-union electricians first to strengthen their application.
Yes — IATSE Local 728 (lighting technicians), Local 80 (grips), and the Carpenters Local 209 all hire skilled trade graduates for film, TV, and live event work. LATTC and a few specialty schools offer programs that align with entertainment industry trades. Pay is strong, work is project-based, and union membership is typically required for major studio work.