Trade Schools in Vancouver: Best Vocational Schools 2023
US Air Force Career Center – Vancouver Office
The recruiters here were amazing to work with. They helped me find the job I wanted in the Air Force and helped set me up for success in my Air Force career. TSgt Greenhill has made my recruiting process clear, been an effective communicator, and earnestly shown interest in my passions. Not only does he coordinate monthly meetings but also participates himself in the monthly PT as well. If you are looking to join the Air Force, there is no better man for the job. He truly exemplifies excellence in all he does. TSgt.Greenhill and Tsgt. Nichols are the best recruiters in Vancouver, WA. They both give thorough instructions prior getting to basic military training that lead to my success. Im happy to be a part of the air force family.
Address: 8700 NE Vancouver Mall Dr Suite 200A, Vancouver, WA 98662
Cedar’s Academy Of Makeup Artistry
I recently enrolled for their 12 week course and I was just so impressed with the studio and curriculum. Cedar and her people are genuine people who legitimately want their students to find success post graduation. Cedar is a wealth of knowledge in business and I feel so much better about my ability as an artist and business owner after her course. Cedar was so welcoming and made me feel comfortable from the second I walked in. I will be choosing Cedar’s Academy of make-up Artistry over Art of Make-up for my personal make-up career. I registered for the December class the same day and am so excited to get started. Cedar taught me so much on how to perfect not only my own makeup but others as well. Charlie who teaches business had so much helpful and insightful information that I had no clue about. With the extra money I have earned from bridal makeup, my husband and I were able to purchase our first house and I am proud to say that my summer of 2018 was completely booked and I am starting to already fill up 2019! Cedar’s Academy of Makeup Artistry is the BEST in the business, they offer an amazing program to all ages who want to be artists and provide their students with the materials they need.
Address: 100 E 13th St #108, Vancouver, WA 98660
Elite Dental Assisting Academy
I will forever be grateful for the experience that I have had here at Elite! It has been an ongoing process for me to finally decide which direction I want to take with my future and I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to attend Elite. It has truly been a life changing experience and I am honestly sad that it is coming to an end! The course can definitely feel intense at times, but so can the dental field, so it does help prepare you for the “real world”! All of the amazing staff here is very knowledgeable and are constantly striving to learn more! It’s a huge motivator and truly inspiring to be a part of. My instructors were Meredit and Mary, and let me just tell you, these women are INCREDIBLE!! They have helped me in more ways than they know, definitely beyond just the classroom. I am currently about to graduate, with a dental assisting job and a dental mission trip planned for the near future and I have Elite to thank for all of it!! If you are looking to really jump into the dental field, this is definitely the course for you!! Starting classes with EDAA changed my life!! Joining this program gave me the the courage to step out of my comfort zone and push my hands on skills.
Address: 2415 SE 165th Ave #103, Vancouver, WA 98683
Medallion Art School
My 6 year old loves coming to class each week and her artwork improves noticeably with each session! Great teachers working here! Highly recommend! I’ve been coming here for almost 15 years, and can confidently say that Medallion goes above and beyond when it comes to teaching students of all ages and skill levels fine art. The environment is super friendly, welcoming, with zero judgement. I’ve loved coming here every week! I highly recommend instructor Oksana Oakes, who is not only an outstanding artist herself, but constantly challenges and encourages her students to better their art through her fantastic teaching methods. I can’t recommend her and Medallion art school enough, it has been such a rewarding experience and investment!!! For the eager, it’s an opportunity. For the distant, it’s a retooling. And for the artist, it’s a community. You’ll find conversation and equality here, and with lessons in art given to you, you may find a path in art fitting for the skills you obtain. I’d highly recommend this school to friends and family. Love this building, love owners, love great group of teachers, nice location! Fun and relaxing place for both teacher and student! I LOVE Medallion Art School!
Address: 304 NE Crestwood Ct, Vancouver, WA 98684
Pacific Northwest Massage Academy
If you have a passion for helping others and thought about going towards massage therapy, I highly recommend Pacific Northwest Massage Academy! Suzanne and Travis are two amazing Instructors with 15+ years of knowledge in this career. They are very passionate about teaching and take the time to help each student understand the materials to better help you succeed. I feel like I got a very well rounded education the knowledge needed for licensing, a wonderfully wide variety of massage techniques and modalities. I feel prepared to take on my career as an LMT and know I can face any situation that arises. They offer continued support even after graduation. Suzanne is an amazing instructor. She is thorough in her teaching, using various teaching styles to meet the needs of her students, and has a heart of gold. 💛 I couldn’t have asked for better instructors and mentors. They are very thorough with the different modalities used in massage and I feel prepared to step into my first job when I’m all licensed! Suzanne is one of the owners and instructors, but she also offers massage. She is the most amazing massage therapist especially for prenatal massage. I’ve been seeing her since I was in my third trimester and she’s helped me so much.
Address: 9120 NE Vancouver Mall Loop Suite 120, Vancouver, WA 98662
Columbia Flagging Academy
Very friendly guy. He’s got a lot of knowledge in the field. Would recommend for anyone who’s interested in getting their flaggers card! Good dude. Funny and Layed back. Yet very informative and knowledgeable. You don’t understand something? He had no problem answering all the questions I had or if i was confused he would help. Very good teacher! Teaches you a lot of what you need to know to be safe in the work space. If you don’t understand something he will re explain it to you. GREAT flagging class and I learn some new things too! David knows his stuff! Great teacher and great resource for finding work. Good Guy! Highly recommend!!
Address: 3909 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98663
Vancouver Brow and Lash Academy
Betty knows her stuff and has made these services so easy to understand. I feel very confident leaving her class! She’s so helpful and encouraging. And they continue to offer you support after you’ve finished the course. My class instructor was Betty and she was very informative, this class helped me so much. Thank you so much Betty and SHE is AMAZING person too. Clean, friendly, professional, and talented. I love my new brows! Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for microblading/shading. Great team! Staffs were very friendly! Facilities is well organized, and clean! Happy with the way my brows turned out. I did microblading/microshading thank you Linda, and Betty! They are nothing but professional and I highly recommend their services! My brows look very natural and I’m super happy. Such good work and such nice people Rachel was the one that did them and I would definitely recommend her! These girls are learning from the best! I wouldn’t go anywhere else! With the help of microblading/microshading I am now much more confident with the look of my brows! The staff is so polite, friendly & the facility is clean & welcoming.
Address: 211 E 11th St, Vancouver, WA 98660
Academy of Nail Technology & Arts
I am a graduate of this school and I already have my state license. I can say that I received a lot of support from this school and thanks to that I learned things that are very useful in my work today. I recommend this school for the attention, it is also extremely clean and organized. Very recommend Academy of Nail Technology. Silvia (owner and teacher) very oriented for her students get actual knowledge, pass all exams in the state board and were successful in their professional careers. Mrs. Silvia is top quality when it comes to choosing an instructor. Her program is designed to help you achieve your goals as a nail manicurist. I have experienced her classes and would recommend them to anyone looking into the field. Even though I had already been playing around with nails for years on my own, I feel like I learned something new nearly every day I attended school. The importance of maintaining the health of the natural nail and the health of clients and nail techs is stressed. So much care is taken to teach this, along with proper cleaning and disinfection, and what is legal and what is not for a nail tech to do in Washington State.
Address: 11815 NE Hwy 99 C, Vancouver, WA 98686
Vancouver Dental Assisting School
Absolutely the best Dental Assisting School in the Pacific Northwest! Dr. Ranola and Jasmine Schuetze are amazing people. They go out of their way to make sure that their students feel confident and prepared. I am a domestic violence survivor and this school completely turned my life around. I am a Vancouver Dental Assisting School graduate of 2022. Vancouver Dental Assisting School is genuinely one of the best things that has ever happened to me. You get instant hands on experience as well as book studies. I am now CPR/AED certified as well, which is covered by this program! This school truly leaves you prepared for the Dental Field. They focus on leadership teachings/mentality which is crucial and extremely beneficial for anyone looking to grow. You can always ask for additional help and they go out of their way to give you extra training if you ask. Amazing program! I love how excited Jasmine and Dr. Ranola are about our success. They never hesitate to give us great resources for externships. I was able to get hands on experience in the first few weeks with live patients. The 10 week program was so easy to fit into my busy schedule. I dedicated my time to my career and had multiple job offers by the time I graduated!
Address: 512 NE 81st St g, Vancouver, WA 98665
Class Cooking
Class cooking is a wonderful culinary experience. We have come here several times and we have always enjoyed it and been ready to come back. We just did the Spanish Paella class and again, it was exceptional! What an absolute blast! My husband and I love to cook together, but we are far from chef material. So he surprised me with this class as part of my anniversary gift and it is easily one of the best gifts ever. We learned a lot about how to cook certain foods certain ways and why and had the chance to make an amazing dinner that we never could have imagined we could make. Our instructor was Chef Joe and his wife and they are a great team that made this a really fun evening that ended with a really delicious dinner. If you’ve ever thought about it, I’m telling you just do it. Beyond the food and the fun, we met some amazing people that made it all complete. Totally worth it and we will be joining future classes too! I took my MIL to the Paella class and it was WONDERFUL! I wouldn’t even call it a class per se, it was an experience.
Address: 110 E 15th St, Vancouver, WA 98663
Vega’s Academy School of Beauty
I grew up going to the beauty college in my hometown and wanted to continue that with my kids when we moved to the Vancouver area. We will definitely become regulars here. I look forward to continuing the tradition of using Beauty Colleges with my kiddos at Vega Academy! My son and myself have been coming to this school to get services done and we are pleased with the results. I called around to take a prep class to help me prepare for the Washington Masters Esthetician practical exam. Vega’s Academy were happy to assist! I am a student at Vega’s Academy and I honestly cannot say enough good things about this place! My face glows.
Address: 7635 MacArthur Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98664
Aveda Institute Portland, Vancouver Campus
I’ve gone here 3 times now for a haircut and I’ve always left feeling very happy with my hair. I’ve had a different student each time I’ve been and they’re always so polite, professional, and understanding to my hair needs. While the haircut does take a bit extra time (as opposed to a regular salon), you can’t beat the prices. I like knowing that I’m helping the students learn how to do hair and aid them in their future career path. I had a great first time experience at Aveda Institute Vancouver campus. Booking online was easy and convenient, and Alexis F. did a wonderful job on my color. The support of the instructor was welcomed and reassuring – but Alexis was a pro from the gate! She even helped me develop some longer term color goals – I look forward to working with her on therse. I will definitely be back. Always leave the salon pleased with my hair. Nice friendly people. I got a fabulous haircut though. Thanks!! The school is very thorough and checks in during the cut 3 times to make sure the clients get what they want. The student I worked with did an excellent job and was so fun to talk to! Very happy I chose to come to Aveda 🙂
Address: 6615 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
Clark College Community and Continuing Education
The facilities were clean, and the staff was friendly. I appreciated the space provided for locking my things while I was busy taking the test. The lady sitting behind me who kept loudly farting. PARKING. If I am paying hundreds of dollars to sit in a tiny room and experience a stressful test I want free parking and a fart free room please.
Address: 18700 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98683
Aero Maintenance Flight Center
Collin is the best pilot!! My first flight with him was as smooth as butter and he was so fun, patient, knowledgeable and caring. He is a gentleman! If I end up taking lessons at Aero Maintenance Flight Center I would feel so privileged to have Collin as my instructor. Also, Emily at the front desk was wonderful on the phone with me in scheduling my discovery flight. She was super friendly, accommodating and understanding. Great communication and experience overall. Woohoo! I achieved my Private pilots license here. The staff are always super helpful. My cfi was really good. I can be hard to teach. He found a way to do it. I’m very happy with my experience. The aircraft are well maintained and cared for. A place you can trust. Always wanted to earn my pilots license. This was a great place to start the process. My inspector was detail oriented and had over 10 years of flying actively. It was a sunny day out when we went, nearly perfect weather. Easy ride- a lot nicer than I originally expected. I will be back again. Lovely little flight school and rental organization. Friendly, helpful and professional staff, good fleet of well maintained aircraft at prices that are hard to beat.
Address: 101 E Reserve St, Vancouver, WA 98661
Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy & Massage
Every instructor here is invaluable. I have never felt more supported both educationally and emotionally while completing this program. Chad, Sarah, and Randy have added so much humor and joy into this learning experience. This program was one of the best decisions I have ever made. HIGHLY recommend. This school is exceptional. Such an incredible learning environment. The instructors are very good at their jobs and everyone involved is so passionate about massage and it really shows through their teaching and interactions with the students. I highly recommend Bodymechanics Massage School. What an opportunity! BodyMechanics is amazing, and the individuals who tend to this school are even more amazing. The holy grail when it comes to learning massage. Shari’s profound dedication to the school and her students is inspiring. Chad, is one of the best instructors that makes learning so much fun. The other instructors are great as well. I am proud to be a BodyMechanics graduate. If you’re contemplating dipping your toes in the waters of massage therapy, this is the place to go. Don’t be afraid to dive in. Fantastic school with some of the best educators in the field. Bodymechanics has a well-rounded curriculum that produces amazing graduates.
Address: 7723 NE Fourth Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98662
Cascadia Technical Academy
I went here from 2004-2006ish? When it was known then as Skills Center, it seems to have changed quite a bit. I did learn a fair amount about microsoft office, electronics etc. The second year I was hoping to learn more IT, networking, building computers and I was taught some but I was basically technical support among others without much training honestly. I feel I could have been taught or learned more honestly? I do feel bad and I think the class I was in which at the time was called EDT (electro digital technologies), a long time teacher had quit and they hired/hiring a new one I remember the first year there was a few substitute teachers. I kinda wished I had gone to Running Start if I would have been accepted honestly. I loved going to Skills Center. I took the Criminal Justice program and fell in love. I had an amazing instructor who taught us well. I also learned a lot in the year that I was there. I entered the program as a senior in high school, and I wish that I had another year in the program so I could do the internship that was designed for second years. Our instructor provided a good learning environment, and made it fun.
Address: 12200 NE 28th St, Vancouver, WA 98682
Northwest College of Construction
Monty is amazing. Good experience amber and Amy and the girls in the office were also super helpful. There’s no shame in the trades I make more thank a lot of my friends that went to college. Work outside everyday listen to music and contribute to society. If your on the fence there’s no better time than now.This place is Awesome!! Zane is very knowledgeable and Jovan😉, Lauryn 😉, Amy and Sara have been super helpful at the front desk!! I would highly recommend Northwest College of Construction!! …I ended up leaving the program for reasons of location, but I will, frankly, miss it. The office coordinators are extremely responsive, answering my (many) questions about the applicant-to-apprentice process quickly and thoroughly. The instructors are not only competent – all, I believe, have spent many years in the industry – but likeable. The best I can say is that everybody at the College seems to genuinely enjoy what they do, and it reflects in the quality of the program. I can recommend it without reservations to anyone interested in pursuing Journeyman status in the trades that they cover.I was searching for an apprenticeship program and came across Northwest College of construction.
Address: 8111 NE Holman St, Portland, OR 97218
Elite School Of Beauty
I loveee Elite School of Beauty!!! I have come here many times for all different hair styling desires and I’m always completely satisfied; they always do way better than my expectations and are just so good. I definitely recommend them to anyone. For over 2 years now I have had the most wonderful hairdressers here always impressing me with their wonderful skills i must say my most current hair color is beyond expectations so beautiful I cannot tell you how much I love this place thankyou thankyou thankyou!!! For my beautiful color and cut Lillian you are amazing!!!!! Cut was perfect. She knew how to wash hair so it feels like it! I have been coming to Elite on and off for a few years now and everyone there is incredibly nice! Chellsea was very attentive to what I wanted for my hair color and did a wonderful job getting the color I was going for. I had her decide on a cut for me as I am a very indecisive person. I did say I wanted something no fuss, she gave me a bob with longer pieces in the front. I have been in several times for cut and color. I have never been disappointed. Very talented students. Highy recommend.
Address: 2613 NE 114th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98684
Charter College
Charter has been such a blessing in my life. I have learned so much in my journey and have gained so many important skills that I will be able to use personally and professionally. All of the instructors are amazing and the staff is so helpful and personable. Thank you everyone at Charter for all that you do! I started Charter College in November. Since I started, I have had the most amazing instructors and great classmates. The curriculum is based on real-world experience, my MA instructor has been an MA for over 20 years and she’s someone I’d definitely want to learn from if I were you. Overall, I enjoy being here and wouldn’t want to learn anywhere else. Charter College is a wonderful to get started, I remember when I first went into an Admissions Meeting, it was welcoming. The Admissions Rep wanted me to get in and get started ASAP! Not next week or Next Month, ASAP. Within a week I was in class. They even helped me understand my Financial Aid and helped with my FAFSA. It was a walk in the park getting enrolled. They truly do work to get us to work.
Address: 17200 SE Mill Plain Blvd #100, Vancouver, WA 98683
Trade Schools near Vancouver
There are a number of trade schools near Vancouver, WA. to choose from. See a list below: