Start Your Career Today

By submitting this form, I consent to be contacted by the School of Skilled Trades representatives and agents via email, text messages, and/or phone calls (including through automated systems or pre-recorded messages) at any phone numbers I have provided. This contact may include marketing messages and other school-related communications. I affirm that I have read and agree to the School’s Privacy Policy. I understand that providing this consent is not required to request information or enroll at the School of Skilled Trades and I can request information by calling 919.892.8989 instead. I understand that I may revoke my consent at any time. Standard text message and data rates may apply.

A portrait of a plumber wearing gloves, deftly adjusting a pipe with a wrench in a tiled room during work hours.

Get Equipped.
Get Empowered.
Get Employed.

The School of Skilled Trades: 
a better kind of vocational school
We started the School of Skilled Trades because, after decades as plumbers, we saw the same problem—and the same opportunity—again and again.
Many people start out as paid apprentices, hoping to learn their chosen trade and move up. But on-the-job training might not teach you what you need to know to grow in your career. After all, your supervisor’s first priority will be getting the job done, and they may not have time to teach you key skills. Plus, when you learn on the job, you  need to do complex tasks right the first time, even if you’ve never had a chance to practice. If you’re focused on getting the basics right, it can feel like a struggle to get promoted and earn more. 
Investing in training changes all that.
All School of Skilled Trades programs help you:
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsLearn the key skills you’ll need every day
skilled of school trades bullet pointsPractice in a setting where it’s okay to make mistakes
skilled of school trades bullet pointsStand out in your job search
skilled of school trades bullet pointsFeel confident you’re prepared to succeed
skilled of school trades bullet pointsPut you on the path to a long-term career—not just a job
The trade school that empowers you from day one
Land a better job and start building a stable, 
long-term career
At the School of Skilled Trades, you’ll get:
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsHigh-quality, accelerated vocational training
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsJob-placement support
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsCareer-advancement coaching
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsA head start on an AI-proof and recession-resistant career
water leak pipe
Learn skills that will be in 
demand for decades to come
The skilled trades are in high demand now, and that’s not going to change. Trade school can help you build a career that’s stable, no matter what happens in the economy or with AI. 
School of Skilled Trades red gear bullet pointsEvery year for the next ten years, there will be more than 43,000 job openings for plumbers in the U.S., and nearly 1,800 openings in North Carolina alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
School of Skilled Trades red gear bullet pointsThere aren’t enough skilled plumbers to fill all these openings. “We are going to have this for a long time. This is not a market cycle issue. This is a generational issue,” one construction-industry CEO told Bloomberg.
A plumber in a blue uniform uses a red wrench to work on a bathroom fixture against a tiled wall.
customer support
Get one-on-one support
to land a job
Our programs go beyond teaching you the technical skills you’ll use on the job. You’ll get direct access to local companies that are hiring, along with resume prep and interview coaching to help you get a good job. And you’ll learn how to succeed every day with your supervisor and customers—so you can keep advancing in your career. 
Get one-on-one support
to land a job
wallet
Start earning more in months, not years
Some trade schools take years, making it hard to stick with the program and get results. We offer six-month programs designed specifically to help you get a better paying job in a stable field.
A woman wearing gloves is diligently fixing a leaking pipe under the kitchen sink.
Pipes
When we say we’re dedicated to helping you, we mean it
experience
Your instructors all have decades of experience.
You’ll learn from people who have done the job in the real world. They’ll teach you the skills that will make you successful on your first day and every day after that.
sost tools icon
The tools you need are 
included.
You’ll get a complete set of high-quality tools to use and practice with during your training. Once you graduate, they’re yours to keep. 
non profit
We’re a non-profit school.
We invest tuition and donations in high-quality instructors, facilities, and equipment. You get top-notch training at a great value.
Licensed
We’re licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges.
Our curriculum, course offerings, facilities, and instructors all meet strict standards set by the state’s education experts.
“Masters of the Trades know that apprenticeship is education in action, it’s theory and experience working in tandem. PHCC of NC is excited to see more institutions like the School of Skilled Trades, dedicated to fostering a culture that values hands-on learning and real-world skill development. Through education and apprenticeship, together we will shape tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.”  
Stephanie Blazek
Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of North Carolina (PHCC of NC) Executive Director
review

Trade jobs are making headlines

Front page of The Wall Street Journal dated October 14, 2024, featuring headlines on private equity in HVAC, union contract disputes, and mystery drones at the Pentagon.
Private Equity Pours Millions Into HVAC, 
Plumbing Trades
The Walls Street Journal, October 14, 2024
PE firms across the country have been scooping up home services like HVAC—that is, heating, ventilation and air conditioning—as well as plumbing and electrical companies. The wave of investment is minting a new class of millionaires across the country, one that small-business owners said is helping add more shine to working with a tool belt.
Read Full Article

Get a head start on a secure career that you’ll enjoy

When you work in a skilled trade, you’ll get the satisfaction of seeing the results of your work first-hand. You’ll help build homes, offices, and your own future.
Our programs are perfect for working adults, 
veterans, and high school graduates
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet points94% of workers in the skilled trades would recommend their occupation to a family member, according to a Thumbtack survey.
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsThe skilled trades open the door to entrepreneurial opportunities. With advanced training and experience, you could start and run your own business. 

Earn your Plumbing Technician Certificate

Our flagship program helps you get started in the high-demand field of plumbing. Trade plumbers in the Triangle area can earn $22 or more to start. 
Graduate from our Plumbing Technician Certificate program, and you will start your first plumbing job with hundreds of hours of hands-on training. From your first day onward, you’ll show up as knowledgeable, prepared, and efficient. These are all qualities employers love to reward with promotions and raises.
Plus, you’ll lay the foundation for your future. Your training hours count towards state licensing requirements for plumbers. You don’t need to get a license to be a plumber in North Carolina. But having a license gives you access to even better pay and the chance to start your own business. That’s why we teach you the essential skills covered on the licensing exam. Your time at the school also counts towards the training hours you need to get licensed.
Earn your Plumbing Certificate

A technician in a hard hat and safety vest is carefully adjusting a valve on red pipes, meticulously checking the plumbing in an industrial setting.

Get your Backflow Certification or Recertification

We also offer state-recognized courses for Backflow Certification and Recertification. These short courses are all you need to meet North Carolina requirements, either to get your certification or renew it.
Dispelling common skilled trades myths
Skilled Trades Are for Women Too
play icon
Dispelling common skilled trades myths
Skilled Trades Are for Women Too
We know you can succeed, and we’re here to help
Our mission is to help you get equipped, get empowered, and get employed. Everyone at the School of Skilled Trades is dedicated to helping you get on the path to a successful, stable career. Plus, we’re a non-profit school, so your tuition dollars go towards your education.
We offer three ways to make trade school 
more affordable
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsScholarships made possible by our 
generous donors.
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsInstallment payment plans that allow you 
to pay over time.
School of Skilled Trades blue gear bullet pointsLearn-while-you-earn apprenticeship programs.
A better job is just a few months away
Start Your Career Today

By submitting this form, I consent to be contacted by the School of Skilled Trades representatives and agents via email, text messages, and/or phone calls (including through automated systems or pre-recorded messages) at any phone numbers I have provided. This contact may include marketing messages and other school-related communications. I affirm that I have read and agree to the School’s Privacy Policy. I understand that providing this consent is not required to request information or enroll at the School of Skilled Trades and I can request information by calling 919.892.8989 instead. I understand that I may revoke my consent at any time. Standard text message and data rates may apply.

Start Your Career Today

By submitting this form, I consent to be contacted by the School of Skilled Trades representatives and agents via email, text messages, and/or phone calls (including through automated systems or pre-recorded messages) at any phone numbers I have provided. This contact may include marketing messages and other school-related communications. I affirm that I have read and agree to the School’s Privacy Policy. I understand that providing this consent is not required to request information or enroll at the School of Skilled Trades and I can request information by calling 919.892.8989 instead. I understand that I may revoke my consent at any time. Standard text message and data rates may apply.