Washington Skilled Trades Training Centers

Looking for real training in Washington that leads to real paychecks?

Below you’ll find community & technical colleges, union JATCs, and open-shop/private programs for key industrial skilled trades in Washington State.

​

Use this page to explore options, then click through to each school or apprenticeship for up-to-date details on entry requirements, start dates, and locations.

​

Statewide “Find Everything” Tools

Before diving into specific trades, here are statewide search tools you should know:

• Washington Career Bridge – Search hundreds of community/tech college and private training programs by career, location, or school. (Career Bridge)

  • 👉 Website: https://www.careerbridge.wa.gov

• WA Dept. of Labor & Industries – Become an Apprentice – Official state hub for registered apprenticeships (building trades, manufacturing, etc.) with a searchable program list and prep programs. (Washington State Labor & Industries)

  • 👉 Website: https://www.lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/apprenticeship/become-an-apprentice

• Washington Career Paths – Easy “pick a trade → see apprenticeships” site for WA (roofers, carpenters, floor covering, etc.). (wacareerpaths.com)

  • 👉 Website: https://wacareerpaths.com

• Construction Industry Training Council of Washington (CITC) – Open-shop (non-union) training school and apprenticeship provider with carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, painting, sheet metal, laborers, heavy equipment, and more, with classes across WA. (CITC)

  • 👉 Website: https://www.citcwa.org

• AJAC – Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee – State-funded nonprofit offering youth and adult apprenticeships in aerospace and advanced manufacturing statewide, partnering with WA colleges and employers. (AJAC)

  • 👉 Website: https://www.ajactraining.org

• Finishing Trades Institute Northwest (FTINW) – Union apprenticeship school for floor covering, painting, glazing, and other finishing trades with programs in Eastern and Western WA. (ftinw.org)

  • 👉 Website: https://www.ftinw.org

  • ​

TRAINING BY TRADE 

​

For each trade below, you’ll see: Community & Technical Colleges, Union Apprenticeships (JATC), Open-Shop / Private Training

​

1. ROOFERS

​

Community & Technical Colleges

Spokane Community College – Roofer Apprenticeship (with Inland Empire Roofers)

• Location: Spokane

• Pathway: Certificate – Roofer Apprenticeship, tied into Inland Empire Roofers program via SCC’s Hands-On & Building Trades pathway. (Spokane Community College)

• Info: Search “Roofer Apprenticeship IERW” on SCC’s program list.

• 👉 Program page hub: https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-Study/Programs (filter for Trades → Roofer Apprenticeship)

Clover Park Technical College (partner for Pierce County Roofers JATC)

• Location: Lakewood (Tacoma area)

• Provides related classroom instruction for Pierce County Roofers apprentices. (Pierce County Roofers)

• 👉 College: https://www.cptc.edu

• ​

Union Apprenticeships (JATC)

Pierce County Roofers JATC / Roofers Local 153

• Location: Tacoma, WA

• Paid “earn while you learn” apprenticeship in roofing & waterproofing; partnered with Clover Park Technical College. (wabuildingtrades.unionactive.com)

• 👉 Program: https://www.piercecountyroofers.com/the-program

Seattle Area / Inland Empire Roofers (via WA Building Trades)

• WA Building & Construction Trades Council lists contact info and program details for roofers apprenticeships around the state. (wabuildingtrades.unionactive.com)

• 👉 Roofers info: https://wabuildingtrades.org/apprenticeship--training.html

• 👉 Specific page (Roofers): https://wacareerpaths.com/apprenticeships/apprenticeship-construction/apprenticeship-roofers

​​

Open-Shop / Private

Most roofing training is union apprenticeship–based in WA. Non-union contractors typically train helpers on the job, sometimes using CITC or other construction schools for safety and basics.

• 👉 Consider CITC construction training: https://www.citcwa.org

​​

2. SHEET METAL

​

Community & Technical Colleges

Bates Technical College – Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC Program

• Location: Tacoma

• Offers AAS and related instruction for Western WA Sheet Metal apprentices (HVAC, ductwork, architectural sheet metal, roofing systems). (Bates Technical College)

• 👉 Program: https://batestech.edu (search “Sheet Metal Worker Apprenticeship JATC”)

​​

Union Apprenticeships (JATC)

Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC (SMW Local 66)

• Locations: Everett & DuPont main centers, plus Longview & Bellingham satellites.

• Programs: Sheet Metal Worker, Residential Sheet Metal, Marine, HVAC Service, HVAC Controls, TAB (Test, Adjust & Balance). (WWSMJATC)

• 👉 Website: https://www.wwsmjatc.org

Sheet Metal Institute – Spokane / Ellensburg / N. Idaho (Eastern WA)

• Region: NE Washington & N. Idaho

• Registered JATC offering full sheet metal apprenticeship training. (SEWNEO JATC)

• 👉 Website: https://sewneo.org/spokane

​​

Open-Shop / Private

CITC – Sheet Metal Program

• State-licensed open-shop training for sheet metal along with other construction trades. Classes around WA. (CITC)

• 👉 Sheet Metal / construction programs: https://www.citcwa.org/construction-training

• ​

3. GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

(Framing, laborers, heavy equipment, etc.)

​

Community & Technical Colleges

Spokane Community College – Hands-On & Building Trades Pathway

• Includes carpentry, heavy equipment, bricklayer, roofer, diesel, and more under one trades umbrella. (Spokane Community College)

• 👉 Programs: https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-Study/Programs?pathway=Trades

Most WA community colleges will house construction programs under “Construction Technology,” “Carpentry,” or “Building Trades” on Career Bridge or their own sites.

​

Union Apprenticeships (JATC)

Northwest Carpenters / NWCI & Western States Carpenters Training Fund

• WA carpentry, interior systems, millwrights, scaffold, pile driver, etc. Apprenticeship locations around the state. (Western States Carpenters Training Fund)

• 👉 Info hub: https://www.nwci.org

Laborers, Operators, etc.

• WA Building Trades site links to multiple construction apprenticeship programs (laborers, operators, ironworkers, etc.). (wabuildingtrades.org)

• 👉 Apprenticeship list: https://www.wabuildingtrades.org/apprenticeship--training.html

​​

Open-Shop / Private

CITC – Construction Training

• Non-union training in Carpentry, Heavy Equipment Operators, Laborers, HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Sheet Metal and more across WA. (CITC)

• 👉 https://www.citcwa.org/construction-training

ANEW – Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Programs (PACE / TRP / Bootcamps)

• Location: Tukwila + traveling boot camp across WA.

• High-quality pre-apprenticeship for people entering union construction apprenticeships. (Washington State Labor & Industries)

• 👉 https://anewcareer.org

​

4. HVAC-R

​

Community & Technical Colleges

Spokane Community College – HVAC/R

• Degree: AAS in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration.

• Focus: Residential/light commercial systems; install, service, repair. (Spokane Community College)

• 👉 Program: https://scc.spokane.edu (search “HVAC/R”)

South Seattle College – HVAC/R (listed via HVAC schools aggregators and WA trades program lists) (HVAC Classes)

• 👉 College: https://southseattle.edu (search “HVAC”)

Other HVAC programs show up on HVAC program lists for WA via trade-school and HVAC-specific sites. (Only Trade Schools)

​

Union Apprenticeships

Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC – HVAC Service, Controls, TAB

• Registered HVAC-related apprenticeships (Service Tech, Controls, TAB) covering Western WA. (Career Bridge)

• 👉 Programs: https://www.wwsmjatc.org/our-apprenticeships

​​

Open-Shop / Private

CITC – HVAC Program

• Open-shop apprenticeship for Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning. (CITC)

PHCC of Washington – HVACR Apprenticeship (PHCC Academy)

• Online + on-the-job HVACR apprenticeship through Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of Washington. (PHCC Washington)

• 👉 Program: https://www.phccwa.org/products/hvacr-apprenticeship

• ​

5. WELDING

​

Community & Technical Colleges

Big Bend Community College – Welding Technology

• Degrees/Certs: AAS + Certificates in structural welding. (Career Bridge)

• 👉 Program: https://www.bigbend.edu/academics/welding

Clark College – Welding Technologies

• Location: Vancouver, WA

• One–two year welding program using industry-standard equipment. (Career Bridge)

• 👉 Program: https://www.clark.edu (search “Welding Technologies”)

Spokane Community College – Welding & Fabrication

• Certificates in welding and fabrication; day/evening options. (Spokane Community College)

• 👉 Program: https://scc.spokane.edu (search “Welding and Fabrication”)

(There are more welding programs statewide; Career Bridge search “Welding” for full list.) (Career Bridge)

​

Union / Apprenticeship

Welding is often built into pipe trades, sheet metal, ironworkers, and manufacturing apprenticeships (UA locals, sheet metal JATCs, AJAC manufacturing).

• See Sheet Metal, Plumbing, Manufacturing sections below, plus WA Building Trades apprenticeship list. (wabuildingtrades.org)

​​

Open-Shop / Private

• Private welding schools and short-term programs appear on WA welding school lists; students should verify state approval and employer recognition.

(Trade School)

6. ELECTRICIAN

​

Community & Technical Colleges (Related Instruction / Pre-Apprentice)

Many electrical apprenticeships partner with colleges (Renton Technical, Bates, etc.) for the classroom side.

Spokane Community College – Electrical Maintenance & Automation (Spokane Community College)

• AAS in Electrical Maintenance & Automation (good prep/related instruction).

​​