10 Best Trade Schools inSpringdale, AR

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Springdale trade schools offer programs that prepare students for rewarding careers in healthcare, industrial trades, transportation, and a variety of other in-demand industries.

Their intensive career-focused programs are designed to be completed in less than two years and equip students with all the skills needed for entry-level employment in their field.

You don’t have to put your dreams on hold just because you can’t afford to spend four years in a traditional college program.

If you live in the region, we invite you to read our selection of vocational schools and find out more about all the educational alternatives available.



1Northwest Technical Institute

About the School

Northwest Technical Institute offers nine diploma programs in the fields of health sciences, industry, and information systems.

The Institute’s Career Center serves public schools in Northwest Arkansas.

The Career Center programs are available to junior and senior high school students who want to earn credit in career and technical fields.

The Career Center is supported by the Arkansas State Department of Career Education.

Northwest Technical Institute also has an Adult Education Center that helps adults obtain a high school equivalency diploma or improve their basic academic skills.

Tuition for the Diploma programs is $60 per credit hour for in-state students and $65 per credit hour for out-of-state students.

Additional fees apply, depending on the program.

For example, the technology fee is $120 per semester for seven or more credit hours and $60 per semester for six or fewer credit hours.

Course Offered

The following programs are available at Northwest Technical Institute:

  • Allied Health Programs: Certified Nursing Assistant, Practical Nursing Program, Sterile Processing Technician, and Surgical Technology
  • Industrial Arts: Ammonia Refrigeration, Automotive Service, Electronics, Industrial Maintenance, Medium & Heavy Truck, and Welding
  • Information Systems
  • Ammonia Operator Training
  • Truck Driving & CDL

Contact Information

  • Address: 709 S Old Missouri Road, Springdale, AR 72764
  • Phone: (479) 751-8824
  • Website: https://nwti.edu

2Business & Industry Training

About the School

Business & Industry Training is a non-profit organization that offers industry short-term, hands-on training.

Students learn at their own pace and choose the location of the classes.

Training is currently available at the school’s facilities in Springdale and Gentry but on-site options tailored to fit students’ needs are also an option.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available at Business & Industry Training:

  • Electrical Systems & Motor Controls
  • PLC’s
  • Fluid Power- a program that covers Pneumatics and Hydraulics

Courses that included approximately 24 hrs are also available in the following fields:

  • Mechanical Drives
  • Process Control
  • CNC Machine Tooling

Classes in Robotics and Safety are also offered.

In addition, the school provides over 100 soft skills classes that can be held at the school or the customer’s facility and last from 8 hours to 4 hours per course and cover topics such as:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Powerpoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Budgets and Financial Reports
  • Business Acumen
  • Delivering Constructive Criticism
  • Teamwork and Teambuilding
  • And more

Contact Information

  • Address: 1490 June Self Drive, Springdale, AR, and 201 S Giles St, Gentry, AR
  • Phone: 479-365-7341
  • Website: https://www.busandind.com

3Petra Allied Health

About the School

If you want to start a career in allied health, Petra Allied Health offers several training programs designed to get you ready for employment.

Training costs vary depending on the program and its duration.

Tuition is $800 for the Veterinary Assisting program and $2,900 for the Dental Assistant program.

Additional costs include textbooks, lab fees, uniforms, and registration fees (depending on the program).

Petra Allied Health offers 10 programs that combine classroom training with hands-on instruction.

Upon completion, students are ready to sit for the certification exams that allow them to get started in their future careers.

According to the school’s website graduates have the same opportunities as those who graduate from a traditional college.

Courses Offered

The following programs are available:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant- a 90-hour course available for students who are 16 years old or older.
  • Medical Assistant- a program that consists of 144 hours of class/lab time and an 80-hour externship
  • Dental Assistant- a program that includes 200 hours of classroom/lab time and 80 hours of externship
  • Phlebotomy Technician- a 48-hour course
  • Medical Billing & Coding Insurance Specialist- a 120-hour course
  • Veterinary Assistant- this program includes 48 hours of training
  • Electrocardiograph Technician- a 48-hour course
  • Limited Licensed Radiologic Technologist- an 84-hour course
  • Optometric Assistant- a 48-hour course
  • Pharmacy Technician-a 48-hour course

Contact Information


4DeSigner Barber and Stylist School

About the School

DeSigner Barber and Stylist School offers training for students who want to start a career as a barber or stylist.

According to the school’s website, graduates had a 90 percent job placement rate.

DeSigner Barber and Stylist School, Springdale campus is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences.

To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 17 years of age
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Attend a personal interview and visit the school
  • Be able to read, write, and understand the English language

DeSigner is licensed by the Arkansas State Board of Barber Examiners.

Tuition for the 10-month program is $14,900.

Additional costs include $1,100 for books and supplies.

Courses Offered

DeSigner’s barber/stylist program includes the following courses:

  • Haircutting- a 425-hour class
  • Hairstyling- 300 hours of training
  • Barber-Stylist Chemistry- 345 hours
  • Related Sciences- 175 hours
  • Hygiene and Sanitation- 80 hours in total
  • Shaving- 50-hour class
  • Style Shop Management- 75 hours
  • Salesmanship & Product Knowledge- 50 hours of training are allocated to this section

Contact Information


5Blue Cliff College

About the School

Blue Cliff College offers training programs that prepare students for a career in Clinical Medical Assisting, Health Information Management, Dental Assisting, or Massage Therapy.

The school has two campuses in Fayetteville: one located next to Scott Plaza and a satellite campus on Hiram Davis Place.

The College’s main campus covers 9,900 square feet and includes five lecture classrooms, two medical laboratory simulation rooms, a library, and seven administrative offices.

Tuition varies depending on the program.

The Clinical Medical Assisting program costs $18,381 in total, while the Massage Therapy program costs $10,748.

This includes tuition, program fees, and graduation fees.

The following programs are available at the college’s main campus:

  • Clinical Medical Assisting Diploma- a program that combines classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experience
  • Health Information Management, Billing and Coding- a program that covers technical skills, software applications, and more
  • Dental Assisting- a program that teaches oral care, orthodontics, tooth form and structure, and more.

The school’s satellite campus covers 6,600 square feet and includes lecture classrooms, massage therapy rooms, and a library.

The following program is available at the College’s satellite campus:

  • Massage Therapy- a program that teaches anatomy and physiology, massage fundamentals, and more.

Blue Cliff College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Contact Information


6Mid-America Truck Driving School

About the School

Mid-America Truck Driving School teaches students how to operate Commercial Drivers License required vehicles.

Students learn how to operate everything from 18 wheeler big rigs to RVs.

Training is available in all types of commercial motor vehicles: class A, B, and C vehicles with endorsements for Hazmat, Tank, Doubles & Triples, Passenger Transit, Coach, and School buses.

The school’s trainer vehicles are equipped with driveline configurations for engines and transmissions in non-commercial and commercial motor vehicles as well as RVs and camper trailers.

Prospective students can complete an enrollment application through the school’s website.

Applicants must be at least 19 years of age and they must have completed high school or have a GED.

A good driving record within the past three years is also needed.

Students have to be in good health.

Practice tests are available to test the student’s general knowledge, air brakes, and combination vehicles.

The school’s truck driving training consists of five one-week courses that include 200 clock hours in total.

Trainees learn how to operate tractor and trailer vehicles, dump trucks, log trucks, cement mixers, coach buses, and school buses.

Those who complete the program can be tested on campus for the Commercial Driver’s License.

Contact Information


7Arkansas College of Electricity

About the School

Arkansas College of Electricity is a state-approved Certified Apprenticeship Training Program

The college offers a four-year program.

Spanish assistance classes, hands-on motor controls, a computer lab for exam preparations, and continuing education credits are also available.

Apprentices receive on-the-job training as well as classroom instruction.

Each year of apprenticeship consists of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of classroom instruction.

The program can be completed in two years by Residential Journeymen and in four years by Journeymen.

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age and they need a GED or high school diploma.

To be able to attend class, students have to be working for a Licensed Electrician.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the electrician profession will grow 9 percent in the United States from 2020 to 2030.

This will result in approximately 84,700 jobs each year, on average, over the decade.

The mean annual wage reported by electricians in Arkansas is $43,280.

Salaries range from less than $27,000 and more than $62,000, depending on experience level, education, region, and a variety of other factors.

Contact Information


8Northwest Arkansas Community College

About the School

Northwest Arkansas Community College offers degree and certificate programs that prepare students for careers in a variety of fields.

Tuition is $75 per credit hour for in-district students and $135 for out-of-district students.

Out-of-state students pay $150 per credit hour while international students pay $195 per credit hour.

Northwest Arkansas Community College offers more than 75 degrees and certificates.

Students can earn a certificate in only a few months and an associate degree in two years.

Northwest Arkansas Community College has earned institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Individual programs are also accredited by professional accreditations.

For example, their Physical Therapist Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Courses Offered

Degrees and Certificates are available in areas such as:

  • Bicycle Assembly & Repair- a program that leads to a Technical Certificate
  • AAS in Construction Technology
  • Construction Technology Technical Certificate
  • Integrated Design Technical Certificate

Certificates of Proficiency are also available in:

  • Construction Technology
  • Electrical Apprentice
  • HVAC Apprentice
  • Plumbing Apprentice

AAS programs, Technical Certificates, and Certificates of Proficiency are available in many other fields, including General Technology, Graphic Design, Health Information Management, Paramedic Services, and Nursing, just to name a few.

Contact Information


9Real Estate Pro School

About the School

Real Estate Pro School offers a variety of programs that provide students with real estate education.

Online classes and live classroom instruction are available.

Students learn from experienced instructors.

Before earning a salesperson license in the state of Arkansas, you have to:

  • Complete 60 hours of Salesperson pre-license course
  • Apply to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission
  • Take and pass the licensing exam
  • Complete 18 hours of Salesperson post-license education within the first six months after hire

The following requirements must be met before earning a broker license in the state of Arkansas:

  • Have an active salesperson real estate license for at least 24 months
  • Complete a 60-hour broker pre-license course
  • Apply to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission
  • Pass the licensing exam
  • Complete 30 hours of Broker Post License Education within six months

The 60-hour salesperson pre-licensing class costs $425 if taken live

The online course only is $310.

A 60-hour course with QBank Exam Prep costs $380

A package that includes a 60-hour course, exam prep, and career accelerator costs $480.

Contact Information


10Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy

About the School

Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy, LLC is a dental assistant school that offers training at several locations across the nation.

The training program can be completed in 10-12 weeks (depending on the state of enrollment) and provides students with hands-on experience inside a real dental office.

After graduation, students are equipped with the confidence and knowledge needed for a new career.

During training, students learn from experienced state-licensed professionals.

Trainees also have the opportunity of shadowing their instructor in a real work environment.

The program combines an online learning system that allows students to learn the theoretical aspects applicable to this field at their own pace with hands-on experience alongside experienced professionals.

Accelerated Dental Assisting Academy, LLC holds three courses per year.

Classes are held one day per week on Friday or Saturday, and each class is eight hours long.

Courses Offered

The curriculum covers topics in the following areas:

  • Dental terminology and equipment
  • X-rays: conventional and digital
  • Impressions and pour/trim models
  • Front desk skills
  • Career and life skills
  • And more

Contact Information

  • Address: 2131 N Crossover Rd #101, Fayetteville, AR 72703
  • Phone: 844-727-3755
  • Website: https://www.adaa.us

Salary Information for Popular Trade Careers

CareerEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Paralegals and Legal Assistants310$76,160$36.61$89,050$33,460
Medical Records Specialists290$44,320$21.31$64,420$31,990
Nursing Assistants2,680$32,780$15.76$38,690$26,080
Dental Assistants730$42,330$20.35$48,460$35,780
Medical Assistants1,060$36,780$17.68$42,920$30,420
Phlebotomists170$38,930$18.72$47,040$33,890
Electricians1,750$50,330$24.2$70,390$35,410
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters760$51,350$24.69$65,800$35,080
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1,080$47,980$23.07$74,020$29,600
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers890$50,370$24.22$63,440$34,090
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO metropolitan statistical area, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have read our list, the next step is to decide what career path you want to pursue.

This is an important decision, so take your time and consider all the factors.

Then, we invite you to continue the research and apply for the training program that best meets your needs and aspirations.


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