10 Best Trade Schools inMichigan

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This page compiles information about 10 of the best trade schools in Michigan.

We made this selection in order to help you choose the trade school that will best prepare you for a successful and rewarding career.

This page also includes essential information about the schools and their programs, such as costs, duration, accreditation and more.

Michigan trade schools offer high-quality hands-on training in various high-demand industries:

  • Medical Care
  • Beauty Industry
  • Constructions
  • and more

There are many great options out there so we invite you to read further and, depending on your skills and interests, decide where you want to start building a successful career.



State FlagTrade Schools by City


1Northwestern Technological Institute

Northwestern Technological Institute is an HVAC training school in Southfield, Michigan.

Founded in 1979, the school has thousands of successful graduates.

The fundamentals of the HVAC/R and mechanical trades are taught by field-experienced instructors with a hands-on method.

The school offers students the possibility to earn 4 national HVAC certifications: EPA 609 Auto Air Certification, Trac Pipe Certification, R-410a Certification and EPA 608 Universal Certification.

Northwestern Technological Institute has 9 classrooms equipped with various technologies: from the latest models to older units that are still in people’s homes.

The HVAC training program is only 10 and a half months long. In less than a year graduates could be skilled HVAC technicians.

The school offers morning, afternoon and evening classes to accommodate student’s schedules.

Northwestern Technological Institute is approved to operate under license of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Northwestern Technological Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

Fees. Prospective students can use a net price calculator on the school’s website to estimate tuition cost. Students who want to apply for financial aid will be assisted by school staff experienced with the different types of financial aid, including military educational benefits, like Post 9-11 GI Bill, Grants, and Federal Loans.

Contact information:


2Michigan Builders License & Continuing Competency

Michigan Builders License & Continuing Competency is offering pre-licensing and continuing competency classes for future and experienced builders.

MichiganBuildersLicense.com provides adult students with the highest quality certification training available for the Michigan Builders License.

The school develops software for self-study.

Student can learn at their own pace from an office, home, or just about anywhere with Internet access.

Michigan Builders License is one of the nation’s leading providers of professional certification training software.

In order to get your Michigan Builders Prelicense you have to follow the following steps:

  • Complete the 60 hours of required pre-license education
  • Mail your Michigan Builders License application and Course Completion Certificate to the State of Michigan
  • Take your exam

Fees at the Michigan Builders License & Continuing Competency vary between $109.97 and $647.97, depending on the class.

Courses offered:

Pre-license courses:

  • Michigan Builders License Seminar
  • 60-hour online pre-license course

Continuing competency classes:

  • 3-hour Continuing competency class – online and in person.
  • 21-hour Continuing competency class – online and in person.

Contact information:


3Health Care Solutions and Career Group

Health Care Solutions and Career Group prepare future nursing assistants and healthcare technicians at its locations in Detroit and Allen Park.

Classes duration varies between 4 hours and 15 weeks, depending on the program.

Enrollment. Prospective students can register by filling out an application at the school’s office. Applicants need a valid photo ID. They also have to pay a curse deposit.

Fees. Tuition is between $300 and $2,500, depending on the program. This price includes textbooks, theory, lab, clinical rotation, and job placement assistance. Payment plans are also available.

The fee for the CPR-BLS is $55 for returning students and $60 for new students.

Courses offered:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (2 weeks)
  • Patient Care Technician Combo (8 weeks total)
  • Phlebotomy Technician (4 weeks)
  • CPR-BLS (4 hours)
  • EKG Technician (2 weeks)
  • Dialysis Technician (15 weeks) – only at the Detroit campus
  • Direct Care Worker (3 weeks) – only at the Detroit campus
  • Home Health Aide (1 week) – only at the Detroit campus

Contact information:


4Ross Medical Education

Ross Medical Education offers a variety of healthcare training programs across 40 individual campus locations to help prepare students for careers and certification in specialized medical fields.

Out of the 40 campuses, 17 are located in Michigan.

All Ross Medical Education Center and Ross College campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

Each Ross Medical Education Center campus and each Ross College campus is licensed or authorized by the state in which the school is located or nearby state in which students are served.

Enrollment. Each applicant will have to complete an evaluation that measures general ability.

Prospective students must have graduated from a valid high school, must have completed a recognized equivalent (GED), or must have completed secondary education in a home school setting that is treated as a home school or private school under state law to be eligible for admission to Ross Medical Education Center.

Fees. Tuition is between $14,200 and $15,990, depending on the program. These prices include tuition, books, supplies, and lab fees.

Courses offered:

Ross Medical Education offers the following programs at its Michigan campuses.

The school also offers the following online programs:

Contact information:


5Phlebotomy Training Center

Phlebotomy Training Center is providing training for medical personnel in a variety of specializations.

Since 2009, Phlebotomy Career Training has been graduating both local Michigan and national students in a variety of medical careers, both online and offline.

Courses range from 4 weeks to 5 months in duration.

Nancy Kimmel is the owner & school director for Phlebotomy Career Training’s online and offline classes. She is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, and also holds a Ph.D.

Fees for the in-person classes are between $600 and $2,500, depending on the class while fees for the online classes are between $300 and $999.

Courses offered:

Some of the online classes offered by the Phlebotomy Training Center are:

  • Online Medical Assistant with  National Exam
  • Online Medical Coding and Billing Certification
  • Online Home Health Aide Certification
  • Online I.V. Technician Certification
  • Online EKG and Telemetry with Nationals, 4 Certifications
  • Online Medication Aide Certification
  • Online Mental Health Tech Certification

Some of the in-person classes and educational packages offered by the Phlebotomy Training Center are:

  • Accredited Medical Assistant, EKG, Patient Care Technician, IV Tech – 6 Certifications
  • Cardio-Phlebotomy Technician In Class – 8 Certifications
  • Certified Nursing Assistant
  • Clinical Medical Assistant Certification
  • Dialysis Technician Certification
  • Patient Care Technician
  • Phlebotomy Technician
  • Medical Assistant – Mega 12 Includes Pharmacy Tech & Medical Billing & Coding
  • Medical Assistant – Super 20 certifications (7 at the National level)

Contact information:


6Detroit Training Center

Detroit Training Center is providing a variety of workforce development and construction training programs.

The Center also offers home improvement workshops, welding classes, green infrastructure training, and tiny house construction programs.

Enrollment. Application requirements depend on the program.

For the CDL programs, prospective students must, among other things, be at least 21 years old, must be able to pass D.O.T. physical and drug test prior to enrollment. Applicants must have been licensed for the past 3 years within the U.S. and possess a valid driver’s license.

Fees vary depending on the program and the number of hours of training. The CDL-A Commercial Drivers License program costs $4,995 while the cost for a home improvement workshop for 6 workers is $300. A 24-hour lead inspector course is $450 while the 16-hour lead inspector course costs $350.

Courses offered:

  • Workforce Development
  • Commercial Driver’s License: CDL-A and CDL-B
  • Home Improvement Workshops
  • Residential Construction
  • Real Estate Training
  • Computer-aided Design
  • Welding
  • Safety and License: Lead Inspector, OSHA 10&30, Asbestos Abatement
  • Equipment Certification
  • Contractor Development

Contact information:


7Merrill Institute

Merrill Institute is providing 12-week hands-on training programs for future professional welders.

The school is located within the fabrication facility of Merril.

This gives students the unique opportunity to see a live, working manufacturing plant in action as they learn from AWS-certified Instructors and Educators.

Students will spend 85% of the time doing hands-on training in welding labs, and just 15% in a classroom.

More than 93% of welding program graduates start new jobs as soon as they complete the program.

Merrill Institute is an Accredited Testing Facility for the AWS. After completing the 12-week program, students receive a nationally recognized SENSE Level I Certification from the American Welding Society (AWS).

The school offers many payment options: private loans, scholarships or grants. Students who qualify can also apply their VA Education Benefits to cover tuition costs for the Merrill Institute’s welding program.

Contact information:


8Dymond Designs Beauty School

Dymond Designs Beauty School is providing full-time and part-time courses for future cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, and instructors.

The school’s curriculum is designed to provide each student with hands-on and classroom training in design, cutting, coloring, relaxing, extensions and multi-cultural techniques.

School staff and instructors are highly skilled professionals with years of experience.

Students also learn work ethics, professionalism and communication skills.

Full-time classes are held Tues-Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Part-time classes are held Tues-Fri: 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Enrollment. Prospective students can submit an application through the school’s website.

Fees. Tuition fees vary depending on the program. Dymond Designs Beauty School also offers merit and financially based scholarships for students who qualify.

Courses offered:

  • Cosmetology (1500 Hours)
  • Manicuring (600 Hours)
  • Esthetics (600 Hours)
  • Instructor- Hair Cultivation Course (600 Hours)
  • Refresher Courses (400 Hours)
  • Advance Classes (400 Hours)

Contact information:


9Barber/Styling College of Lansing

The Barber/Styling College of Lansing prepares future barbers for a successful career.

The College’s practical training area can accommodate 40 full-time students.

There are a barber and styling chairs, sanitizers, lather machines, hot and cold water sinks, mirrors, linen cabinets, etc.

The school classroom is equipped with student desks, dry-erase board, anatomy charts, VCR and TV for instructional tapes, a full source reference library and mannequins.

The course is designed to be completed in one year.

The 2000 hours are scheduled for 40 hours per week over the course of 50 weeks. Graduates will complete 250 hours of theory training and 1,750 of practical training.

The school is approved by the Michigan State Board of Barber Examiners, Michigan Dept. of Education Rehabilitation Services and Michigan Dept. of Education for Veterans Benefits.

The school is a member of the State of Michigan Barber’s Association.

Enrollment. Applicants must have proof of high-school completion, proof of identification, a completed Michigan Student License application and a check or money order for $80 made out to the “State of Michigan-Barbers”.

Fees. The total course cost is 6,300. The price includes a barber/styling tool kit

Contact information:


10Blue Heron Academy

Blue Heron Academy provides educational programs for individuals who want to start a career in the health & wellness industry.

The Blue Heron Academy was founded in 1980 by Dr. Gregory T. Lawton as a free school that provided training to both men and women who desired to serve humanity through the health care professions.

Since then the school has trained thousands of successful graduates.

The school’s programs are designed for working adults.

The Academy offers both day and evening classes.

The Academy was first licensed in 1997 by the Michigan Office of Postsecondary Education.

The Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts and Sciences is currently approved and licensed by the Michigan Proprietary Schools Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Fees vary depending on the program. Financial assistance is also available.

Blue Heron Academy also offers eLearning programs with prices between $740 and $2,400.

Courses offered:

  • Medical Massage Therapy
  • Holistic Health Practitioner
  • Phlebotomy Technician
  • Personal Fitness Trainer
  • Life Coach
  • Clinical Nutrition
  • Herbal Medicine
  • Diet-Weight Management
  • Acupressure & Massage

Contact information:


Salary Information for Popular Trade Careers

CareerEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Paralegals and Legal Assistants7,580$63,460$30.51$85,750$40,450
Medical Records Specialists4,700$49,760$23.92$66,620$35,810
Nursing Assistants38,360$38,930$18.72$44,630$33,960
Dental Assistants10,750$45,210$21.73$57,360$35,910
Medical Assistants26,370$39,840$19.15$46,080$31,550
Phlebotomists3,210$41,510$19.96$48,890$35,750
Electricians24,240$65,870$31.67$94,240$38,160
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters12,860$69,550$33.44$98,880$38,820
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics19,530$50,840$24.44$76,840$30,900
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers10,580$57,290$27.54$81,710$37,220
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Michigan, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Final Thoughts

Michigan trade schools offer a variety of educational programs designed to help students start a rewarding career in a matter of months.

All you have to do is decide what is your dream job and start searching for the institution that is best suited for your educational needs.

Before enrolling at a trade school, make sure the institution is trustworthy and the classes are accredited by the government institutes.