Trade school programs in Kentucky

207 trade school programs in 20 fields of skilled trades, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

61 schools offer these programs, and Kentucky has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 20 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

Trade school programs teach hands-on work with tools, machines and building systems. That runs from building work like carpentry, plumbing and electrical, through repairing cars, diesel trucks, heating and cooling systems and factory machinery, to welding, sheet metal, masonry, auto body repair, CNC machining, manufacturing and electronics work, solar and wind installation, water treatment, workplace safety, running heavy equipment and cranes, and inspecting homes. Most are certificates; some are two-year degrees or apprenticeships.

All job training programs in Kentucky, every line of work

Accredited trade schools in Kentucky, each school with its accreditor

Trade school programs by state, to compare Kentucky with other states

Compare trade school programs in Kentucky: cost, pay and results

Welding classes
33 programs at 27 schools
Most cost
$1,750 to $9,020
Earned a year, estimated
about $22,000
Working 6 months later
65%
Finished
99%
HVAC training (heating and cooling)
26 programs at 15 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Industrial maintenance technician training
22 programs at 16 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
about $42,800
Working 6 months later
80%
Finished
55%
Electrician training
16 programs at 16 schools
Most cost
$6,771 to $11,386
Earned a year, estimated
about $36,500
Working 6 months later
77%
Finished
37%
Electronics technician training
13 programs at 10 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
CNC machinist training
12 programs at 12 schools
Most cost
$11,016 to $11,606
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Carpentry classes
11 programs at 11 schools
Most cost
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Diesel mechanic training
9 programs at 9 schools
Most cost
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Lineman school (power line work)
9 programs at 9 schools
Most cost
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
about $40,800
Working 6 months later
75%
Finished
94%
Auto body repair classes
9 programs at 8 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Manufacturing technician training
8 programs at 8 schools
Most cost
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data
Construction training programs
7 programs at 7 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Auto mechanic classes
6 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$11,880 to $13,120
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Heavy equipment operator training
6 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
AutoCAD and drafting courses (computer-aided design)
6 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Plumbing school
5 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
OSHA safety training (workplace safety)
5 programs at 5 schools
Most cost
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Home inspector training
2 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Crane operator training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data
Water treatment operator training (water and wastewater)
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
Finished
Not enough data

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Kentucky may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free trade school in Kentucky?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most welding programs in Kentucky cost $1,750 to $9,020, and most auto mechanic programs $11,880 to $13,120. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Kentucky, by line of work

Programs approved in Kentucky in each line of work.

Where the Kentucky trade school numbers come from

Which Kentucky programs are counted?

Programs Kentucky approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Kentucky offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about trade school programs in Kentucky

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services