Careers

Skilled Trades

The Skilled Trades offer a wide variety of pathways to high-wage, high-demand jobs in Vermont.. According to the McClure Foundation/Vermont Department of Labor study on Most Promising Jobs, two-thirds of the most promising jobs that are available without a college degree are in the skilled trades. Adult education classes at your local Career and Technical Education center can help you find a hands-on skill that suits your abilities and passions.

See our Winter 2025 classes in Welding and Advanced Manufacturing!

Types of Classes Offered

EPA 608/609
Heavy Equipment Training
HVACR Technician Training
Natural Gas Certification
OSHA 10
Solar Installation
Welding

Our Training Centers with Programs and Certifications in Skilled Trades:

Upcoming Classes

CVCC CONSTRUCTION BASICS (NCCER + OSHA 10 CERTIFICATION)

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: November 2, 2026

End Date: January 20, 2027

Class Days: Monday, Wednesday,

Time: 4pm-7pm

Launch your career in the trades with this intensive, 10-week evening program designed to fast-track your entry into the high-demand construction industry. Meeting just two nights a week (3 hours …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Central Vermont Career Center

Training Type: in-person

Electrical Technician

Type of Class: online

This is a flex class, with ongoing enrollment.

Class Days: Varies,

Become an Electrical Technician Electrical work offers some of the strongest opportunities for long-term career stability, and trained electrical technicians are in high demand across industries. If you’re interested in …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Burlington Technical Center

Training Type: online

Electricians Talk Shop

Type of Class: in-person

This is a flex class, with ongoing enrollment.

Class Days: Wednesday,

Time: 6:00pm - 8pm

Electricians Talk Shop (ETS) meets the second Wednesday of each month from October – May. The purpose of the Electricians Talk Shop series is to cover topics from each of …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Windham Regional Career Center

Training Type: in-person

Exploring Welding

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: November 4, 2026

End Date: January 27, 2027

Class Days: Wednesday,

Time: 5:30pm-8:30pm

Have you always wanted to learn how to fuse metal, fix your own equipment, or dive into the creative world of metal fabrication? This hands-on introductory course is designed specifically …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Central Vermont Career Center

Training Type: in-person

Fundamentals Of Natural Gas

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: January 11, 2027

End Date: February 15, 2027

Class Days: Monday, Wednesday,

Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm

This 30 hour course focuses on subjects critical to ensuring the safe and efficient use of natural gas. The subjects will be presented through lectures, videos, demonstrations, and weekly tests. …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Center for Technology, Essex

Training Type: in-person

HVAC/R

Type of Class: online

This is a flex class, with ongoing enrollment.

Class Days: Varies,

Launch Your Career in HVAC/R with Hands-On Training Are you ready to join one of the most essential and growing industries? The HVAC/R Technician Training Program at Burlington Technical Center …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Burlington Technical Center

Training Type: online

VOICEOVER GPS PROGRAM

Type of Class: online

This is a flex class, with ongoing enrollment.

Class Days: Varies,

Prepare for your exciting new career in the voiceover industry! Students will understand and master performance techniques, technical skills, hardware and software used in the field, and procedures and practices …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: St. Johnsbury Academy Adult Education

Training Type: online

WELD-02: SMAW Welding (Level I)

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: November 4, 2026

End Date: December 16, 2026

Class Days: Wednesday, Thursday,

Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

This course is designed to introduce students to standard welding procedures and thermal cutting (OFC/PAC). Instruction will focus on developing hands-on proficiency using the SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) process, …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Stafford Technical Center

Training Type: in-person

WELD-03: SMAW Welding LEVEL II

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: January 6, 2027

End Date: February 4, 2027

Class Days: Wednesday, Thursday,

Time: 5:30-8:30 PM

This advanced course is designed to enhance SMAW welding skills and prepare students for taking a structural steel welder performance qualification test(s) per the requirements of the D1.1 Structural Welding …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Stafford Technical Center

Training Type: in-person

WELD-04: Practicum in Advanced Welding Processes

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: March 3, 2027

End Date: April 1, 2027

Class Days: Wednesday, Thursday,

Time: 5:30-8:30 PM

This course is intended to continue the education and training that was introduced in previous Stafford Welding School courses, but at a more focused and advanced level of instruction. The …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Stafford Technical Center

Training Type: in-person

Welding – Basic

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: November 9, 2026

End Date: December 7, 2026

Class Days: Monday,

Time: 4:30pm -8:30pm

Basic Welding is a 20 hour hands-on introduction to the proper techniques of welding, brazing and metal cutting using various welding instruments and related tools. Learning the properties of different …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Center for Technology, Essex

Training Type: in-person

Welding- MIG

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: November 3, 2026

End Date: December 8, 2026

Class Days: Tuesday, Thursday,

Time: 4:30-7pm

This class will introduce students to the concepts of MIG (GMAW- Gas Metal Arc Welding) welding including flat, horizontal, vertical and fillet welding techniques. Students will learn MIG concepts including, …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Southwest Tech

Training Type: in-person

Welding-Introduction

Type of Class: in-person

Start Date: January 12, 2027

End Date: February 11, 2027

Class Days: Tuesday, Thursday,

Time: 4:30-7:00 PM

This basic course introduces two types of welding: AC/DC stick and Metal Inert Gas (MIG). Students learn to demonstrate proficiency in horizontal applications. Plasma cutting and Oxygen-Acetylene will also be …

Career Field: Skilled Trades

Training Center: Southwest Tech

Training Type: in-person

Changing the lives of Vermonters by providing training to gain skills, improving career opportunities, and strengthening communities.

To become the preferred training provider of quality programs that meet Vermont workforce needs.

Vermont Adult Career and Technical Education Association (VACTEA) and its member CTE centers do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities.

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