Quick Facts

• Location: Providence, Rhode Island
• Address: 41 Fricker St, Providence, RI 02903
• School Type: Public Career & Technical High School
• Programs Offered: Automotive, Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC/Plumbing, General Construction, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Graphic Communications, Maritime Welding, Pre-Engineering and related CTE pathways
• Training Style: Academic high-school education combined with hands-on career and technical training
• Tuition Range: No private-school tuition for eligible Providence Public Schools students
• Program Length: Four-year high-school pathway with multi-year CTE specialization
• Online Programs Available: No full online trade pathways prominently advertised
• Hybrid Learning: No — core CTE programs are primarily in person
• Financial Aid: Traditional FAFSA aid is not applicable to regular high-school enrollment
• Class Options: Full-time secondary education with CTE, internships, mentoring and Early College opportunities
• Approval: Rhode Island CTE pathways include state-mandated industry credential requirements
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.6 (52 Reviews)
• Website: Providence Career & Technical Academy

Overview

Providence Career & Technical Academy, commonly called PCTA, is a public technical high school serving more than 700 students in Providence. It combines a traditional academic diploma with intensive career and technical education, making it very different from a private adult trade school. PCTA is an application-based CTE school with a selective admissions process.

The school is particularly strong for students interested in construction and mechanical trades. Current Providence CTE listings place Carpentry, Electrical, General Construction and HVAC/Plumbing at PCTA, while the school also operates automotive, cosmetology, culinary, graphic communications, pastry, engineering and maritime-oriented programs.

Community and employer partners cited by the school include Electric Boat, IBEW, LIUNA, Brown Robotics Lab and Tech Collective, helping connect CTE learning with actual industries in Rhode Island.

Programs Offered

Current PCTA pathways include:

• Automotive Technology
• Carpentry
• Electrical
• General Construction
• HVAC/Plumbing
• Cosmetology
• Culinary Arts
• Graphic Communications
• Pastry Arts
• Maritime Welding
• Pre-Engineering
• Technology-oriented pathways such as PTECH Information Technology

Construction & Mechanical Trades

PCTA is especially relevant to TradeSchoolScout because several of its core programs are traditional skilled trades:

• Carpentry
• Electrical
• General Construction
• HVAC/Plumbing
• Maritime Welding

Providence Public Schools describes CTE as preparing students for both employment and higher education, with students working toward an academic diploma and RIDE-mandated industry credentials.

Automotive Technology

The automotive pathway provides hands-on vehicle-related training as part of the school’s broader technical curriculum. Automotive is one of PCTA’s dedicated service programs and one of its long-running CTE offerings.

Marine Trades

PCTA is also increasingly relevant to Rhode Island’s marine industry. Its current programs include maritime welding, and Providence’s 2026 technical programming includes hands-on exposure to plumbing, electrical systems, engineering, welding and fabrication in marine applications.

Tuition & Financial Aid

PCTA is part of Providence Public Schools, so eligible students attend as public high-school students rather than paying private vocational-school tuition.

Traditional FAFSA-based federal aid does not apply to ordinary secondary enrollment. The financial advantage is that students can receive substantial technical training and work toward industry credentials while completing their high-school diploma.

Students may also have access to Early College, internships and mentorships while enrolled.

Why Students Choose This School

• Public career and technical education
• Strong electrical, HVAC/plumbing and construction pathways
• Automotive and maritime training
• Industry-recognized credential preparation
• Employer and union partnerships
• Hands-on learning
• Early College opportunities
• Internships and mentorships
• No private trade-school tuition for eligible students

Career Opportunities

Depending on their program and additional training, graduates may pursue pathways such as:

• Electrician Apprentice
• Plumbing Apprentice
• HVAC Apprentice or Technician Trainee
• Carpenter
• Construction Worker
• Welder/Fabricator
• Marine Trades Worker
• Automotive Technician Trainee
• Culinary Professional
• Cosmetologist

Completion of high-school CTE does not automatically grant occupational licensure. Students entering regulated trades must still meet Rhode Island apprenticeship, experience, examination and licensing requirements.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied listing data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.6 (52 Reviews)

That is a strong public rating with a reasonable number of reviews for a technical high school.

Enrollment Tips

• PCTA is an application school, so prospective students should pay close attention to admissions deadlines and requirements
• Research several CTE pathways before applying
• Ask exactly which industry credentials are available in your chosen program
• Students interested in electrical, plumbing or HVAC should ask how high-school training connects with registered apprenticeship
• Explore internships and Early College opportunities while enrolled
• Consider Rhode Island marine-trades opportunities if choosing welding, electrical or construction

Bottom Line

Providence Career & Technical Academy is one of Rhode Island’s strongest public high-school options for students who want to begin a skilled trade before graduation. Its combination of electrical, HVAC/plumbing, carpentry, construction, automotive and maritime welding, plus industry partnerships and credential preparation, gives students a substantial head start toward apprenticeship, employment or technical college without private-school tuition.