Quick Facts

• Location: Hastings, Iowa
• Address: 58962 380th St, Hastings, IA 51540
• School Type: Regional Technical Career & Workforce Training Hub
• Programs Offered: CDL Class A & B, HVAC, CNA, Early Childhood Education and additional workforce/STEM programming; Electromechanical Technology is listed as coming soon
• Training Providers: Programs are delivered through education partners, especially Iowa Western Community College
• Training Style: Hands-on technical training, college/community partnerships, career coaching and workforce education
• Tuition Range: Varies by partner/course; current Iowa Western CDL training at SWITCH is $4,700 for Class A and $2,000 for Class B
• Program Length: CDL Class A approximately 4 weeks; Class B approximately 2–3 weeks; other programs vary
• Online Programs Available: Some online components depending on partner/program
• Hybrid Learning: Yes — CDL includes online Entry-Level Driver Training theory plus in-person range and road training
• Financial Aid: Varies by partner and program; not all short-term workforce courses qualify for FAFSA
• Class Options: High-school and adult/workforce offerings
• Accreditation/Approval: Individual courses rely on the credentials/approvals of the partner institution rather than SWITCH being a conventional degree-granting college
• Average Rating: ⭐ 5.0 (1 Review)
• Website: Official website

Overview

SWITCH — the Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub, also called the Lakin Foundation Training Hub — is an unusual but valuable TradeSchoolScout listing. It is not a traditional standalone college. Instead, SWITCH provides facilities where established educational partners deliver technical and workforce programs to students and adults in southwest Iowa.

Iowa Western Community College is a major partner. SWITCH was developed to expand access to career training for rural communities, including students from East Mills, Fremont-Mills, Glenwood, Griswold, Sidney and Stanton.

The hub emphasizes practical, locally accessible training rather than students having to travel to a large college campus.

Programs Offered

SWITCH’s current official education page lists areas including:

• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Healthcare certifications
• CDL training
• HVAC training
• Electromechanical Technology — coming soon
• Early Childhood Education
• Career readiness/workforce skills
• STEM programs and workshops

A separate course page identifies Iowa Western Community College as the educational partner for CNA, CDL, HVAC and Early Childhood Education, while Electromechanical Technology remains listed as upcoming.

The site notes that a planned Construction Technology offering was canceled, so I would not list construction as a current program.

CDL Class A

Iowa Western currently has a Class A CDL course at the SWITCH/Hastings location beginning October 19, 2026.

Current details:

• October 19–November 12, 2026
• Monday–Thursday
• 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
• 4 weeks
• $4,700
• Online Entry-Level Driver Training theory
• Hands-on turning, backing and road driving
• Simulator training
• Iowa DOT-certified examination included

Another SWITCH Class A session is already listed for February 15–March 11, 2027 at the same $4,700 price.

CDL Class B

Iowa Western is also advertising Class B CDL training at SWITCH beginning February 15, 2027.

Current details:

• 2–3 weeks
• Monday–Thursday
• 8:00 AM–2:30 PM
• $2,000
• Online ELDT theory
• Range and road instruction
• Iowa DOT-certified testing included

This prepares students for vehicles such as straight trucks and dump trucks, subject to the appropriate CDL requirements.

HVAC

HVAC is a current SWITCH learning area delivered in partnership with Iowa Western. The hub’s official site identifies HVAC as an established/ongoing program, and Iowa Western’s description of the center confirms HVAC was among the high-demand career fields planned for the facility.

I did not find a reliable current 2026 tuition figure or current cohort length on the official HTML pages, so I would use:

HVAC Tuition: Contact SWITCH/Iowa Western for current schedule and tuition.

That is safer than carrying over a figure from another Iowa Western campus.

CNA / Healthcare

SWITCH also hosts CNA/healthcare training through Iowa Western. The hub lists Certified Nursing Assistant courses as an established offering.

Iowa Western’s 5-credit academic Nurse Aide certificate does not meet the minimum 16-semester-hour threshold for federal financial aid, which is important for students comparing short healthcare programs.

Because current CNA pricing shown on Iowa Western’s site varies by location and I did not find a current Hastings-specific CNA price, I would list tuition as contact the program for the current SWITCH cohort.

Tuition & Financial Aid

SWITCH itself is a training hub, so tuition depends on the educational partner and course.

Current verified SWITCH examples:

• CDL Class A — $4,700
• CDL Class B — $2,000

For HVAC, CNA and future electromechanical offerings, use current partner-specific pricing when a new cohort is posted.

Traditional FAFSA aid should not be marked simply “Yes” for every SWITCH course. Short-term continuing-education programs and small certificates may not qualify even when Iowa Western administers them.

Why Students Choose This School

• Technical training closer to rural southwest Iowa communities
• Iowa Western Community College partnership
• Current CDL Class A and B training
• HVAC training
• CNA/healthcare education
• Hands-on workforce focus
• Career coaching and support
• Industry-recognized credentials
• High-school and adult learning opportunities
• Electromechanical expansion planned

Career Opportunities

Depending on the program, participants may prepare for roles such as:

• Commercial Truck Driver
• Class B Commercial Driver
• HVAC Technician/Installer
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Healthcare Support Worker
• Electromechanical Technician once that program launches

Licensing, CDL testing and professional certification requirements still apply.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google data:

⭐ Average Rating: 5.0 (1 Review)

A single review is far too small a sample to use as meaningful evidence of overall program quality.

Enrollment Tips

Students should identify which organization actually operates their course before enrolling. SWITCH provides the location and regional hub, while a partner such as Iowa Western may handle curriculum, registration, credentials and tuition.

For CDL applicants, the current Class A course is particularly straightforward: the next verified SWITCH session begins October 19, 2026, costs $4,700 and takes about four weeks.

Do not assume every program listed in older SWITCH materials remains available. Construction Technology, for example, is explicitly marked canceled on the current course page.

Bottom Line

SWITCH is worth keeping in the Iowa directory because it provides real technical and workforce training through established educational partners, particularly Iowa Western Community College. Its strongest currently verifiable trade offering is CDL training: Class A is four weeks and $4,700, while Class B is about 2–3 weeks and $2,000. HVAC and CNA are also active learning areas, while Electromechanical Technology is still listed as coming soon.