Quick Facts

• Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Address: 1300 James I Harrison Jr Pkwy, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
• School Type: Skilled-Trades Training & Registered Apprenticeship Program
• Programs Offered: Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, construction fundamentals, apprenticeship training and contractor certifications
• Training Style: Classroom instruction, NCCER curriculum, hands-on training and on-the-job experience
• Tuition Range: $1,500 for the current 18-week Day Trade Classes program; apprenticeship and contractor-training costs vary
• Program Length: 18-week Day Trade program; apprenticeships run year-round
• Online Programs Available: No prominent fully online option
• Hybrid Learning: No; training is primarily in person and on the job
• Financial Aid: Not a traditional FAFSA college; workforce/apprenticeship funding may apply
• Class Options: Day classes, evening apprenticeship classes and contractor training
• Certification/Approval: Registered apprenticeship program through the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship; NCCER-based instruction
• Average Rating: ⭐ 3.9 (7 Reviews)
• Website: Official Skilled Trades of West Alabama website

Overview

Skilled Trades of West Alabama is an excellent fit for TradeSchoolScout because it focuses directly on Electrical, HVAC and Plumbing rather than operating as a broad academic college. The Tuscaloosa organization offers both entry-level training for people trying to enter construction and continuing apprenticeship education for people already working in a trade.

Its current Day Trade Classes program is particularly interesting. Students spend 18 weeks progressing through construction fundamentals, trade-specific training and a contractor internship. The program uses the nationally recognized NCCER curriculum and is designed to complete Level 1 training in the student’s selected trade.

The organization is also a registered apprenticeship program through the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and a funding partner of the Alabama Construction Crafts Training Board.

Programs Offered

Primary training areas include:

• Electrical
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• NCCER Core Construction Training
• Registered Apprenticeship Training
• Contractor Continuing Education
• EPA 608 Certification Training
• NATE HVAC Training
• Journeyman Plumber Exam Preparation
• OSHA 10
• Scissor Lift
• Boom Lift
• Rough-Terrain Forklift/Telehandler

18-Week Day Trade Classes

The current Day Trade program follows a straightforward three-stage format:

Weeks 1–6 — NCCER Core
Students learn construction safety, tools, communication, basic construction skills and other fundamentals.

Weeks 7–12 — Trade-Specific Training
Students select Electrical, HVAC or Plumbing and complete Level 1 training in that trade.

Weeks 13–18 — On-the-Job Internship
Students work with a partner contractor to apply their skills in an actual work environment.

Classes run Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Apprenticeship Training

For people already entering or working in the trades, Skilled Trades of West Alabama operates year-round apprenticeship education from August through July.

Classes meet approximately three hours one night per week and are taught by NCCER-certified professional trades instructors.

Apprenticeship areas include Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical and other construction occupations.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The current 18-week Day Trade Classes program costs $1,500.

That’s unusually affordable compared with many private career schools, especially because the program includes both classroom instruction and a six-week contractor internship.

The organization also publishes prices for selected contractor courses, including:

• EPA 608 Universal Certification training/testing — $70
• NATE HVAC classes — $300, with separate testing charges
• Journeyman Plumber License Exam Prep — $500, including instruction and code book
• OSHA 10 — $50
• Scissor Lift — $45
• Boom Lift — $45
• Rough-Terrain Forklift/Telehandler — $45

This is not a conventional college financial-aid model, so I would not list FAFSA/Pell Grants.

Why Students Choose This School

• Direct Electrical, HVAC and Plumbing training
• Only $1,500 for the current Day Trade program
• NCCER curriculum
• Hands-on instruction
• Six-week contractor internship
• Registered apprenticeship pathways
• Evening apprenticeship classes
• EPA 608 and NATE training
• Journeyman exam preparation
• Employer-oriented workforce training

Career Opportunities

Training can help prepare students or apprentices for positions such as:

• Electrician Apprentice
• HVAC Apprentice
• HVAC Technician
• Plumbing Apprentice
• Construction Worker
• Building Maintenance Technician

Completion of training does not automatically grant an Alabama occupational license. Students should verify apprenticeship, experience, examination and licensing requirements for their particular trade.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google data:

⭐ Average Rating: 3.9 (7 Reviews)

The sample is very small, so the rating shouldn’t carry much weight by itself.

Enrollment Tips

The Day Trade Classes program has specific eligibility requirements. Applicants currently must:

• Be 19–32 years old
• Have a high-school diploma or GED
• Be eligible to work in the United States
• Pass a background check
• Hold a valid driver’s license
• Meet the program’s driving/criminal-record requirements

Students outside those requirements should contact the organization about its apprenticeship or other training options.

Bottom Line

Skilled Trades of West Alabama should definitely be included and could be a featured alternative to traditional trade college on your Alabama page. Its $1,500, 18-week Electrical/HVAC/Plumbing program combines NCCER Core, Level 1 trade training and a six-week contractor internship. For eligible Tuscaloosa-area students who want to enter a construction trade without enrolling in a two-year college, this is a particularly compelling option.