Quick Facts

• Location: Bennington, Vermont
• Address: 321 Park St, Bennington, VT 05201
• School Type: Public Regional Career & Technical Education Center with Adult Technical Education
• Official Operating Name: Southwest Tech / Southwest Vermont Career Development Center
• Programs Offered: Automotive Technology, Building Trades, Manufacturing Technology, Forestry & Heavy Equipment, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Medical Professions, Business, Graphic Arts, Law Enforcement and more
• Training Style: Hands-on secondary CTE, industry certifications, college credit and work-based learning
• Tuition Range: Public CTE for eligible secondary students; adult programs vary from free grant-funded courses to $8,849+ depending on program
• Program Length: High-school technical pathways generally span multiple years; adult programs range from short courses to longer career programs
• Online Programs Available: Selected adult offerings may use online components
• Hybrid Learning: Program-dependent
• Financial Aid: Workforce funding may be available; several adult programs are WIOA-approved
• Class Options: Secondary technical education plus adult day/evening workforce training
• Average Rating: Not provided in your dataset
• Website: Southwest Tech

Overview

The Google listing uses the formal district name Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District, but for TradeSchoolScout I would title the listing Southwest Vermont Career Development Center (Southwest Tech). That is the educational institution operating at 321 Park Street in Bennington, while the district is the governing organization behind it.

Southwest Tech serves both high-school and adult students from southwestern Vermont and nearby communities in New York and Massachusetts. Current public information confirms active programs in areas including Building Trades, Automotive Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Medical Professions, Cosmetology and Adult Technical Education.

For your directory, this is an especially useful listing because Southwest Tech combines conventional high-school CTE with genuine adult workforce programs such as CDL, LNA and Massage Therapy.

Programs Offered

Current secondary career areas include:

• Automotive Technology
• Building Trades
• Manufacturing Technology
• Forestry & Heavy Equipment
• Medical Professions
• Cosmetology
• Culinary Arts
• Human Services
• Business Management / Accounting & Finance
• Graphic Arts
• Law Enforcement
• Video & TV Production

Automotive Technology

The Automotive Technology program teaches:

• Automotive safety
• Engine and vehicle systems
• Fuel systems
• Preventive maintenance
• Wheel and tire alignment
• Vermont state inspections
• Customer service
• Troubleshooting

Industry-recognized credentials currently listed include:

• Certified Lube Technician
• S/P2 Pollution Prevention
• Vermont State Inspection Certification
• Tire-service certification
• Valvoline Certified Technician
• Various ASE certifications

Students may also benefit from articulation agreements with postsecondary schools.

Building Trades

Southwest Tech’s Building Trades program covers more than carpentry alone.

Students learn:

• Blueprint reading
• Construction safety
• Hand and power tools
• Framing
• Roofing
• Basic electrical wiring
• Plumbing concepts
• HVAC systems
• Energy-efficient construction techniques

Current credentials include:

• OSHA 10
• NCCER Construction Core
• NCCER Carpentry Level 1

An articulation agreement is available with Keene State College.

Manufacturing Technology

The Manufacturing Technology program is a two-year pathway covering:

• Milling machines
• Lathes
• CNC machining
• MIG welding
• TIG welding
• Arc welding
• Blueprint reading
• Metal fabrication

Current credentials include:

• OSHA 10 General Industry
• AWS 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G SMAW plate-welding qualifications
• Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate
• HAAS Intro to Milling
• HAAS Intro to Turning
• First Aid certification

This is one of Southwest Tech’s strongest programs for students interested in welding, machining or advanced manufacturing.

Adult Technical Education

Southwest Tech also maintains a substantial adult workforce-training division.

Commercial Driver’s License

The current 2026 Class B CDL program runs from August 31 through December 4 and costs $3,399.

Training includes:

• Classroom instruction
• Lab instruction
• On-road driving
• Manual 10-speed truck operation
• Pre-trip inspection
• Vehicle systems
• Cargo handling
• Safe operating procedures

The August 2026 cohort was full at the time of research, with additional applicants being waitlisted.

Licensed Nursing Assistant

The fall 2026 LNA program is:

• 100 hours
• September 15–October 22, 2026
• Tuesday–Thursday
• Classroom, lab and clinical training
• $2,199, including textbooks and testing fees

The program prepares students for Vermont LNA licensure testing.

Massage Therapy

Vermont JobLink currently lists Southwest Tech’s Massage Therapy program at $8,849, with WIOA approval through March 2027.

Other Adult Training

Recent 2026 offerings also include specialized short courses such as:

• Butchering Fundamentals — free for qualifying Bennington County residents / $299 otherwise
• Tractor Operation — free for qualifying Bennington County residents / $199 otherwise

These grant-funded offerings can change frequently.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Eligible secondary students attend through Vermont’s public CTE system rather than paying private trade-school tuition.

Adult tuition varies substantially by program. Current examples include:

• LNA — $2,199
• CDL Class B — $3,399
• Massage Therapy — $8,849
• Some short workforce courses — free to qualifying county residents

Several adult programs are state-approved for WIOA funding, and the school encourages students to investigate financial assistance.

Why Students Choose This School

• Automotive Technology
• Building Trades
• Manufacturing and CNC
• Welding credentials
• Forestry and Heavy Equipment
• Adult CDL training
• Adult healthcare programs
• WIOA-approved training
• Industry certifications
• College-credit opportunities

Career Opportunities

Depending on pathway and additional licensing, graduates may pursue:

• Automotive Technician
• Carpenter
• Construction Worker
• Welder/Fabricator
• CNC Machinist
• Manufacturing Technician
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Commercial Driver
• Licensed Nursing Assistant
• Cosmetologist
• Healthcare Technician

Completion does not automatically grant licensure for occupations requiring state credentials.

Student Reviews

Your supplied Google row does not include a review count or average rating for this listing.

I would use:

Average Rating: Not available in supplied data

rather than inventing one or borrowing reviews from another Southwest Tech entity.

Enrollment Tips

• Use Southwest Vermont Career Development Center / Southwest Tech as the public-facing listing name rather than only the district name
• High-school students should investigate college-credit and certification opportunities within each program
• Automotive students should ask which ASE credentials are currently offered
• Manufacturing students should ask which AWS welding qualifications they can complete
• Adults should check WIOA eligibility before paying tuition
• CDL and LNA cohorts can fill quickly, so apply early
• Grant-funded adult courses change frequently, so verify the current catalog

Bottom Line

Southwest Tech is one of southern Vermont’s most useful career-training institutions because it combines Automotive Technology, Building Trades, advanced manufacturing and welding with a substantial adult workforce division. Programs such as CDL, LNA and Massage Therapy make it more than a high-school-only CTE center, while credentials such as NCCER, OSHA, ASE and AWS give its technical pathways strong workforce relevance.