At the end of four years, you can be:
$120,000 in the hole pursuing a degree, or $190,000 ahead as an apprentice
The Smarter Path To The Trades
Discover Your Future
in the Trades
The skilled trades aren’t just jobs—they’re the foundation of modern life. Every road you drive on, every building you enter, every product you use, and every vehicle you rely on exists because of highly trained professionals in construction, manufacturing, and transportation. These industries don’t just offer stable careers; they provide hands-on, dynamic work with real opportunities for advancement. But success in the trades isn’t just about knowing how to weld, wire, or repair—it’s about showing up, thinking ahead, and being a professional every day. At Trade Smart College, we prepare students for real careers by focusing on employer-driven skills, and our diploma includes 950 hours of paid work experience before graduation. Explore the three main trade categories below to find the right path for you.
Construction & Maintenance:
The Backbone of Civilization
Every building, bridge, and roadway begins with the skilled hands of a construction professional. Construction and maintenance trades shape the world around us, from towering skyscrapers to the electrical and plumbing systems hidden behind every wall. But this industry isn’t just about hammers and hard hats—it’s about precision, planning, and problem-solving. Whether erecting a steel framework, troubleshooting HVAC systems, building heirloom-quality furniture, or restoring heritage buildings, construction and maintenance professionals turn blueprints and dreams into reality and keep critical infrastructure running smoothly.
What makes this field so exciting is its constant evolution. With the rise of sustainable building practices, smart home technology, and advanced machinery, today’s tradespeople are just as likely to work with cutting-edge digital hardware as with traditional hand tools. The best in the business aren’t just workers; they’re problem-solvers who bring technical knowledge, teamwork, and professionalism to every job site. And here’s a trade secret: the workers who show up on time, think ahead, and take pride in their craft are the ones who move up to site supervisor, project manager, or even company owner.
Professionalism isn’t just a virtue in this field—it’s the key to career advancement. Those who master their trade and work with discipline quickly find themselves trusted with bigger projects, higher pay, and leadership roles. Unlike industries where promotions depend on office politics or degrees with no real-world application, the construction and maintenance trades reward competence, reliability, and the ability to get things done. Employers don’t just look for skilled workers; they look for professionals who understand that safety, communication, and efficiency are non-negotiable.
Some of the key trades in this category include electrician, carpenter, plumber, HVAC technician, welder, concrete finisher, roofer, elevator mechanic, glazier, sheet metal worker, and cabinet maker. Each of these roles offers a dynamic, hands-on career with the potential for high earnings and long-term job security.
Manufacturing & Industrial:
The Powerhouse of Progress
If construction trades build the world around us, manufacturing and industrial trades keep it running. This category covers a vast range of skills, from assembling complex machinery to operating high-tech robotics in modern factories. Whether producing automotive parts, refining raw materials, or maintaining massive industrial systems, workers in these trades are the unseen force behind almost every product we use daily. This is a world of precision, innovation, and efficiency—where quality craftsmanship meets cutting-edge technology.
The most exciting part of this field is the constant opportunity for hands-on problem-solving. Industrial mechanics troubleshoot million-dollar machines, millwrights install massive conveyor systems, and CNC machinists program equipment with pinpoint accuracy. These aren’t jobs where you do the same thing every day—one day, you’re repairing a hydraulic press; the next, you’re fine-tuning a robotic arm. And with automation revolutionizing the industry, skilled tradespeople who can adapt to new technology are more in demand than ever.
Professionalism is non-negotiable in this field. Mistakes in an industrial setting don’t just cost money—they can shut down production lines or create safety hazards. That’s why top employers look for people who show up on time, follow procedures, and take initiative. The best tradespeople don’t wait to be told what to do—they anticipate problems, find solutions, and make themselves indispensable. These are the professionals who rise through the ranks, earning leadership positions and commanding top wages.
Some of the essential trades in this category include industrial mechanic (millwright), machinist, tool and die maker, CNC programmer, metal fabricator, welder, process technician, power engineer, industrial electrician, and instrumentation technician. These careers offer high earning potential, job security, and the satisfaction of building and maintaining the systems that keep industries running.
Transportation & Motive Power:
Keeping the World Moving
Every building, bridge, and roadway begins with the skilled hands of a construction professional. Construction and maintenance trades shape the world around us, from towering skyscrapers to the electrical and plumbing systems hidden behind every wall. But this industry isn’t just about hammers and hard hats—it’s about precision, planning, and problem-solving. Whether erecting a steel framework, troubleshooting HVAC systems, building heirloom-quality furniture, or restoring heritage buildings, construction and maintenance professionals turn blueprints and dreams into reality and keep critical infrastructure running smoothly.
What makes this field so exciting is its constant evolution. With the rise of sustainable building practices, smart home technology, and advanced machinery, today’s tradespeople are just as likely to work with cutting-edge digital hardware as with traditional hand tools. The best in the business aren’t just workers; they’re problem-solvers who bring technical knowledge, teamwork, and professionalism to every job site. And here’s a trade secret: the workers who show up on time, think ahead, and take pride in their craft are the ones who move up to site supervisor, project manager, or even company owner.
Professionalism isn’t just a virtue in this field—it’s the key to career advancement. Those who master their trade and work with discipline quickly find themselves trusted with bigger projects, higher pay, and leadership roles. Unlike industries where promotions depend on office politics or degrees with no real-world application, the construction and maintenance trades reward competence, reliability, and the ability to get things done. Employers don’t just look for skilled workers; they look for professionals who understand that safety, communication, and efficiency are non-negotiable.
Some of the key trades in this category include electrician, carpenter, plumber, HVAC technician, welder, concrete finisher, roofer, elevator mechanic, glazier, sheet metal worker, and cabinet maker. Each of these roles offers a dynamic, hands-on career with the potential for high earnings and long-term job security.
Your Meeting
Your Terms
Need more info? Looking to register? Want to find out about financing or start dates? Book a call, meeting, or text chat with Carrie our Student Success Manager.
At Trade Smart College, we prepare students for success in the skilled trades by providing a blended approach of technical and professional knowledge and skills. We achieve this by integrating team-based learning, where students not only develop hands-on techniques but also advance in essential communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.
Multi-Trade Jobsite Experience
Handtool / Powertool Competence
Measurements & Trades Calculations
Workplace Safety Certifications
Project Planning & Tracking
Outdoor Jobsite Training
Trade Specific General Competencies
Blueprint & Schematic Comprehension
Hazard Assessment
Construction Management Software
Workplace Readiness & Routines
Customer Experience Management
Acclimated to Trades Schedule Classes 7am – 4pm M-F
Job Focused Mindsets & Decisions
Cell Phone Aversion Training
Time Management & Accountability
Teamwork & Collaboration Building
Adaptability & Initiative
Work Ethic & Reliability
Effective Communication & Conduct
Whether you’re a prospective student, a parent or a company, we want to hear from you and put you in touch with one of our team members as soon as possible. We feel it is important to answer your questions one-on-one, so you can make informed decisions about joining us on our mission to connect students and companies. Please fill out the form, and we will get back to you very soon.