Qion
Now at Bolton Construction
Attended NC State before choosing the trades. Graduated with highest honors and spoke at graduation about how learning a trade gave him options and more control over his future.
Start A Career In HVAC Or Plumbing In 3 Months Without Quitting Your Job
Train mornings or evenings and start a career that's in demand and pays well for the rest of your life.
- 80% hands-on in our Durham lab. Real equipment, not long lectures.
- Mornings or evenings, Monday to Friday, so you can keep your job.
- Classes of 5 to 10 students, taught by tradesmen with 20 to 30 years in the field.
- Payment plans and a limited number of scholarships.
No experience needed. No obligation.
Video coming soon
3 Months. $11,275 All In. Instructors With 20+ Years In The Field.
Who The School Of Skilled Trades Is For (And Not For)
We'd rather tell you now than waste your time.
This IS for you if:
- You're working in retail, a warehouse, or fast food, and that job doesn't lead anywhere
- You'd rather learn with your hands than sit in a classroom
- You can be in Durham mornings or evenings, Monday to Friday, for three months
- You can pay tuition or a monthly payment plan
- You'll show up, put in the work, and finish what you start
This is NOT for you if:
- You're looking for a free program (community college might be a better fit)
- You want someone to promise you a job or a paycheck
- You need an online option (this is 100% in person)
- You're just browsing and "maybe someday" thinking
How The Program Works
Three steps from where you are now to a real trade.
1
Book Your Free 15-Minute Call
We'll go over the program, the schedule, and the cost, and figure out which trade makes sense for you. If it's a fit, we'll set up a time for you to come see the school. Bring someone with you if you want.
2
Train In Person, Mostly In The Lab
250 hours over three months, mornings 8 to 12 or evenings 4 to 8. HVAC: electricity, heat, refrigeration and troubleshooting. Plumbing: pipes, fittings, fixtures, and drain, waste and vent systems.
3
Get Trade-Ready And Connected
Graduate with your school certificate and your own tool bag. Your resume gets done with you, you do mock interviews, and if you've shown up and done the work, we recommend you to contractors we know.
What You Get As A Student
Everything points at one thing: being ready to work, not just ready to graduate.
Months, Not Years
Three months instead of a year or two at community college. That's up to 21 months sooner in the field.
Real Lab Time
About 80% of your 250 hours is hands-on in our 8,000 square foot building, on real HVAC and plumbing equipment.
Tradesmen Who've Done The Work
Instructors with 20 to 30 years in the field, in classes of just 5 to 10, so they actually know your name.
Job Support That's Real
Resume done with you, mock interviews, and a recommendation to contractors if you've earned it. No one can honestly promise a job, and we won't.
Work Ethic Certification
We're the only trade school in North Carolina authorized to teach the Mike Rowe Foundation's S.W.E.A.T. work ethic certification.
A Nonprofit Price You Can See
$11,275 all in, with books, uniform, and tools included. Payment plans from about $350 a month. Nobody takes a profit out.
What The Trade Pays In The Durham Area
Market figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are not a promise of what you will earn.
HVAC Technician
Durham-Chapel Hill median$59,180
Top 10% earn$77,360+
Plumber
Durham-Chapel Hill median$60,110
Top 10% earn$76,460+
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 wage data for the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area (Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, SOC 49-9021; Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, SOC 47-2152), via O*NET OnLine. Medians include experienced workers; entry-level pay is typically lower.
Real People Who Got Into The Trades With Us
Different backgrounds, different reasons, same first step.
Khalid
Full-time plumber, TDBaker
Couldn't find the right school until he came to the School of Skilled Trades. He said it fit everything he was looking for.
Carter
Service plumbing technician
Credits his instructors with helping him develop his skills, and recommends the school to anyone considering a career in the trades.
James
Recent graduate
Said his education here led to a good job with good pay and helped him get his life going.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't see your question? Ask anything on your call.
Do I need any experience?
No. Most of our students had never touched a pipe or a wire before they walked in. We start from the very beginning. You just need a high school diploma or GED and the willingness to learn.
Why is tuition over $11K for three months?
Because you're getting 250 hours, almost one-on-one, with somebody who's been doing this for decades. You're not one of 30 people in a lecture hall. You're in a small class, in the lab, doing the work.
Do you have payment plans?
Yes. We don't accept federal student loans or grants, so we keep it simple with our own plans, including a three-year option at around $350 a month. We also have a limited number of donor-funded scholarships for qualifying students. We'll explain every option up front on your call.
Is it cheaper to just go to community college?
Yes, and that might be right for you. But community college can take a year or two, if you even get a spot. Here, you're done in three months.
I work until five. Can I still do this?
Look at our morning class, 8 to 12, or our evening class, 4 to 8. Or talk to your boss about leaving a little early. You aren't making a two-year commitment; you're looking at months.
Am I going to get a job?
We can't promise you a job or a paycheck, because you're the one who controls showing up, your work ethic, and your grades. Some roles start around $20 to $22 an hour. What we promise is what we'll do for you: interview prep, your work ethic certification, and a recommendation to local contractors if you've done the work.
Is this the state license?
No. You'll earn your school certificate in HVAC or plumbing. The state license takes more time on the job, but your 250 hours count toward the experience North Carolina requires for its licensing exams.
Ready To Start A Real Trade Career?
A job gives you a paycheck. A career gives you something to build on for the rest of your life.
Your next step: book a free 15-minute call. We'll walk you through the program, the schedule, and the cost, and see if it's the right fit for you.
No experience needed. No obligation.
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919-892-8989