Find Trade Colleges

Best Construction Trades Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California

2023 Best Construction Trades Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California

5 Colleges

Finding the Best Construction Trades Basic Certificate School for You

Construction Trades is one of the most popular subjects to study in California. With 3,095 degrees and certificates handed out in 2021-2022, it ranked 5th out of all the majors we track in the state.

It's not easy to decide which trade school program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Construction Trades Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 5 schools in California to see which basic certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for trade school students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Construction Trades Basic Certificate Schools in California

The following schools top our list of the Best Construction Trades Basic Certificate Colleges.

Top California Trade Schools for an Award Taking Less Than 1 Year in Construction Trades

#1

CET, Salinas

Salinas, CA

Our 2023 rankings named CET, Salinas the best school in California for construction trades students working on their basic certificate. Located in the city of Salinas, CET, Salinas is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

Request Information

The excellent basic certificate programs at Institute for Business and Technology helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best construction trades schools in California. Located in the medium-sized city of Santa Clara, Institute for Business and Technology is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Construction Trades at Institute for Business and Technology Report

Request Information
#3

National Career Education

Citrus Heights, CA

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means National Career Education is a great place for construction trades students working on their basic certificate. National Career Education is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Citrus Heights.

Read More…

Request Information
#4

Summit College

San Bernardino, CA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Summit College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Construction Trades Basic Certificate Trade Schools in California list. Located in the city of San Bernardino, Summit College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

Request Information
#5

CET, Watsonville

Watsonville, CA

Out of the 5 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, CET, Watsonville landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the city of Watsonville, CET, Watsonville is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

Request Information

Best Construction Trades Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Construction Trades Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Alaska 8
Hawaii 350
Washington 505
Oregon 164
Nevada 366

Construction Trades Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Electrical & Power Transmission Installers 26,459
Building Management & Inspection 5,269
Carpentry 3,899
Plumbing & Water Supply 2,888
Construction 1,813
Masonry 284
Other Construction 190

Majors Similar to Construction Trades

Related Major Annual Graduates
Personal & Culinary Services 149,352
Mechanic & Repair Technologies 105,741
Precision Production 55,411
Transportation & Materials Moving 33,306

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 5 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Find Trade Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited trade schools across the U.S.