Trade Schools, Colleges and Universities

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Discover a Canadian trade school or college where your future can start taking shape.

Trade Schools & Colleges in Canada

Vocational training for your future

Choosing your next move just got easier. We'll help you find a college or trade school in Canada with programs that match your career goals.

It only takes a couple of fast and simple steps to make a great leap forward in your search for relevant, career-driven training.


Find a School



Find a Program

Smiling young man in a yellow hard hat

Skilled Trades

When all you want to do is work with your hands, nothing beats the skilled trades. If you're ready for a career that makes a real impact, then this guide is the place to get started. Trade schools have programs that include HVAC, automotive, plumbing, electrician, aviation, and more.

  • Automotive
  • Carpentry
  • CDL and Truck Driving
  • Construction and Building
  • Electrician
  • Home Inspection
  • HVAC
  • Plumbing
  • Welding
Proud female surgeon with her hand on her hip in an operating room

Health Care

This vital industry is constantly in need of motivated, hard-working individuals to join the growing workforce. The fields you can study are highly varied, but they include areas like nursing, dental and medical assisting, laboratory technology, massage therapy, phlebotomy, cardiology technology, and many others.

  • Dental Assistant
  • Dental Office Administration
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Health Care Aide
  • Health Unit Clerk
  • Massage Therapy
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Lab Technician
  • Medical Office Assistant
  • Nursing
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Paramedic
  • Pharmacy
  • Phlebotomy
  • Physiotherapist Assistant
  • Veterinary Assistant
Human Services Schools

Human Services

This sector is about helping community members who are struggling with personal challenges. COPS projections show that employment in the social assistance industry is expected to grow at the third-fastest rate between 2019 and 2028. Programs in this area can help people become mental health professionals or addictions, social services, or personal support workers.

  • Addictions Worker
  • Child and Youth Services
  • Community Service Worker
  • Personal Support Worker
Business Schools

Business

Professional abilities related to management, office administration, marketing, international trade, event planning, and many similar areas are frequently in demand. According to COPS projections, employment in the "management, administrative, and other support services" industry could expand by nine percent from 2019 to 2028. But people with a business education can apply their skills in almost any industry.

  • Accounting
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Business Administration
  • Business Management
  • Communications
  • Digital Marketing
  • Entertainment Business
  • Fashion Merchandising
  • Game Business and Esports
  • Marketing
  • Office Administration
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Supply Chain Management
Beauty Schools

Beauty and Cosmetology

The market for modern skills and techniques related to hairstyling, esthetics, laser treatments, and other spa and beauty specialties tends to remain steady. COPS projections indicate that the industry category that includes personal care services may see employment growth of about five percent between 2019 and 2028.

  • Cosmetology
  • Esthetics and Skin Care
  • Hairstylist and Barber
  • Laser Technician
  • Nail Technician
Culinary Schools and Chef Training

Culinary

This kind of training prepares people for career opportunities in commercial kitchens and other professional food service environments. Employment in the food services industry is expected to grow 8.5 percent from 2019 to 2028, according to COPS projections. You can find programs related to cooking, pastry arts, restaurant management, and similar areas.

  • Baking and Pastry Arts
  • Brewing Science
  • Catering
  • Culinary Arts
Art and Design Schools

Design and Arts

Courses of study in this category help creative people develop their artistic talents and technical skills for careers that can provide fun and flexibility. Many designers and professional artists enjoy self-employment. Others prefer having steady, more traditional jobs. Programs are often available in graphic design, interior design, computer-aided drafting, fashion design, and other highly visual fields.

  • Creative Writing
  • Drafting / CADD
  • Fashion Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Interior Design
Legal and Criminal Justice Schools

Legal and Criminal Justice

An education related to law and order can provide a foundation for good career prospects. For example, COPS projections show that the industry category that includes legal services could experience job growth of about 11 percent between 2019 and 2028. You can study for fields like legal assisting, paralegal work, criminal justice, and law enforcement.

  • Criminology
  • Law Clerk
  • Law Enforcement
  • Legal Assistant
  • Paralegal
Media Arts Schools

Media Arts

With the strong appetite for new digital entertainment and information, career opportunities in this category remain widely available. Canadian students can learn technical and creative skills for cool areas such as music production, audio engineering, animation, special effects, video game design, web development, and more.

  • Animation
  • Audio Engineering
  • Film and Television
  • Music Production
  • Photography
  • Recording Arts
  • User Experience
  • Video Game Design
  • Visual Special Effects (VFX)
  • Web Design
Technology Schools

Technology

According to COPS projections for the period from 2019 to 2028, companies that provide information technology (IT) services are part of Canada's fastest-growing industry (in terms of employment). Skills for high-tech careers can be learned in programs for areas like computer networking, IT administration, cybersecurity, app development, computer support, programming, engineering technology, and similar fields.

  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • Information Technology
  • Microsoft Office
  • Mobile Applications Development
  • Network Administration
Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Schools and Colleges

Tourism and Hospitality

An education that centres on helping people experience new places and events can lead to stable career opportunities. For instance, COPS data reveals that employment in accommodation services could grow by about five percent between 2019 and 2028. You can learn skills for managing the guest experience at hotels, resorts, restaurants, airplanes, or special events.

  • Hospitality Management
  • Restaurant Management
A smiling teacher showing a wooden building piece to a young student

Teaching and ECE

There is consistent demand for people who have the skills to work in classrooms and childcare environments. For example, COPS projections indicate that employment in the nation's elementary and secondary schools could rise by about eight percent between 2019 and 2028. Even if you don't want to become a teacher at that level, you can find courses of study related to assisting teachers, looking after kids, or becoming an early childhood educator.

  • Early Childhood Education
  • Education
  • Education Assistant

Trade Schools FAQ

How Are Trade Schools Different From Other Post-secondary Schools?

Young woman holding a pen and notebook outdoors with arches in the backgroundIt all boils down to a difference in focus. Trade schools (also known as technical or vocational schools) place much more emphasis on helping you become job-ready for a specific career than many traditional colleges and universities do. They know that adults like you want a quicker, more reliable pathway into a promising career so that you have an opportunity to improve your life as soon as possible.

That's why the schools on this site offer very directed courses of study that incorporate plenty of practical skills training. They also tend to build more flexibility and convenience into their programs. And their campuses are often located in areas that are faster and easier to get to.

Why Should I Consider Career-Based Training?

First, think about your goals. You want to improve your job prospects and get into, or advance within, a field that has real upsides. And you'd like for all of that to happen as quickly as possible.

Career-oriented training exists for that very reason. It exists for you.

Choosing a school that offers this type of training can be especially helpful if you want:

  • The chance to learn skills that are truly relevant to your chosen field
  • A practical, learn-by-doing education
  • Extra convenience in terms of class schedules, school locations, and online learning options
  • An accelerated course of study
  • Help with your job search and career development after you graduate

How Long Are the Programs?

It depends on what you're after. But keep this in mind: Most of the programs aren't any longer than they need to be. In fact, many of them can be completed in less than one year. And many others require only about 18 to 24 months. Of course, the more advanced the course of study, the longer you are likely to be in school.

As a general guideline, you can expect:

  • A certificate or diploma to take a year or less to earn
  • An associate degree to require up to two years
  • A bachelor's degree to take about four years
  • A master's degree to require about one or two additional years (if you already have a bachelor's degree)

Can I Get Assistance with Paying My Tuition?

Yes, you might be able to, depending on your qualifications. Most schools can assist you with the process of finding out whether you qualify for any student loans, grants, or scholarships. In fact, they often have special departments that are dedicated to helping you discover ways to afford your education.