Trades Navigator

Apprenticeship, licensing, your own operation, the exit — the whole trades mystery, step-by-step in plain English.

Explore the trades →Check a school →

[ OUR SOURCES ]

DOLCareerOneStop training-office recordsBLSWage + employment dataEDAccreditation + Title-IV statusVAGI Bill approval statusStateLicensing-board registries

Every number on Trades Navigator links back to a public record. We don’t score schools, we don’t take money from them, and we cite the agency before we summarize.

Make this yours

Build a dashboard for your trade, your state, and where you are in your career.

Three questions. The site filters everything to what is relevant to you right now. Stored in your browser only — no account, no email, no tracking.

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The modules

From first-looking to passing on the shop

Seven modules covering the full trades lifecycle. Every page cites the government source it came from.

[01·EXPLORE]

The Trades

What each trade does, what it pays, and what the day-in-life really looks like.

[02·ENTER]

Apprenticeships

Registered apprenticeships in Texas, Washington, and California — union and non-union.

[03·GET LICENSED]

Licensing

State-by-state journeyman and master licensing: hours, exams, reciprocity.

[04·START]

Business Launch

Contractor licensing, insurance, bonding, LLC, bookkeeping, estimating, and bidding.

[05·MAINTAIN]

Continuing Ed

CE requirements by state and trade, plus specialty certifications.

[06·CHECK A SCHOOL]

School Records

Public federal records on file for any trade school. Five sources, no composite score.

[07·PLAN THE EXIT]

Exit & Succession

Valuation, succession structures, seller financing, and the conversation guides for handing off a small trades business.

[WHERE WE GO DEEPEST]

The three biggest trades carry our deepest module work — specialty ladders, equipment-investment notes, premium certifications. The other 17 trades have full overviews and licensing where states publish it.

Electrician

Specialty ladders, premium certs, equipment investment, and full state×trade depth.

Plumber

Backflow, gas, medical-gas ladders. Tools, rough-in vs service economics.

HVAC Technician

EPA 608, NATE, refrigerant ladders. Residential vs commercial differentiated.

Pick a trade

Twenty trades, grouped by sector.

[A·CONSTRUCTION]

Construction

Carpenter
Frames, finishes, and builds structures from wood, steel, and composite materials.
Electrician
Installs and maintains electrical systems in homes, commercial buildings, and industrial sites.
Elevator Constructor
Installs, modernizes, and services elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.
Glazier
Cuts, installs, and replaces glass in windows, storefronts, curtain walls, and skylights.
Ironworker
Erects structural steel, reinforces concrete with rebar, and installs metal decking and ornamental iron.
Mason
Lays brick, block, and stone for walls, foundations, chimneys, and veneers.
Operating Engineer
Operates heavy construction equipment: cranes, excavators, dozers, graders, loaders.
Plumber
Installs and repairs water, waste, gas, and drainage systems in buildings.
Sheet Metal Worker
Fabricates and installs ductwork, roofing, cladding, and architectural sheet metal.

[B·INDUSTRIAL & MECHANICAL]

Industrial & Mechanical

Boilermaker
Builds, installs, and repairs boilers, pressure vessels, and large tanks.
HVAC Technician
Installs, maintains, and repairs heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
Industrial Maintenance Technician
Keeps manufacturing equipment running: mechanical, electrical, and control system upkeep.
Machinist
Makes precision metal parts using manual and CNC machine tools.
Millwright
Installs, aligns, dismantles, and repairs heavy industrial machinery.
Welder
Joins and cuts metal using arc, MIG, TIG, stick, and oxy-fuel processes.

[C·AUTOMOTIVE & DIESEL]

Automotive & Diesel

Aircraft Mechanic (A&P)
Services and inspects airframes and powerplants on aircraft: general aviation, airline, military.
Auto Body Technician
Repairs collision damage: panel replacement, frame straightening, refinishing.
Automotive Service Technician
Diagnoses, maintains, and repairs cars and light trucks: gasoline, diesel, and electric.
Diesel Mechanic
Services and repairs diesel engines in trucks, buses, and heavy equipment.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Services construction, mining, agricultural, and material-handling machinery.

We compile this from public government records — DOL CareerOneStop, state licensing boards, VA GI Bill data, ED accreditation listings, and BLS wage data. Every number on every page links to its source. Why this is free →