Evening/Night and Weekend Trade School Options

by | Jan 31, 2025 | Cost, Skilled Trades, Trade Schools

Attending trade school in the evenings or on weekends can be a great option for those with daytime obligations like a job, children, or other responsibilities. Some students may also prefer nighttime classes simply because they’re night owls. Whatever your reason, trade school at night or on weekends provides flexibility without sacrificing education quality.

Trade School at Night vs. During the Day

The biggest difference between attending trade school at night versus during the day is often the time required to complete your program. Daytime students typically attend 8-hour classes, while evening students usually attend 4-hour classes per night. This means that completing a program in the evening may take twice as long compared to a full-time daytime schedule.

Common Day, Evening, and Weekend Schedules

Here are some typical trade school schedules:

  • Day Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hours per day
  • Evening/Night Schedule: Monday-Friday, 4 hours per day
  • Weekend Schedule: Saturday-Sunday, 10 hours per day

Cost of Day vs. Night Classes

The cost of attending trade school during the day versus at night is generally the same. Financial aid is typically available for evening and nighttime classes, just as it is for daytime programs.

For certificate or diploma programs in fields like HVAC or welding, program completion is usually based on total required training hours. Whether those hours are completed in 8-hour daytime blocks or 4-hour nighttime sessions, tuition costs remain similar.

Trade School on the Weekend

Weekend-only trade school programs can be harder to find, but some fields—like commercial truck driving—may offer flexible weekend training options. In most cases, schools provide programs that combine weekday and weekend schedules rather than offering weekend-only courses.

Is Night or Weekend Trade School Right for You?

If you need flexibility due to work, family, or personal preferences, enrolling in night or weekend trade school classes may be the ideal solution. Consider your schedule, training duration, and financial aid options to determine the best fit for your needs.

Schools With Evening/Night/Weekend Programs

This is a list of some of our partner trade schools and technical colleges that offer evening and weekend class options. Evening classes are available in many locations, search for a school near you.

This is a partial list of partner trade schools. To see the full and current list of trade schools we work with visit our trade school finder page on Career School Now.

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