A free resource for tradespeople

Plain-language information
about the skilled trades.
Built from public records.

Plain-language information about the skilled trades, built from public records. Apprenticeships, licensing, starting a business, and continuing education — for twenty skilled trades across construction, industrial, and automotive work.

Explore the trades →Check a school →
Sources:DOL CareerOneStop·State licensing boards·VA GI Bill data·ED accreditation records·BLS wage data

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.

Explore

Trade Explorer

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

Enter

Apprenticeship Finder

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

Get licensed

Licensing Navigator

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

Start

Business Launch Guide

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

Maintain

Continuing Education

CE requirements by state and trade, plus specialty certifications.

Check a school

School Record Lookup

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

Plan the exit

Exit & Succession Planning

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

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.

Answer 3 questions →Read stories first →

Pick a trade

Twenty trades covered. Pick yours.

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.
Boilermaker
Builds, installs, and repairs boilers, pressure vessels, and large tanks.
Carpenter
Frames, finishes, and builds structures from wood, steel, and composite materials.
Diesel Mechanic
Services and repairs diesel engines in trucks, buses, and heavy equipment.
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.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Services construction, mining, agricultural, and material-handling machinery.
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.
Ironworker
Erects structural steel, reinforces concrete with rebar, and installs metal decking and ornamental iron.
Machinist
Makes precision metal parts using manual and CNC machine tools.
Mason
Lays brick, block, and stone for walls, foundations, chimneys, and veneers.
Millwright
Installs, aligns, dismantles, and repairs heavy industrial machinery.
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.
Welder
Joins and cuts metal using arc, MIG, TIG, stick, and oxy-fuel processes.

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 →