232 NTI Graduates Ready to Enter Houston Skilled Trades

“I was really nervous coming here as a female in a mostly male-dominated field. But once I got here, it really just, it felt right and it felt like home,” Savanna Bluff, a recent graduate, said in a press release. “I’ve enjoyed my time here. I’ve enjoyed working with my hands and I’ve enjoyed the people. I’ve met so many friends and I’ve been able to network and really see that plumbing has so many different options for me.”

Bluff spent years working in the restaurant industry before making the decision to pursue a more stable, better-paying career in the skilled trades. She graduated as a certified plumbing technician.

“These graduates represent exactly what NTI Houston is built for, and we’re proud to prepare people with the skills and confidence to launch careers in trades where demand continues to grow,” said Dexter Bethers, director of the Northwest Campus. “Every class that comes through these doors impresses me with their commitment and growth, and knowing that employers are eager to hire them makes each graduation one of the most rewarding days of the year.”

Houston’s shortage of skilled trades workers and sustained growth in the construction sector make this graduating class a critical resource for the regional workforce, the NTI press release said. Surveys by national contractor associations consistently show that 70% to 80% of firms report persistent struggles to fill hourly craft positions. The new NTI graduates enter the Houston workforce as trained HVAC, plumbing, and electrical technicians at a time when the regional industry needs them most.

“Walking through that door that day, like, literally changes — changes everything. Within my first week here, I felt like I was related to the family here. It really changed my life around. People here actually care,” said Tyrone Hunter, an NTI plumbing graduate. “They are willing to go the extra mile, hands-on with everything that they do here. Honestly, I would advise anybody who really wants to come to a trade school, NTI would definitely be the place.”

Both the Northwest and Southeast campuses feature state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with professional tools and industry-standard equipment designed to mirror real field conditions. To accommodate students who are currently working, classes run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with morning, midday, and evening options available on weekdays and Saturday classes offered at both campuses.

NTI offers certification programs through in-person and hybrid learning with programs last between 12 and 16 weeks, with new classes starting every month, and pairs graduates with career services advisors who connect them to local hiring partners.