Our History

Berk Trade School has been part of the Long Island City, Queens community since 1945. What began as a focused vocational training institution has grown into one of New York City’s most established and respected trade schools — all while staying true to the same foundational mission: hands-on training in the electrical and plumbing trades.

Decades before “workforce development” became a buzzword, Berk was already doing it — training workers for the electrical and plumbing industries that make New York City function. Our graduates have worked on some of the most significant construction and infrastructure projects in the five boroughs and beyond.

Built for New York

Long Island City has always been a working neighborhood — close to Manhattan, connected to all five boroughs, and home to people who build and maintain the city. Berk was founded here, and we’re still here. Our students don’t need to travel far to get quality trade training, and our graduates don’t have to look far for work.

Over the decades, the trades have changed — new codes, new materials, new technology. But the fundamentals haven’t. You still have to learn with your hands. You still have to put in the hours. And you still need instructors who know the job, not just the textbook. That’s what Berk has always provided, and what we continue to provide today.

Accredited and Recognized

Berk Trade School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and approved by the New York State Education Department. We are approved for federal financial aid, veterans’ education benefits, ACCES-VR, HRA, and AmeriCorps funding.

That recognition didn’t happen overnight — it’s the result of more than 80 years of delivering on our promises to students and maintaining standards that regulators and employers trust.