Training Skilled Trades People Since 1971
North American Trade Schools (NATS) has been providing the greater Baltimore area with skilled tradespeople since 1971. Since its founding, NATS has expanded to teach seven trades to meet employers’ needs.
North American Trade Schools’ Mission Statement:
To service with excellence the needs of our community and the needs of our graduates by matching skills.
Take a Look Inside Our Baltimore Campus
North American Trade Schools trains students at its Baltimore campus, a city known for its shipping ports, steel work, and growing construction projects. Classrooms and labs on campus are set up to match the conditions students will face on the job, giving prospective students a clear picture of what a typical day on campus looks like before they ever apply.
Each trade program at NATS uses a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on lab time. Students spend part of their day learning the material and part of their day applying it on the equipment they will use in the field. This setup helps students build the kind of practical experience that employers look for.
The campus includes space for each of NATS’ programs, including CDL training, diesel technology, electrical technology, HRVAC, combination welding, and building technology. Students train in labs built around the tools and equipment they will use after graduation.
Anyone interested in seeing the campus in person can contact NATS to schedule a visit or check the event calendar for upcoming open houses.
History of North American Trade Schools
The story of NATS begins in 1970 when the Diesel Institute of America (DIA) was founded by Sheldon Monsein. Sheldon’s idea for a training institute was born out of a need for additional qualified diesel mechanics to repair the hundreds of vehicles at his Central GMC/Kenworth, Inc. facility.
Soon after, DIA began its first class for diesel technician training in a 500-square-foot facility in Landover, becoming the first Maryland diesel trade school. As the word spread, the school grew, and Monsein opened another campus in 1983 in Grantsville, MD. In 1986, DIA began offering commercial truck driver training.
In 2002, DIA was purchased and is still owned by EFC Trade. In May of 2004, DIA was relocated from Grantsville to its current location in Baltimore. During the location change, the school’s name was also renamed North American Trade Schools.
A Message from the President of NATS
There are very few decisions you will make in your lifetime that will have more impact on your lifestyle than the decision to enhance your skills. The North American Trade School offers persons seeking a secure future the opportunity to earn a lifestyle of which you can be proud. Since 1971, North American Trade School has graduated job-ready tradespeople and truck drivers. North American Trade School is dedicated to the principle that skilled training should be directed to the needs of the individual and employer. Emphasis is placed on quality workmanship, proper attitude, and good attendance in order to prepare graduates for employment and advancement. At the North American Trade School, we realize the importance of your goals and commit ourselves to help you make them a reality.
Rex Spaulding, North American Trade Schools President