Admissions
Start your career here – no experience needed.
If you take the next steps in your learning journey at IYRS, you'll join students who are high school and college graduates, military veterans, gap year students, retirees, and career changers. You'll join students who grew up in Rhode Island and others who grew up across the United States or across the globe.
If you're looking for a school that offers financial aid, support, or career preparation, we've got you. We also offer exceptional outcomes like an 85% graduation rate, plus 85% of our graduates have a job at graduation.
Everyone has one important thing in common: a passion for learning the art and science of making, building, restoring, and maintaining. Whether it's a well-designed electrical panel, the smoothest, fare hull, or squeezing out the precise amount of resin while vacuum bagging carbon fiber, our commitment to doing things well and creating a beautiful end product is consistent across all four programs.
Are you ready to become part of the next generation of fine craftspeople and technicians? Are you looking forward to a career where you work with your hands and your mind to preserve maritime heritage and build the future of high-tech manufacturing?
Some of you have a history of craftsmanship, others learn from scratch. Experience is not necessary. But a passion for learning and doing is.
Upcoming Deadlines
Priority admissions application and scholarship deadline*
Fall - July 15 (all programs)
Spring - January 15 (Marine Systems)
*Availability of the programs and scholarships is on a first come, first served basis. Please be sure to submit your applications before these dates to ensure priority consideration. Additional admissions spots and assistance may still be available after the deadline.
Admissions application deadline**
Fall - August 1 (all programs)
Spring - February 1 (Marine Systems only)
**We will still accept applications for Fall 2025 after the August 1st and February deadlines on a space-available basis.
What Sets IYRS Apart From Other Trade Schools?
There's no other school quite like IYRS. It doesn't matter where you come from, what level of experience you bring or how many careers you might have previously dabbled in. When you come here, you'll find yourself at the beginning of a fresh start. In fact, Newsweek named IYRS one of the Best Maker Schools in the world in 2021.
You’ll apply the skills you learn at IYRS in a unique externship, gaining valuable hands-on industry experience. You'll learn from our expert faculty in the classroom and on the shop floor, as well as from tangible experience in the field, a dynamic combination for anyone embarking on a new career or looking to enhance an existing one. Your confidence, friendships, and communication skills will grow with everything you build as you work to sharpen your knowledge and polish your skills.
Throughout your time at IYRS and beyond, you'll find yourself connected to faculty and alumni through our Career Development department and many alumni engagement opportunities. Whether your interests lie in yacht building, high tech composites manufacturing, digital design, or something completely unique, you’ll have a home at IYRS.
ACCSC-Acredited
Trade Programs
IYRS School of Technology & Trades offers four hands-on, ACCSC-accredited programs that prepare students for in-demand careers. Whether mastering traditional wooden boatbuilding, working with advanced composites, exploring digital design and fabrication, or learning to install and repair marine systems, students gain real-world skills through immersive, project-based learning. Each program is designed to meet different interests while providing the technical expertise needed in today’s industries.
Hands-On
Industry Experience
At IYRS, learning goes beyond the classroom with hands-on training, expert faculty, and real-world experience through an externship that often leads to employment. Students build confidence as they sharpen their skills in the IYRS workshops, preparing for careers in industries like yacht building, composites manufacturing, and CNC machining. With a strong network of faculty, alumni, and career development support, IYRS provides a dynamic foundation for both fresh starts and career growth.
Network Building and
Career Prep
At IYRS, you’re not just learning a trade—you’re stepping into a powerful network of students, alumni, faculty, and industry leaders who are ready to help launch your career. From hands-on externships that put you inside real-world work environments to Career Day, where top employers actively recruit IYRS talent, every opportunity is designed to open doors. With expert mentorship, industry connections, and lifelong career support, IYRS is where passion meets possibility.
How to Get Started at IYRS
Apply Today
Our friendly admissions team is here to support you every step of the way, from exploring programs and completing your application to navigating financial aid options. We’re dedicated to answering your questions and helping you feel confident as you take this exciting step toward your future.
Finance Your Education
IYRS School of Technology & Trades offers financial aid options to help make tuition manageable, including federal loans, grants, and scholarships, with priority deadlines of July 15 for fall programs and January 15 for the spring Marine Systems Program.
Degree Pathways
IYRS School of Technology & Trades has articulation agreements with several local academic institutions, enabling graduates to transfer credits from IYRS certificate programs toward associate's or bachelor's degrees.
What was interesting to me about IYRS was that it was an institution that focused on practical skills, with a certain theoretical background, but really put an emphasis on making projects that existed in the real world.
- Nikolai Kozak, '24, Composites Technology
Choose Your Path
Our admissions counselors are here to guide you every step of the way—from your first question to your first day at IYRS.
For Career Changers
You're not just learning a trade—you're transforming your career. Whether you're transitioning from the military, IT, education, or any other field, our hands-on programs in boatbuilding, marine systems, composites, and digital fabrication are designed to help you build the skills and confidence needed for a fulfilling new path. With 500+ industry partners and a dedicated career development team, we provide the support and connections to turn your passion into a profession.
For Recent High School Graduates
At IYRS, you're not just starting a program—you're launching a hands-on career in just 6 to 20 months. Whether you're building wooden boats, 3d printing prototypes, troubleshooting marine electrical systems or working with advanced composites, our ACCSC-accredited programs offer real-world skills and personalized attention. With an 85% employment rate at graduation and 500+ industry partners, IYRS is where your passion becomes your profession.
For Active Military, Veterans, & Families
We recognize the dedication and discipline you've honed in the military, and we're here to help you channel those strengths into a rewarding civilian career. Our hands-on programs in marine systems, composites technology, boatbuilding, and advanced manufacturing are designed to build on your existing skills, and give you the technical expertise needed for industries like aerospace, wind energy, and medical devices.
For Gap Year Students
Taking a gap year at IYRS offers you a unique opportunity to explore hands-on learning in marine systems, composites technology, or digital fabrication—all within 6-9 months. Whether you're fresh out of high school or seeking a meaningful break before college or other opportunities, our ACCSC-accredited programs allow you to build real-world skills while earning a certificate that enhances your future educational or career prospects. With personalized instruction, a supportive community, and access to scholarships and financial aid, your gap year at IYRS can be both transformative and rewarding.
For International Students
As an international student at IYRS, you’ll immerse yourself in hands-on training in fields like marine systems, composites technology, boatbuilding, and digital fabrication—all within 6 to 20 months. Our globally diverse community includes students from countries such as Chile and Antigua, providing a rich, collaborative environment. We help you navigate the process of becoming an international student studying in the US.
Virtual Tour
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Get To Know Us
Our admissions counselors are here to guide you every step of the way—from your first question to your first day at IYRS.
Take The Next Steps
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Disclaimer:
Students are selected without regard to national or ethnic origin, race, sex, age, sexual orientation or religion and must be capable of benefiting from the training offered. Applicants must be seeking job training. All persons applying for admission must have completed high school or the equivalency and have the ability to understand written and oral instruction in the English language. IYRS is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools/Colleges (ACCSC).