Nepal's job market is undergoing a significant transformation. While degrees are still important, employers are more interested in what you can do from the get-go. As a result, more students, career changers, and working professionals are choosing vocational and IT training institutes to develop job-ready skills in a matter of weeks or months.
These days, there are dozens of training institutes in Kathmandu, but they are not all equal. Some specialize in hard skills and trades like electrical work and plumbing, and others specialize in coding, design, digital marketing, and more. There are different fees, batch sizes, practical training, certification options, and career assistance available at different institutes; hence, it's necessary to pick the right institute before you put your money and time into it.
The comparison of five training centers in Kathmandu, i.e., Apex Skills Academy, Saarathi Academy, Broadway Infosys, LetsLearn, and Skills Factory Nepal, is done on this guide. You will learn about the courses they offer, the approach they take to training, the opportunities for certification and practical learning, the feedback they get from students, and where they are based with a comparison table to make it easier to make your shortlist more quickly.
APEX SKILLS ACADEMY
About Apex Skills Academy
Apex Skills Academy and Research Centre is a CTEVT-affiliated vocational training institute with ISO 9001:2015 certification, which was established to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical learning with the real job market. It operates from two campuses in Kathmandu with over 130 trainers and staff combined.
Courses provided
Apex has a catalog of hard skills courses and soft/digital skills courses. They are:
- Elderly Age Care Program
- Plumbing training
- Welding Training
- Industrial wiring training
- Motor rewinding training
- Auto mechanic training
- Motorcycle mechanic training
- Electronics troubleshooting training
- AC and refrigerator repair training
- Professional barber training
- Digital marketing training
- Video editing training
- QA training
Practical training and facilities
Training takes place in real workshops and on the premises and not in a lecture hall. The barber course is a practical course where students use tools from the first day of class, as shown in the photos of Apex. Students start out using mannequin heads and then move onto live models.
These are all Apex courses that have been affiliated with CTEVT and, where applicable, are ISO 9001:2015 certified by Apex. That's because in the Nepalese job market, people's resumes are viewed more considering CTEVT recognition, and the ISO certificate is designed to give employers an idea that the training is consistent and rigorous behind the paperwork.
Student feedback
Students consistently praise the hands-on aspect and the ability to choose morning or evening course sessions based on schedule according to other work and campus. Review of Apex Skills Academy
Locations: Chabahil-07, Gopikrishna, and New Baneshwor, Suruchi Marga.
Why Consider Apex Skills Academy?
Students can look at several options offered by Apex that may be relevant to comparing vocational training institutes, such as trainers that have industry experience, two locations in Kathmandu, morning and evening classes, demo classes, payment in instalments, and career support.
Who should join Apex
Career changers and +2 or bachelor's graduates; those who want a trade as their backup plan; job seekers who are looking to get placed overseas; and anyone who wants a certificate that their employer will recognize and not just a generic certificate of completion.
Apex might be appropriate for students who have an interest in learning practical skills like barbering, auto mechanics, electrical, plumbing, and other CTEVT-related careers who prefer learning by doing and hands-on experience.
Saarathi Academy
About Saarathi Academy
Saarathi Academy is a small, students’-built tech academy in Old Baneshwor, established by students. It was initiated by individuals who became frustrated with the fact that graduates' degrees were not accompanied by any skills that were deployable and that training centers overpacked up to thirty students into one room. It places itself as more of an engineering school than a training center.
Courses Provided
Courses provided by Saarthi are
- Backend engineering
- Cloud computing
- Graphics designing
- AI and machine learning
- Cybersecurity
- Video editing
- Digital marketing
Each track is fully developed and includes fully developed courses covering AI-assisted coding, data science/machine learning, cloud security/DevSecOps, and ethical hacking.
Practical and project-based learning
All programs are designed on real projects, do not toy programs, and mentoring is done through code review and pair work; both mentors are active working programmers. All students will experience mock technical interviews during their last week, and a deployed, public portfolio is more important than the certificate itself.
There is one thing that sets Saarathi apart from its competitors’ small batch training. Up to 10 students, both in-person and online, will be placed together in a single batch, which will allow you to receive feedback from your mentor daily rather than sitting in the back of a packed room. In addition, the Old Baneshwor lab is also open every Sunday for students who wish to practice some extra time.
Saarthi helps students with CV reviews, LinkedIn profile audits, mock interviews, and using Saarathi's hiring network, which are all an integral part of the program and not an additional cost.
Students' reviews
Saarathi serves as an excellent experience, a positive learning environment, friendly and competent mentors, and a motivating atmosphere, with some stating the small class sizes by name. Check out authentic reviews of Saraathi here.
Location: Saarathi Academy is located in Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu.
Why Saarathi
Saarthi serves 10 students, a limit that is unusual at Kathmandu IT institutes; course fees will be known at the beginning of the course (scholarships are available on the basis of needs), and the course focuses on shipping real deployed work rather than certificates.
Who should join?
Complete beginners that want structure and working professionals/founders that want to build and own real applications instead of just following a tutorial.
If someone wants to pick an IT training institute in Kathmandu, then Saarathi might be taken into consideration, as they offer small batch size training and mentorship to the learner frequently.
Broadway Infosys
(Broadway Infosys home page)
About Broadway Infosys
Youngest of its kind in Kathmandu, based in Tinkune, Broadway Infosys is one of the oldest IT training institutes in the city, established in the year 2008. It's ISO 9001:2015 certified and recognized by CTEVT.
Courses and training programs
Broadway has a large number of courses in programming languages; some are
- web development
- mobile app development
- graphics and multimedia
- digital marketing
- project management
It is also a Pearson VUE, an EC-Council, and a Microsoft-authorized testing center, which is important if you need to take an exam along with your training that's recognized internationally.
Practical learning
Courses include assigned projects with evaluation sessions and internship and job placement support following course completion. Broadway also provides training for businesses' upskilling initiatives.
Broadway’s Facebook page has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5, with 96 percent of the reviews recommending it. CCNA classes and cybersecurity are specific classes mentioned by students and reviewers found to be taught patiently with repeated questions from students and with real-life examples.
Location: Shreeganesh Marg, Subidhanagar, Tinkune, Kathmandu.
Why Broadway Infosys?
Students have been coming to Broadway for almost 20 years to learn skills at the IT training center in Kathmandu. The course menu is as broad as it gets to cover all the major IT disciplines, and all exam requirements are met at the testing center with no need to make a separate booking elsewhere for exams like Pearson VUE, EC-Council, and Microsoft exams.
Who Can Join?
It's recommended for students who intend to take multiple courses at the same institute over a period, for professionals who are preparing for a specific vendor certification exam, and for companies that wish to train their employees.
Broadway is a school that offers an established broad curriculum and provides all the major certification exams in one place.
LetsLearn
About LetsLearn
Established in 2015, LetsLearn is based at SRD Complex near Putalisadak in Kathmandu. LetsLearn offers a variety of IT courses along with a course on design and works with the Intel Institute on a bridge course for students who appeared for SEE to provide a basic course in computer skills in parallel to the academic course.
Courses and IT training
It focuses on
- Web development,
- MERN stack training
- Graphic designing
- UI/UX Training
- Digital marketing training
Practical learning
The cost of courses ranges at the lower end in Kathmandu, with digital marketing courses beginning at NPR 12,000 and the Intel bridge course at NPR 10,000. One-on-one feedback on projects, highlighted weekly tests, and freelance-oriented add-ons that guide students through a profile for Fiverr or Upwork—thesese are some of LetsLearn's teaching methods that are mentioned in its student reviews.
Location: SRD Complex, New Plaza, Putalisadak, Kathmandu.
Why LetsLearn?
Entry-level pricing that's more achievable on the first course, both in print and online, and a specific progression route for students that seamlessly moves from SEE exams straight into IT courses.
Who can join?
It is recommended for recent graduates of the SEE who are in the process of making decisions for their next steps as well as for those who are beginners and want to explore an online design or web development course before enrolling in a more long-term and expensive program at other institutions.
LetsLearn might be a good option for SEE graduates and beginners seeking to explore IT and/or design, but not necessarily a longer or more advanced program
Skills Factory Nepal
About Skill Factory Nepal
Skills Factory Nepal, a CTEVT-affiliated skills training organization, was registered with the Office of the Company Registrar, Nepal, in 2015 in Dillibazar. It is different from the other four institutes on this list because it deals with hospitality and culinary trade, rather than IT and technical repair skills.
Courses and training programs
It offers various service training.
- waiter/waitress service training
- basic and advanced bakery training
- advanced barista training
- professional cookery training
Practical learning
Students work with cooking equipment, espresso machines, and ovens, with classes conducted by working chefs and hospitality trainers that avoid the theory-heavy approach.
Location: Dillibazar-30 in Kathmandu, on the way to Maitidevi in front of NIC Asia Bank.
Why Skills Factory Nepal
It is one of the very few CTEVT-affiliated institutes in Kathmandu whose focus is on hospitality and food service and not cooking or barista work as a side business. It also arranges for graduates to be put in direct contact with employers, something that's important in an industry where hiring through referrals is prevalent.
Who can Join?
People seeking a career in hotel, restaurant, and cafe careers in Kathmandu, as well as those who wish to learn and acquire the basic skills needed to start their own small food or beverage business.
Skills Factory Nepal might be suitable for students who are interested in the hospitality, café, and bakery industries and the restaurant or hotel industry in Kathmandu.
Top Training Centers in Kathmandu
The mentioned above are some of the top training centers in Kathmandu.
The 5 institutes given above aren't the same competitors. It would be misleading to compare them on the basis of the number of courses. Apex is a pro-hands-on vocational/technical trade school, Saarathi is designed to be an education-focused, small-batch school of technology, Broadway is a very wide IT catalog, LetsLearn is a school with both IT training and hands-on projects and certifications, and Skills Factory is a very hands-on school focused on hospitality and service-oriented skills.
Below is a helpful table to compare. Please check the latest course fee, schedule, certification, and availability directly from the institute before enrolling in the course.
Comparison Table
|
Training Center |
Primary Focus |
Practical Learning |
Certification / Affiliation |
Standout Feature / Batch Size |
Career Support |
Location |
|
Apex Skills Academy |
Vocational & technical trades + selected digital skills |
Strong hands-on workshops & labs |
CTEVT-affiliated; ISO 9001:2015-certified |
Two campuses; morning & evening batches |
Job/career support (Nepal + Gulf/Malaysia) |
Chabahil & New Baneshwor |
|
Saarathi Academy |
Software, AI, data, cybersecurity, design |
Project-first with daily mentor feedback |
Saarathi Certificate of Completion (portfolio-based) |
Hard-capped at 10 students per batch |
Portfolio, CV, LinkedIn, mock interviews & career launch |
Old Baneshwor |
|
Broadway Infosys |
Broad IT (programming, AI, networking, digital marketing, etc.) |
Practical / project-based |
ISO 9001:2015; CTEVT-recognized; Pearson VUE / EC-Council / Microsoft testing center |
100–160+ course catalog |
Placement assistance & large hiring network |
Tinkune |
|
LetsLearn |
Web development, design, digital marketing, computer skills, and SEE bridge |
Projects, weekly tests & practical work |
LetsLearn certificates with online verification; Intel Institute partner |
Lower entry-level fees |
Internship & placement support |
New Plaza / Putalisadak |
|
Skills Factory Nepal |
Hospitality, culinary, caregiving & service skills |
Highly practical kitchen & service labs |
Course-specific; CTEVT-affiliated programs advertised |
Kitchen & café-equipment-focused labs |
Career-oriented vocational training |
Dillibazar |
How to Choose the Best Training Center in Kathmandu
- Review the course specifications: Request for a proper syllabus, rather than a course name. There are several different ways two “digital marketing” courses can be completely different.
- Consider practical training: To understand the proportion of hands-on to lecture in class time. Do the inquiry whether you will go with a deployed project, a physical artifact, or notes.
- Check trainer experience: A trainer who continues to pursue his career has more insight than a trainer who just teaches.
- Verify certification: Check if the institute issues a certificate, or if it only has international recognition, or if it is CTEVT recognized. They all have different values in the eyes of employers.
- Verify certification: Check if the institute issues a certificate, or if it only has international recognition or it is CTEVT recognized. They all have different values in the eyes of employers.
- Read student reviews: Ignore the star ratings and read what students have to say about their batch size, the support they received, and whether they found jobs after graduation.
- Compare the fees and length of time: Don't automatically assume that double the length of a course is a cheaper deal.
- Consider location: Each day that entails a 90-minute commute across Kathmandu adds up to 3 to 6 months, of course.
- Review career and job assistance: Openly inquire about placement support. Is it a commitment or a network of internships and jobs?
The Necessity of Skill-Based Training in Nepal
Skill training continues to rise as Nepal's economy still has more graduates than it has degree-matched jobs.
Employment: A CTEVT-recognized trade certificate can present opportunities that a degree may not provide, particularly in jobs like electrical and plumbing or jobs in IT support.
Entrepreneurship Skills: Skills such as baking, barbering, or auto repair can easily be applied to the creation of a small business and require little or no investment.
Freelancing: Digital skills like video editing, graphic design, and web development enable individuals to earn on various platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, sometimes even before completing the course.
Career advancement: For those who work in their field, short courses can be used to acquire a second skill, such as a marketer learning video editing or an office worker learning some coding.
International opportunities: Work in trades such as plumbing, electrical, auto mechanics, and caregiving are often required, and CTEVT certification is part of the visa and employment process in the Gulf countries, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.
FAQs
Which training center is the best in Kathmandu?
This depends on the learning you need to do. Apex Skills Academy is the lead for hands-on training and skills in trades, while Saarathi Academy and Broadway Infosys are the leads for IT and software skill training, and Skills Factory Nepal is the lead in the field of hospitality and culinary skills training.
What's the best vocational training institute in Kathmandu?
For learners primarily interested in vocational and technical trades, Apex Skills Academy is one option to consider, particularly if CTEVT-affiliated training, practical workshops, and multiple course locations are important factors."
What's the most effective IT training institute in Kathmandu?
One of the unique features of Saarathi Academy is a small batch of 10 students and a project-based approach to learning. If you wish to go for an extended track record and access to international exams, Broadway Infosys is a good choice to consider.
Where are the training centers available that provide CTEVT courses?
CTEVT-affiliated courses are available in various trade areas at Apex Skills Academy, Broadway Infosys, and Skills Factory Nepal.
Which are the best short-term training courses in Kathmandu?
Typical short courses are a month or three months in barbering, video editing, digital marketing, and basic bakery/barista training. These allow you to practice a new skill without having to undertake a long program.
What are the costs of training in Kathmandu?
The fees also vary from course to course and institute, generally from NPR 10,000 for entry-level and ‘bridge’ courses to NPR 85,000 or higher for longer-term, advanced technical courses. Before signing up, request a breakdown of your fees, including any installment terms.
Are there any job placement supports available at Kathmandu training centers?
It is offered at most of these institutes, but not to the same level. Both Apex Skills Academy and Broadway Infosys speak about their internship and placement assistance for their trade and IT courses, while Saarathi Academy incorporates internship placement along with hiring network referrals into all courses, and Skills Factory Nepal links hospitality students directly to employers. Don't just ask each institute if they provide placement support; ask them to tell you what this looks like in practice.
Final Verdict
No single training center, in Kathmandu, can be objectively the best for all the learners. The right one will depend on the lifestyle you wish to live. Apex Skills Academy provides vocational and technical training in the fields of trade like plumbing, electrical work, automotive repair, and barbering.
If you are interested in IT training with a small class size and heavy project work, then Saarathi Academy is special in its software and IT training with a small batch size and project-oriented approach. Broadway Infosys might be better for students that prefer to take a wide selection of IT courses and/or training for certification. LetsLearn should be considered for practical IT and computer training, projects, support for your career, and certification. If you are pursuing the vocational skills that are related to hospitality and services, then there is a different pathway through Skills Factory Nepal.
When it comes to the smartest way to ask the question, "Which institute is number one? Instead, ask yourself: What institute is the top one for the career I want? That shift in perspective can save you time, money, and frustration and guide you towards training that can help you advance your career.
