FL School Directory
Compare 41 accredited trade schools across 15 cities — tuition, programs, and FL licensing rules
41
Schools
15
Cities
15
Trade Programs
Florida combines one of the largest state college systems in the country with a deep network of public technical colleges (often called Career & Technical Centers) and well-known private institutes. Schools like McFatter Technical College (Davie), Atlantic Technical College (Coconut Creek), Sheridan Technical College (Hollywood), Erwin Technical College (Tampa), Pinellas Technical College, and Orange Technical College anchor the public side, with brands like Universal Technical Institute (Orlando) and Florida Career College on the private side.
Florida's trade demand is driven by year-round construction, an aging population that fuels healthcare hiring, and the constant churn of HVAC and roofing work tied to heat and storms. Hurricane rebuild cycles routinely create thousands of openings for electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and CDL drivers. Tourism (Orlando, Miami) keeps culinary and hospitality programs busy, and the Port of Tampa Bay and JAXPORT drive logistics hiring.
Based on hiring activity, employer demand, and program enrollment in FL.
Year-round AC demand plus storm-driven repair and replacement cycles
Strong Port of Tampa, JAXPORT, and Miami logistics hiring
AdventHealth, Baptist Health, and HCA hospital networks plus aging-population demand
New construction across Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and SE Florida
Tourism economy supports a deep salon and spa employer base
Typical range
$3,500–$18,000
Total tuition
Listed school avg.
$8,395
Across 41 schools
Schools listed
41
In 15 cities
See our full trade school cost guide for state-by-state breakdowns and a deeper look at how to fund your training.
Trade licensing in FL varies by program. Here's what you'll typically need to legally work in each field after training:
| Trade | FL Requirement |
|---|---|
| Electrician | DBPR Electrical Contractor license (Certified or Registered); journeyman licensing at the county level |
| Plumber | DBPR Plumbing Contractor license; some counties require local journeyman license |
| HVAC Technician | DBPR Class A or Class B Air Conditioning Contractor license; EPA 608 required |
| CDL | Class A/B issued by Florida DHSMV; ELDT-compliant training required |
| Cosmetology | 1,200 hours + Florida Board of Cosmetology exam |
Public technical and state college trade programs typically cost $3,500-$8,000 total. Private career colleges run $12,000-$18,000. Florida residents qualify for in-state tuition, and Bright Futures plus the Florida Student Assistance Grant can offset costs further.
Florida technical colleges (like McFatter, Sheridan, Atlantic, Pinellas Tech) focus exclusively on career and technical education with shorter, cheaper programs. State colleges (like Valencia, Miami Dade, Hillsborough Community) offer trades alongside academic two-year degrees. Both are public, accredited, and accept federal financial aid.
Public technical college HVAC programs typically run 9-15 months for a full diploma. Many programs are structured to align with EPA 608 certification and Florida's Class B contractor license prerequisites. Some private programs can be completed in 6-9 months.
Most accredited Florida technical colleges and state colleges accept the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Florida also offers state-level veteran tuition benefits at public institutions. The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs maintains the list of approved programs.
Median listed tuition across 32 Florida schools that publish a price is $4,500, ranging from $2,682 to $32,000. The table below breaks that down by program — every figure comes from the tuition these schools publish, not a national average.
| Program | Programs | Median tuition | Range | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💻 IT & Networking | 31 | $4,500 | $2,682–$32,000 | 6-24 months |
| 🩺 Medical Assistant | 30 | $4,500 | $2,830–$21,500 | 9-12 months |
| ❄️ HVAC Technician | 21 | $4,500 | $2,878–$18,500 | 6-24 months |
| 🔥 Welding | 21 | $4,079 | $2,878–$21,500 | 6-18 months |
| 👨🍳 Culinary Arts | 21 | $4,250 | $2,830–$8,500 | 6-24 months |
| ⚡ Electrician | 20 | $4,500 | $2,878–$21,500 | 9-24 months |
| 🦷 Dental Assistant | 20 | $4,500 | $2,830–$65,000 | 9-12 months |
| 🚗 Automotive Technician | 19 | $5,500 | $2,830–$6,315 | 6-24 months |
| 🪚 Carpentry | 19 | $4,225 | $2,830–$5,671 | 6-24 months |
| 💊 Pharmacy Technician | 18 | $4,000 | $2,878–$21,500 | 6-12 months |
| 💇 Cosmetology | 16 | $4,500 | $3,150–$17,900 | 9-15 months |
| 🔧 Plumbing | 10 | $4,500 | $3,855–$4,779 | 9-24 months |
| 💆 Massage Therapy | 9 | $4,640 | $3,855–$10,700 | 6-12 months |
| 🚚 CDL Training | 7 | $4,500 | $3,855–$4,563 | 3-8 weeks |
| 🐾 Veterinary Technician | 4 | $3,891 | $3,891 | 18-24 months |
Based on the 41 schools listed on Trade Schools Review in Florida. Median is calculated across programs with a published tuition figure; schools that quote on request are excluded. Confirm current pricing with the school.
The lowest published tuition among Florida schools in our directory. Public community and technical colleges dominate this list — they charge in-district rates for the same credentials private career colleges sell at several times the price.
St. Petersburg, FL · Public Community College
$2,682
listed tuition
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Public State College
$2,830
listed tuition
Jacksonville, FL · Public State College
$2,878
listed tuition
Orlando, FL · Technical College
$3,500
listed tuition
Orlando, FL · Technical College
$3,500
listed tuition
Orlando, FL · Technical College
$3,500
listed tuition
Orlando, FL · Technical College
$3,500
listed tuition
Winter Garden, FL · Technical College
$3,891
listed tuition
Jacksonville has the most options in the state with 8 schools. Pick a city to compare local programs, tuition, and schedules.
495 N Semoran Blvd, Suite 6, Winter Park, FL 32792
$14,331
N/A students
301 West Amelia Street, Orlando, FL 32801
$3,500
1,200 students
2900 W Oak Ridge Rd, Orlando, FL 32809
$3,500
2,743 students
301 West Amelia Street, Orlando, FL 32801
$3,500
1,200 students
2900 W Oak Ridge Rd, Orlando, FL 32809
$3,500
2,743 students
1800 S Kirkman Rd, Orlando, FL 32811
N/A
N/A students
1100 W 49th St, Hialeah, FL 33012
N/A
N/A students
2900 W 12th Ave 3rd Floor, Hialeah, FL 33012
$21,500
N/A students
1495 W 49th St, Hialeah, FL 33012
$10,700
N/A students
7259 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256
$32,000
700 students
501 W State St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
$2,878
23,556 students
501 West State Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
$4,500
50,000 students
11901 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32246
$4,500
15,000 students
8813 Western Way, Jacksonville, FL 32256
N/A
N/A students
6430 Southpoint Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32216
$25,000
1,500 students
1045 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204
N/A
N/A students
3500 Southside Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32216
$20,000
1,000 students
4202 West Spruce Street, Tampa, FL 33607
$22,000
700 students
2010 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610
$4,779
581 students
10414 East Columbia Drive, Tampa, FL 33619
$4,500
7,500 students
4001 West Tampa Bay Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33614
$4,500
28,000 students
2370 34th St, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
N/A
N/A students
901 34th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
$4,500
2,500 students
PO Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733
$2,682
N/A students
2101 NW 117th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172
$25,000
1,500 students
750 NW 20th Street, Miami, FL 33127
$4,500
10,000 students
300 NE Second Avenue, Miami, FL 33132
$4,000
50,000 students
1850 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135
N/A
N/A students
18180 SW 122nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33177
$4,500
5,000 students
7751 NW 27th Ave, Miami, FL 33147
N/A
N/A students
955 E Story Rd, Winter Garden, FL 34787
$3,891
1,418 students
955 E Story Rd, Winter Garden, FL 34787
$3,891
1,418 students
6100 154th Avenue North, Clearwater, FL 33760
$5,671
1,018 students
6100 154th Avenue North, Clearwater, FL 33760
$4,500
2,200 students
With 41 options to compare, choosing the right trade school takes some research. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating programs in FL: