Here are the best schools in Anna Maria. This list focuses on accredited options in and around Anna Maria, including Bradenton, Sarasota, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. You’ll see program lengths, specialties, and what licenses you need in Florida. Trades like electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and welding remain in steady demand across the region1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Anna Maria, Florida
The schools below are accredited and offer hands-on training that hiring managers recognize. Program lengths are typical ranges; check each school for current schedules and start dates23.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
#1
St Petersburg College
📍
St. Petersburg, FL
•16.4 miles away•BOC Score
74.6
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in Florida.
Schools closest to the main population center in Florida are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in Florida is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
Median Annual Wage by Trade - North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL's most-employed tradesTrades ranked by local employment (BLS QCEW); wages are median annual pay (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; metro area where reported, otherwise statewide).
Median annual wage by trade in North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Culinary workers
$60,180
HVAC technicians
$59,070
Plumbers
$58,150
Dental assistants
$48,190
Medical assistants
$45,620
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Anna Maria, Florida (2026 Guide)Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Trade Schools in Anna Maria, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
$55,922
St Petersburg College
$54,088
Manatee Technical College
$45,049
Meridian College
$41,872
Suncoast Technical College
$40,433
Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg
$40,318
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Anna Maria
Among the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $45,620 to $60,180 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical culinary worker training runs 1-2 years (culinary school or apprenticeship) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial sites. Florida’s growth keeps electrical work steady year-round. Entry-level helpers start under a licensed contractor and build hours toward higher roles. BLS projects stable national employment for electricians with opportunities driven by construction and maintenance needs1. Explore the career path: Electrician.
HVAC/R Technician
HVAC technicians service heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Florida’s climate and year-round cooling demand make HVAC one of the most resilient trades. Technicians with EPA Section 608 plus strong troubleshooting skills get steady service and install work1. Learn more: HVAC.
Welder
Welders work across construction, manufacturing, marine, and fabrication shops. The Tampa Bay region’s marine and manufacturing sectors support consistent need. Employers value AWS and NCCER credentials paired with clean weld tests and safety certifications1. Career overview: Welding.
Plumber
Plumbers install and repair water and gas systems and fixtures. New construction and renovation in Manatee and Sarasota counties keep licensed plumbing contractors busy. Apprentices learn on the job while working toward contractor status1. Start here: Plumbing.
Job growth uses state projections when available and national projections (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034) when state data is unavailable. Median pay for each trade is shown in the comparison table above.
Florida licenses contractors at the state level through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Many entry-level tradespeople work under a licensed contractor while they train and test4.
Electrician
No statewide journeyman license. Most new electricians start as helpers or apprentices under a licensed contractor.
To run your own business or pull permits statewide, earn a Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) license via DBPR’s Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB).
Steps typically include: 4 years of experience (some education can substitute), pass trade and business/finance exams, provide financial responsibility and proof of insurance, and submit fingerprints/background check4.
Some local jurisdictions recognize journeyman/master credentials, but statewide contracting authority is through DBPR.
HVAC/R (Air Conditioning Contractor)
State licenses: Certified Class A (unlimited tonnage) or Class B (up to 25 tons/500k BTU heating).
Requirements: 4 years of experience or equivalent, pass trade and business/finance exams, financial responsibility, insurance, background check4.
All techs who handle refrigerants need EPA Section 608 certification5.
Plumbing Contractor
To contract statewide, earn a Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) license via DBPR CILB.
Requirements: verified experience, trade and business exams, financial responsibility, insurance, and background check4.
Apprentices and helpers can work under a licensed contractor while logging hours and studying.
Welding
No state welding license. Employers often require AWS certifications (e.g., D1.1 structural, pipe) or NCCER credentials. Schools typically prepare you for these performance tests1.
Helpful standards and frameworks:
O*NET task and skill profiles help you match strengths to trades6.
NCCER core and craft curricula are widely used in Florida training programs6.
Online & Flexible Options
Blended and evening schedules
Public technical colleges in Bradenton, Sarasota, and Tampa often run day and evening cohorts. Some general education, safety, and theory modules are offered online, with required labs on campus.
Short credentials to stack
Many programs let you earn OSHA-10/30, EPA 608, NCCER Core, and manufacturer training along the way. These can make you employable faster while you finish the full program.
Online-friendly fields
If you need maximum flexibility, look at medical billing and coding, IT support, cybersecurity, and CAD/drafting certificates at the state college or private career schools. Most include online coursework with local exam or lab requirements.
Apprenticeships
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC apprenticeships mix paid work with related classroom training. Ask the schools above about local apprenticeship partners, or check employer associations in Manatee and Sarasota counties2.
If you’re ready to move, contact 2-3 schools on this list, ask about start dates, required tools, exam pass rates, and placement support. Then choose the schedule that fits your life and get started.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
