Best Trade Schools in Atlantic Beach, Florida (2025 Guide)

Here are the best schools in Atlantic Beach. This page shows accredited options nearby, program lengths, and what each school does best. You will also see Florida licensing steps and pay trends so you can plan your next move. Jacksonville’s shipyards, ports, healthcare, and construction create steady demand for skilled workers in the Beaches area[^1].

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Top Trade Schools in Atlantic Beach

All schools below are accredited or state recognized. Drive times are from Atlantic Beach and the Jacksonville metro.

Skilled Trades in Demand

• Electrician New construction, retrofits, and shipyard work keep electricians busy across Jacksonville and the Beaches. The median pay for electricians nationwide was about 1,590 in 2023, with solid opportunities for overtime and advancement[^1]. Apprenticeships help you earn while you learn.

• HVAC/R Technician Florida’s climate means year‑round work in cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration. Many employers require EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant handling[^5]. National median pay was about 7,300 in 2023[^1]. Technicians who can diagnose variable‑speed and heat pump systems are in high demand.

• Welder Welders support marine, construction, manufacturing, and repair shops linked to JAXPORT and Naval Station Mayport. Entry‑level roles often seek AWS or NCCER credentials. National median pay was about 8,940 in 2023[^1].

• Plumber Growth in residential and commercial building drives steady need for plumbers and pipefitters. The 2023 national median for plumbers was about 1,550[^1]. Licensed contractors can scale into higher‑margin jobs and service contracts.

Explore each career path and training options on our trade hub: All Trades. Start with Electrician, HVAC, Welding, and Plumbing.

Median Salaries for Popular Trades

Median salaries reflect the latest OEWS release; national data shown when state medians are unavailable.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. State data (Florida) shown where available; national OEWS values used when state data is unavailable. Job growth reflects projected U.S. change for each trade.

Licensing Requirements in Florida

Florida licenses contractors at the state level through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Some trades also have local journeyman rules. Always confirm current requirements with the state board.

• Electrician (Contractor)

  • Board: DBPR Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board[^4].
  • Path: Complete an apprenticeship or equivalent experience. Typical benchmark is 4 years of verifiable experience.
  • Exams: Pass the Electrical trade exam plus Business & Finance.
  • License types: Certified Electrical Contractor (EC, statewide) or Registered (ER, local jurisdictions).
  • Other: Background screening, financial responsibility, insurance, and continuing education.

• HVAC/Air Conditioning (Contractor)

  • Board: DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board[^4].
  • Path: 4 years of experience or a combination of experience and education.
  • Exams: Trade exam plus Business & Finance. Class A (unlimited) or Class B (limited to 25 tons/500,000 BTU).
  • Federal: EPA Section 608 certification required to handle refrigerants[^5].
  • Other: Insurance, financial stability, and CE.

• Plumbing (Contractor)

  • Board: DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board[^4].
  • Path: 4 years of experience or equivalent with education credits.
  • Exams: Plumbing trade plus Business & Finance.
  • License types: Certified (statewide) or Registered (local).
  • Other: Insurance, background, and CE.

• Welding

  • Florida does not issue a statewide welder license.
  • Employers and projects may require certifications such as AWS D1.1 Structural Steel, ASME Section IX, or NCCER Welding credentials[^6][^7].
  • OSHA 10/30 cards are often preferred for job sites.

Local note: Some counties and municipalities manage journeyman cards and local registrations. Check with the City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division before you start work on permitted jobs.

Online & Flexible Options

Hands‑on trades require in‑person labs, but many schools now blend theory online with shop training on campus.

• FSCJ, Keiser, and Concorde offer hybrid formats for general education and theory classes[^2].
• OSHA safety, basic electrical theory, HVAC controls, and blueprint reading often have online modules.
• For HVAC, you can prepare for EPA Section 608 with online study, then test in person through an approved proctor[^5].
• For electricians and plumbers moving toward contractor status, Business & Finance exam prep is commonly available online through approved providers.

How to Choose a School

• Verify accreditation and state approval. Check ACCSC, ABHES, COE, or SACSCOC listings and DBPR where relevant[^3][^4].
• Look at outcomes. Review completion, licensure pass rates, and placement on College Navigator[^2].
• Tour the labs. Inspect welding booths, HVAC trainers, electrical panels, and diagnostic tools.
• Ask about externships and employer partners in Jacksonville and the Beaches.
• Confirm exam prep and included certifications (EPA 608, OSHA 10/30, NCCER, AWS).
• Map the commute from Atlantic Beach to class and lab sites. Traffic matters on Atlantic, Beach, and I‑295.

Next Steps

• Compare schools and programs on our Trade School hub.
• See the Florida state page for more options: Florida Trade Schools.
• Explore careers and requirements on the Trades hub.
• Plan your budget and learn how to vet a program in Choosing a Trade School.

Set up campus tours at two or three schools. Bring your questions, see the labs, and pick the schedule that fits your life. That is the fastest way to get from Atlantic Beach to a good job in 2025.

[^1]: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages and Occupational Outlook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ and https://www.bls.gov/oes/ [^2]: U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ [^3]: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) School Directory, https://www.accsc.org [^4]: Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), Licensing for Electrical, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, https://www.myfloridalicense.com [^5]: U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification, https://www.epa.gov/section608 [^6]: American Welding Society (AWS) Certifications, https://www.aws.org [^7]: NCCER Credentials and Registry, https://www.nccer.org