Here are the best schools in Auburndale. Use this guide to compare accredited programs, program lengths, specialties, and Florida licensing steps. Construction and maintenance jobs are strong in Florida, and Polk County’s growth keeps demand steady for skilled trades1. Programs listed below are offered by public technical colleges or accredited career schools23.
Compare Trade Schools Near Auburndale, Florida
These options are in Auburndale or a short commute in Polk and nearby counties. Program lengths are typical full‑time ranges; check each school for current schedules.
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.
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 - Lakeland-Winter Haven, 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Radiologic technologists
$68,910
Medical assistants
$41,780
Phlebotomy technicians
$37,850
Nursing assistants
$36,000
Patient care technicians
$36,000
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Auburndale, 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 Auburndale, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Polk State College
$53,180
Traviss Technical College
$38,755
Ridge Technical College
$35,542
Empire Beauty School-Lakeland
$26,762
Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland
$23,234
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Auburndale
Among the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $36,000 to $68,910 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data).
New housing, logistics, and light industrial sites across Polk County drive steady electrical work. Installers and maintenance electricians have opportunities with contractors, utilities, and facility teams1. Many students start with an Electricity career certificate or a registered apprenticeship and work toward journeyman status.
HVAC/R Technician
Florida’s heat and humidity keep HVAC technicians busy year-round. Techs handle installs, troubleshooting, and refrigerant handling in homes, schools, clinics, and warehouses. Certification under EPA Section 608 is required for refrigerant work4. Local programs focus on diagnostics and brazing skills.
Welder/Fabricator
Welders support manufacturing, repair, and construction. Central Florida’s distribution and fabrication shops need strong MIG, TIG, and flux-core skills. Many programs align with AWS and NCCER performance tests to document your abilities for employers5.
Plumber
Water and sewer infrastructure upgrades, remodels, and commercial builds keep plumbing contractors hiring. Entry roles begin with a Plumbing career certificate or apprenticeship, then move to journeyman and contractor levels under Florida rules6.
BLS data shows stable employment across construction and extraction, and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations in Florida, with competitive wages for experienced tradespeople1.
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.
Licenses are issued at the state level for contractors, with many local jurisdictions issuing journeyman cards. Always check city and county rules where you plan to work.
Electrician (State)
Board: Florida Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board (ECLB) under DBPR6.
Typical path:
Complete an approved training program or apprenticeship and accumulate verifiable experience (on-the-job hours).
For contractor status, apply to become a Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) to work statewide, or Registered Electrical Contractor (ER) to work in specific localities6.
Pass the required state exams and meet financial and insurance requirements6.
Local journeyman licensing is handled by cities/counties; requirements vary. Many areas require an exam plus 4 years of experience.
HVAC Contractor (State)
Board: Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) under DBPR6.
Typical path:
Work as an HVAC technician under a licensed contractor while earning experience.
Earn EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants4.
Apply for Certified Class A (unlimited) or Class B (limited) Air-Conditioning Contractor, or Registered equivalents. Meet experience, exam, and financial requirements6.
Complete a plumbing program or apprenticeship and log required experience hours.
Apply for Certified Plumbing Contractor (statewide) or Registered Plumbing Contractor (local). Pass exams and provide proof of experience, insurance, and financial stability6.
Local journeyman credentials are issued by counties/cities.
Welding (No state license)
Florida does not license welders. Employers and job sites may require performance qualifications to AWS standards and/or NCCER credentials depending on the industry and code being used5.
Tip: If your goal is to run your own business, look at the Certified (statewide) contractor licenses. If you plan to work only in one area for an employer, a local journeyman card plus experience may be enough. Always confirm current requirements with DBPR and your local building department6.
Online & Flexible Options
Hands-on labs are essential in trades. Most quality programs deliver theory online or in hybrid formats and reserve shop time for skills.
Public technical colleges in Polk and Hillsborough counties often offer day and evening cohorts to fit work schedules.
Some courses use NCCER modules with online learning paired to lab check-offs5.
HVAC students can complete code and electrical theory online, then attend campus for refrigeration cycle diagnostics. EPA 608 testing is available in-person or proctored online with approved vendors4.
For apprenticeships, expect paid on-the-job training with related technical instruction in the classroom or online.
Ask each school about hybrid options, externships, and certification exam prep included in the program.
Visit campuses, ask about outcomes data, credential pass rates, and lab hours. Choose the program that matches your schedule and the license you plan to earn in Florida.
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/.
