Best Trade Schools in Cape Coral, Florida (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in Cape Coral. This guide focuses on accredited programs, hands-on training, and Florida licensing steps. You will also see which skilled trades are in demand and where to train locally. These careers offer steady work and solid wages nationwide1. Always verify accreditation and program outcomes before you enroll23.

Top Trade Schools in Cape Coral

Below are accredited schools in Cape Coral and nearby communities. Program lengths are typical ranges. Check each school for start dates and schedules.

School Program Length Highlights
Cape Coral Technical College (CCTC) 4 to 12 months Public technical college in Lee County. Council on Occupational Education accredited. Programs include Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Tech, Network Support, Digital Design, and Cosmetology. Strong clinical and certification prep.
Fort Myers Technical College (FMTC) 6 to 12 months Public, COE accredited. Trades include Electricity, HVAC, Automotive Service, Welding, Marine Service, EMT, and Practical Nursing. Hands-on labs and embedded industry certifications.
Southern Technical College – Fort Myers 8 to 24 months ACCSC accredited private career school. Programs commonly include HVAC, Electrical, and Medical Assisting. Day and evening schedules with career services support3.
Charlotte Technical College – Port Charlotte 6 to 12 months COE accredited. Programs in HVAC, Welding, Automotive, Carpentry, and Practical Nursing. NCCER and AWS certification preparation built into many shop programs.
Lorenzo Walker Technical College – Naples 6 to 12 months COE accredited. Offers Electricity, HVAC, Plumbing, Welding, and Practical Nursing. Modern labs and local employer partnerships.
Sunstate Academy – Fort Myers 4 to 12 months NACCAS accredited. Focus on Cosmetology, Barber Styling, Massage Therapy, and Skin Care. Real client salon experience.
Immokalee Technical College (iTECH) – Immokalee 6 to 12 months COE accredited. Career programs such as Electricity, HVAC, Automotive, and Medical Assisting. Small cohorts and industry certification prep.

Tips for choosing a program:

  • Confirm institutional accreditation and any programmatic approvals in College Navigator2.
  • Ask how many clock hours are in-lab versus classroom.
  • Request recent licensure pass rates and job placement data.
  • Verify which industry certifications are included in tuition and which have extra fees.

Explore Florida trade schools by region: Florida Trade School Hub and browse all trades at our Trades Hub.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician

    • Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes and businesses. Training starts with an Electricity program or apprenticeship followed by supervised work. Many technicians move into contractor roles after gaining experience. Employment and wages are strong nationally for this trade1. Learn about the career path on our Electrician trade page.

  • HVAC Technician

    • HVAC techs service heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. Programs teach electrical, controls, air distribution, and refrigerant handling. EPA Section 608 certification is required to work with refrigerants4. HVAC technicians see consistent demand in warm-weather states like Florida1. Start with our HVAC trade overview.

  • Welder

    • Welders join and cut metal using processes like SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW. Good welders work in fabrication, construction, marine, and repair shops. Employers value AWS certifications aligned to the work setting. Welding offers accessible entry and clear skill-based wage growth1. See paths on our Welding page.

  • Plumber

    • Plumbers install and repair water, drain, and gas piping. Training often combines a plumbing program with apprenticeship hours. Florida licensing focuses on contractor-level credentials for those who run jobs and businesses5. Learn more on our Plumbing page.

Licensing Requirements in Florida

Licenses are managed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Florida issues statewide contractor licenses. Journeyman licensing is local for many trades.

  • Electrician

    • Florida issues contractor credentials such as Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) and Certified Residential Electrical Contractor (ER).
    • Steps: meet experience requirements, pass trade and business exams, submit financials, and carry liability and workers’ comp coverage5.
    • Journeyman cards are issued by many counties or cities. Check local rules.

  • HVAC

    • Florida licenses Class A and Class B Air-Conditioning Contractors and Mechanical Contractors.
    • Steps: document 4 years of experience or equivalent, pass exams, provide financials and insurance, and apply with DBPR5.
    • EPA Section 608 is required for refrigerant handling4.

  • Plumbing

    • Florida issues Certified Plumbing Contractor licenses for those who contract plumbing work.
    • Steps: verify experience, pass contractor and business exams, show financial responsibility and insurance, and apply to DBPR5.
    • Local jurisdictions may issue journeyman and master credentials.

  • Welding

    • No statewide welder license.
    • Employers and public projects often require AWS structural codes or process-specific certifications. Schools prepare you to test for these credentials.

Before you enroll, confirm whether your goal is to work as a technician under a licensed contractor or to become a licensed contractor yourself. Contractor licenses require additional business and financial steps in Florida5.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid formats are common. Theory and safety can be online while labs are on campus or at employer sites. This works well for HVAC, electricity, welding, and healthcare support programs that require hands-on hours.
  • Evening or accelerated cohorts are available at several local schools. Ask about weekend labs if you work full time.
  • Exam prep can be online. Examples include practice for EPA 608, NCCER modules, and electrician contractor exam prep. Confirm that in-person proctoring is available when needed.
  • Healthcare support programs often blend online lectures with in-person clinicals. Verify approved clinical sites and preceptor availability.
  • If you need fully online options, look at non-lab careers like office-based medical billing or IT support. Then stack in-person skills later.

Next Steps

Footnotes

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and May 2024 wage data. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. Use it to verify accreditation, programs, and outcome data for each school. ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory of accredited institutions. ↩ ↩

  4. U.S. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification for refrigerant handling. ↩ ↩

  5. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board licensing requirements. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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Brad Fishbein Licensed Mold Assessor

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He’s the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad now helps homeowners and tradespeople make smart decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.