Here are the best schools in Cocoa Beach. This guide compares accredited programs nearby, lists program lengths, explains Florida licensing, and points you to next steps. It’s built for high school grads and career changers who want hands-on training and a stable career. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers are in steady demand in Florida, with solid job growth expected through 203212.
Compare Trade Schools Near Cocoa Beach, Florida
These accredited schools are in Cocoa Beach or within a reasonable drive on the Space Coast and Orlando area. Always confirm current start dates and program details with the school.
We could not confirm enough colleges teaching this subject within range of this
location, so the list below shows nearby institutions instead. Confirm with each
school that it offers the program before you apply.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 6 schools, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
6 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. 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 - Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, 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 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Culinary workers
$50,220
Medical assistants
$38,830
Phlebotomy technicians
$37,450
Nursing assistants
$37,070
Patient care technicians
$37,070
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Cocoa Beach, 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 Cocoa Beach, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando
$71,478
Seminole State College of Florida
$52,407
Eastern Florida State College
$49,053
Daytona State College
$49,001
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Cocoa Beach
Among the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $37,070 to $50,220 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Published tuition across the trade-relevant schools serving Cocoa Beach ranges from $2,496 to $11,966 per year (IPEDS and College Scorecard); schools that do not publish a rate are marked “Contact school for pricing” in the table below. Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Electricians install and maintain electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial sites. Demand in Florida is steady due to growth in construction and ongoing maintenance needs1. Apprenticeships and school-based training both work. Local journeyman cards are issued by cities or counties, while contractor licensing is statewide.
HVAC/R Technician
Florida’s climate drives year-round HVAC work. Technicians with EPA 608 certification and solid troubleshooting skills can advance quickly. BLS projects faster-than-average growth for HVAC mechanics and installers nationally, with strong replacement needs1.
Welding
Welding supports construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and aerospace on the Space Coast. Certifications like AWS or NCCER boost employability. Many programs teach multiple processes (SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW) to prepare you for structural and pipe welding roles3.
Plumbing
Plumbers handle installation and repair of water, waste, and gas systems. Florida’s new builds and renovations keep demand stable. Contractor licensing is at the state level; journeyman is local. Many start as apprentices or helpers and work up to contractor status42.
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.
Path: 4 years’ experience or education/experience mix, pass Business & Finance and trade exam, carry required insurance.
Local journeyman cards: Issued by counties/cities; check your local building department.
Welding
Florida has no state license for welders.
Employers commonly require AWS structural/pipe codes (such as D1.1) or NCCER Performance verifications3.
Your school or an approved test facility can schedule your weld tests.
Before you enroll, map your end goal. If you want to run your own company, target contractor-level licensing steps early (exam prep, business classes, and insurance planning).
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid learning: Many schools deliver theory online and keep labs on campus. This works well for HVAC electrical theory, code, safety, and blueprint reading.
Evening/weekend cohorts: Public technical colleges and ACCSC-accredited schools often run night sections for working adults.
Exam prep: For Florida DBPR contractor exams, look for programs that include business and finance prep. For HVAC, confirm EPA 608 exam proctoring on campus5.
Credit vs. clock-hour: Public colleges award college credit and may stack to an A.S. Private career schools often use clock hours with focused, short-term schedules. Both can lead to the same industry certifications. Verify accreditation and transferability before you start67.
Next Steps
Compare Florida programs: Visit the state hub to see more schools and trades near you: Florida Trade Schools.
Explore trades and career paths: Review job duties, certifications, and salary trends on our Trades Hub.
Start here: If you’re still exploring, begin at our main hub: Trade Schools.
Cocoa Beach gives you access to Space Coast employers, public colleges, and reputable career schools within a short drive. Pick a program with strong labs, industry-recognized credentials, and a clear plan for Florida licensing. Tour the campus, talk to instructors, and ask where recent grads were hired. That homework pays off in your first job offer.
Outcome figures such as graduation, completion, and job placement rates are reported by schools and by federal data sources, reflect prior student cohorts, and are not a prediction or promise of future results. Individual outcomes may vary.
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/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections and Occupational Outlook Handbook (job growth and demand indicators for construction and extraction; installation, maintenance, and repair occupations). ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (statewide employment and replacement needs). ↩︎↩︎
NCCER, Credentials and Performance Verification (industry-recognized craft certifications for construction trades). ↩︎↩︎
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board (state contractor license requirements). ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
U.S. EPA, Section 608 Technician Certification (requirements to handle refrigerants). ↩︎↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator (institutional accreditation and program listings for public colleges in Florida). ↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Directory of Accredited Institutions (institutional accreditation for UTI, AIM, Southern Technical College). ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
