Best Trade Schools in Florida City, Florida (2025 Guide)

Here are the best schools in Florida City. This guide lists accredited programs near you, how licensing works in Florida, and which trades are hiring in the Miami metro. Use it to choose a school, start an apprenticeship, and move into a skilled career with strong job security and steady pay[^1][^2].

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Top Trade Schools in Florida City

These schools are within an easy commute from Florida City. All are institutionally accredited or state approved, and offer hands-on training aligned to Florida licensing and industry certifications[^2].

Skilled Trades in Demand

• Electrician

  • Electricians install, maintain, and troubleshoot power, lighting, and controls. Work spans residential, commercial, industrial, and solar. Demand remains steady due to construction growth, system upgrades, and the need for maintenance[^1]. Training paths include a 1-year electricity program plus apprenticeship, or direct entry into a registered apprenticeship. See career details: Electrician.

• HVAC Technician

  • HVAC techs service heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration in homes and commercial buildings. Growth remains solid in Florida due to hot weather, energy efficiency upgrades, and strict building codes[^1]. EPA 608 certification is required for refrigerants. Learn more: HVAC.

• Welder

  • Welders join and repair metal in construction, fabrication, shipyards, and manufacturing. Miami-Dade has steady demand tied to infrastructure and marine work. Employers value process proficiency and current procedure qualifications. Explore the field: Welding.

• Plumber

  • Plumbers install and repair piping systems and fixtures. Florida’s population growth and hurricane resiliency projects drive continuous work. Licensure at the contractor level is statewide with additional local journeyman tiers[^1][^3]. Path overview: 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. Journeyman-level licensing is handled locally by many counties and cities, including Miami-Dade[^3].

• Electrician

  • State board: Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board at DBPR[^3].
  • Contractor licenses: Certified Electrical Contractor or Registered Electrical Contractor.
  • Typical steps:
  • 4 years of trade experience or a mix of education and experience.
  • Pass the state trade and business exams.
  • Financial responsibility, background check, and insurance.
  • For journeyman: apply through local authority such as Miami-Dade County Construction Trades Qualifying Board.

• HVAC - Air Conditioning Contractor

  • State board: Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) at DBPR[^3].
  • License classes: Class A - unlimited; Class B - limited to 25 tons cooling and 500,000 BTU heating.
  • Typical steps:
  • 4 years of experience or an education-experience combination.
  • Pass trade and business exams.
  • Financials and insurance.
  • EPA 608 certification required for refrigerant handling[^4].

• Plumber

  • State board: CILB at DBPR[^3].
  • Contractor types: Certified Plumbing Contractor or Registered Plumbing Contractor.
  • Typical steps:
  • Verified experience or apprenticeship completion.
  • State exam and business exam.
  • Financials, background check, and insurance.
  • Journeyman and master levels may be issued locally.

• Welder

  • No Florida state license for general welding.
  • Employers require performance qualifications and procedure tests. Common credentials include AWS structural codes and NCCER module-based certifications[^5].
  • OSHA-10 or OSHA-30 training is recommended for construction sites.

Tip: Many students complete a 10 to 18 month technical college program, then enter a registered apprenticeship or entry-level employment while they build hours toward contractor eligibility.

Online & Flexible Options

• Hybrid training

  • Core safety, codes, math, and blueprint reading often run online. Hands-on labs, shop practice, and clinicals are in person. Most schools listed above offer evening or hybrid schedules for working adults.

• Apprenticeships

  • Apprenticeships pair paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction. In Miami-Dade, classroom instruction is commonly delivered through Miami Dade College or local technical colleges in partnership with approved sponsors[^2]. You earn while you learn and graduate with industry credentials.

• Short certifications

  • Add-on credentials like OSHA 10, EPA 608, CPR/First Aid, and NCCER modules can be stacked to improve employability and meet contractor requirements[^4][^5].

Next Steps

• Compare programs and intakes at the Florida state hub: /trade-school/florida/
• Explore all skilled careers: /trades/
• Start at the main trade school hub to see other cities: /trade-school/

If you know your trade, go straight to career pages:

• Electrician: /trades/electrician
• HVAC: /trades/hvac
• Welding: /trades/welding
• Plumbing: /trades/plumbing

Have a plan: visit campuses, ask about accreditation, program hours, exam prep, placement, and schedules. Confirm your licensing path with DBPR or your local licensing office before you enroll[^3].

[^1]: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Electricians, HVACR Technicians, Plumbers, and Welders, 2024-2025. [^2]: U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator profiles for Miami Dade College, Robert Morgan Educational Center & Technical College, Lindsey Hopkins Technical College, Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, Sheridan Technical College, and Atlantic Technical College. [^3]: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Construction Industry Licensing Board and Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board, Candidate Information and Licensing Requirements. [^4]: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Section 608 Technician Certification for handling refrigerants. [^5]: NCCER, Industry-recognized construction credentials and curriculum frameworks. [^6]: Federal Aviation Administration, Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School approval requirements.