Here are the best schools in Lake Mary. This guide compares accredited programs nearby and explains Florida licensing for popular trades. Use it to pick a program that fits your timeline and career goals. Trades like electrician, HVAC, plumbing, and welding remain in demand across the Orlando metro1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Lake Mary, Florida
Below are reputable, accredited options within a short drive of Lake Mary. Program lengths are typical ranges. Check each school for current start dates and 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 - Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, 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 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Culinary workers
$61,390
Medical assistants
$43,800
Phlebotomy technicians
$39,390
Nursing assistants
$37,690
Patient care technicians
$37,690
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Lake Mary, 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 Lake Mary, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando
$71,478
Herzing University-Orlando
$58,575
Seminole State College of Florida
$52,407
City College-Altamonte Springs
$40,977
Paul Mitchell the School-Orlando
$31,116
Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry
$22,274
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Lake Mary
Among the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $37,690 to $61,390 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 Lake Mary ranges from $3,122 to $26,664 per year (IPEDS and College Scorecard); schools that do not publish a rate are marked “Contact school for pricing” in the table below. Typical culinary worker training runs 1-2 years (culinary school or apprenticeship) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Electrical work stays steady with construction and ongoing maintenance. Training focuses on wiring, code, motors, and safety. Many start in an apprenticeship while earning a wage. Electricians have solid pay and career ladders into foreman or contractor roles1. See our overview: Electrician.
HVAC/R Technician
Florida’s climate keeps HVAC service busy year-round. Programs teach troubleshooting, controls, refrigeration cycles, and brazing. You will need EPA Section 608 to handle refrigerants. Experienced techs can become licensed contractors or specialize in controls and energy efficiency1. Explore HVAC.
Welder
Welding is used in construction, fabrication, and repair shops across Central Florida. Training covers SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, oxy-fuel cutting, and reading prints. Employers value passing bend tests and holding relevant certifications. Welding can lead to roles in structural steel, pipe, or aerospace fabrication1. Learn about Welding.
Plumber
Plumbers install and service water, drainage, and gas systems. Training covers codes, layout, fixtures, and piping methods. Many start as apprentices and work toward qualifying for a contractor license. Service plumbing is steady with strong call volume across the Orlando area1. See Plumbing.
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.
Licensing is handled at the state level for contractors, with some local credentials for journey-level workers. Always check Florida DBPR and local rules before you test or apply.
Electrician
Florida licenses electrical contractors through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Pathways:
Certified Electrical Contractor: state-level license to contract anywhere in Florida.
Registered Electrical Contractor: tied to a specific locality.
Typical steps: verify experience, pass state exam, provide financial/insurance documentation, complete background check, apply to DBPR2.
Note: Florida does not issue a statewide journeyman card; some counties and cities have local journeyman exams/credentials. Check Seminole County or City of Orlando if applicable.
HVAC/R (Air Conditioning and Mechanical)
To run an HVAC business or pull permits, you need a state contractor license (Class A Air Conditioning, Class B Air Conditioning, or Mechanical Contractor) via DBPR.
Typical steps: document experience (or education plus experience), pass trade and business exams, provide insurance/financials, background check, apply to DBPR2.
EPA Section 608 certification is required for anyone servicing or disposing of equipment with regulated refrigerants3.
Technicians can work under a licensed contractor while they gain experience.
Plumbing
Florida licenses plumbing contractors through DBPR (Certified or Registered).
Typical steps: meet experience requirements, pass trade and business exams, provide insurance/financials, background check, apply to DBPR2.
Local journeyman credentials may exist; verify with your local building department.
Welding
No state license for welders. Employers often require passing performance qualification tests to relevant codes (for example, AWS D1.1 for structural steel). Training programs help you prepare for these tests.
Apprenticeships: Many students enter paid apprenticeship programs that combine classroom and job training. Schools like Seminole State and regional training centers sponsor or connect students to apprenticeships. Apprenticeships can help you log the experience needed to sit for contractor exams.
Online & Flexible Options
Blended learning: Several nearby schools offer hybrid formats where theory is online and labs are in person. This is common for HVAC, electricity, and welding safety and code classes.
Evening and weekend schedules: Technical colleges and private career schools in the Orlando area often run multiple shifts to support working adults.
General education online: Community and state colleges such as Seminole State offer many A.S. support courses online, which can shorten your time on campus.
Short course stackability: Clock-hour programs at Orange Technical College and Lake Technical College stack into advanced certificates or help you transition into A.S. pathways.
Ask admissions about:
Lab access times and make-up policies
Required certifications embedded in the program (EPA 608, OSHA 10/30, NCCER modules)
Employer partnerships and outcomes data
Whether training hours count toward local apprenticeship or contractor experience requirements
Local tip: Tour two or three campuses. See the labs, talk to instructors about pass rates on industry exams, and ask career services how they help you connect with Orlando-area employers.
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, Occupational Outlook Handbook (Electricians; HVACR Mechanics and Installers; Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters). https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
