Here are the best schools in Lake Wales. This guide lists accredited options within easy driving distance, plus Florida licensing steps and which trades are hiring now. Use it to compare programs and plan your path to a solid career in 2025.
Compare Trade Schools Near Lake Wales, Florida
The schools below are accredited and offer hands-on training in skilled trades. Program lengths are typical time-to-completion for full-time students. Always confirm current details with the school.
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 Lake Wales, 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 Wales, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Polk State College
$53,180
South Florida State College
$48,619
Traviss Technical College
$38,755
Ridge Technical College
$35,542
Empire Beauty School-Lakeland
$26,762
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Lake Wales
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. Published tuition across the trade-relevant schools serving Lake Wales ranges from $3,165 to $11,859 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).
Steady demand statewide for installation and maintenance across residential, commercial, and solar projects1.
Local programs feed apprenticeships and contractor firms in Polk and Highlands counties.
Work includes wiring, service panels, conduit, low-voltage systems, and troubleshooting.
HVAC/R
Florida’s heat and growth keep HVAC technicians busy all year. Employers value EPA 608 plus NATE or HVAC Excellence credentials1.
Jobs span install, service, and controls in homes, schools, hospitals, and light industrial.
Welding
Welders support construction, fabrication, utilities, and transportation. Training focuses on SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and plate/pipe positions.
NCCER and employer-required code tests help you move up quickly2.
Plumbing
Plumbers are needed for new builds, retrofits, and service. Training covers piping systems, code, fixtures, backflow, and blueprint reading.
Pathways include registered apprenticeship and, later, plumbing contractor licensing to run your own business3.
BLS projects stable employment and replacement needs across these trades in Florida, with pathways to higher pay as you add certifications and experience1.
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.
Start: Enroll in a certificate or apprenticeship and log supervised hours (often 4 years combined OJT/class).
Journeyman: Many Florida jurisdictions recognize journeyman competency cards or completion of a registered apprenticeship. Check local requirements.
Contractor: To bid/operate a business statewide, apply for Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) via the Florida DBPR Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board. Requirements include verified experience, exam, background, financial responsibility, and insurance3.
Keep up with continuing education each renewal cycle3.
HVAC/R
Technicians: EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants4.
Contractor: Class A or Class B Air Conditioning Contractor license through DBPR’s Construction Industry Licensing Board. Requires experience (or degree + experience), trade and business exams, and proof of insurance/financial stability3.
Many techs work under a licensed contractor while gaining hours toward contractor licensure.
Plumbers
Entry: School + OJT or registered apprenticeship.
Contractor: Certified Plumbing Contractor license through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. Experience, state exams, and insurance are required to contract independently3.
Welders
No state license. Employers and projects often require passing code tests (e.g., plate/pipe) and earning industry credentials.
NCCER Welding credentials and documented performance qualifications help you move into higher-paid roles2.
Always confirm the latest rules with Florida DBPR and your local jurisdiction before you test or apply3.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid learning: Many programs deliver theory online and skill labs on campus. Expect weekly shop time for welding, HVAC, and electrical.
Evening and accelerated tracks: Ridge, Traviss, and Southern Technical College frequently offer evening cohorts for working adults56.
College Credit Certificates: Polk State and HCC offer stackable CCCs you can complete in 2-3 semesters and apply toward an AS degree later5.
Short upskilling: Polk State Corporate College and SFSC run short courses in CNC, mechatronics, OSHA, and CDL to boost your resume quickly5.
If you need maximum flexibility, ask schools about:
Get ready for school: admissions timelines, study tips, and funding resources: Guides
Visit campuses around Lake Wales, talk to instructors, and pick the schedule that fits your life. The fastest way to start is to apply to two programs you like and book a lab tour this week.
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, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook and employment trends for construction and extraction, installation/maintenance, and production occupations in Florida. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
NCCER. National Center for Construction Education and Research credentialing standards for Welding, Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing. ↩︎↩︎
Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR). Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board requirements and applications. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Section 608 Technician Certification for handling refrigerants. ↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. Institutional accreditation, program offerings, and campus details for listed colleges. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Institutional accreditation for career schools such as Southern Technical College and Florida 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)
