Best Trade Schools in Miami, Florida (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

Table of Contents
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Here are the best schools in Miami. Use this list to compare accredited programs, see typical program lengths, and understand Florida licensing. Miami’s construction, aviation, healthcare, and service sectors create steady demand for skilled workers1.

Top Trade Schools in Miami

These schools are accredited and offer hands-on training for high-demand trades. Program lengths are typical ranges. Check each school for current schedules and start dates234.

School Program Length Highlights
Lindsey Hopkins Technical College (Miami) 6–18 months COE-accredited. Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating, Electricity, Welding Technology, Automotive, Practical Nursing. Day and evening options. Strong community partnerships4.
Miami Lakes Educational Center & Technical College (Miami Lakes) 9–18 months COE-accredited. HVAC/R, Electricity, Welding, Plumbing, Medical Assisting. Bilingual support and career services4.
Robert Morgan Educational Center & Technical College (Miami) 9–18 months COE-accredited. Electricity, Air Conditioning, Welding, Diesel Technology, Practical Nursing. Modern labs and industry certifications prep4.
D.A. Dorsey Technical College (Miami) 6–12 months COE-accredited. Practical Nursing, Patient Care Tech, Culinary, Barbering. Small classes and short-term certificates for quick entry4.
CBT College (Multiple Miami campuses) 8–24 months ACCSC-accredited. HVAC Technician and Electrical Technician diplomas and A.S. degree options. Hybrid coursework with hands-on labs3.
Florida Career College – Miami & Hialeah 9–12 months ACCSC-accredited. HVAC Technician and Electrical training. Fast-track programs with career placement support3.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Miami (Hialeah) 18–24 months ACCSC-accredited. FAA Part 147 Airframe & Powerplant training. Avionics and structures labs. Prepares for FAA A&P exams3.
Futura Career Institute (Hialeah) 9–12 months ACCSC-accredited. HVAC/Appliance Repair and Automotive Service Tech. Bilingual instruction and certification prep3.

Tip: Verify programmatic approvals for healthcare and aviation where required (e.g., FAA Part 147 for aviation, state board approvals for nursing). College Navigator provides up-to-date accreditation and program listings for each school2.

Skilled Trades in Demand

Electrician
Miami’s growth keeps electricians busy in residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Work includes wiring, controls, solar tie-ins, and service calls. Apprenticeships and school-based electricity programs are common pathways. BLS reports steady demand and competitive wages for electricians nationwide, with strong construction activity in Florida metros1.

HVAC/R Technician
Cooling is essential in South Florida. HVAC technicians install and service air conditioning, heat pumps, refrigeration, and building automation. EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant work. Miami employers value grads who can troubleshoot quickly and read schematics. BLS projects continued need for HVAC techs as systems become more efficient and complex15.

Welder
Fabrication shops, shipyards, construction firms, and manufacturers hire welders across the Miami area. Training focuses on SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and flux-core processes, with structural and pipe welding tests. AWS certifications help you stand out and verify skills to employers6.

Plumber
Plumbers and pipefitters handle water, drainage, gas piping, and fixtures. Many start in an apprenticeship while taking code and blueprint classes at a technical college. Florida’s building and renovation cycle supports steady work for licensed contractors and experienced journeymen1.

Explore trades in more detail:

  • Electrician career path and training: Electrician
  • Heating, cooling, and refrigeration: HVAC
  • Metal joining and fabrication: Welding
  • Water, waste, and gas systems: Plumbing

Licensing Requirements in Florida

Florida licenses contractors at the state level. Many “journeyman” credentials are issued by counties or cities. Always check Miami-Dade County rules in addition to state requirements.

  • Electrician

    • Board: Florida Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board (DBPR).
    • Path: Gain experience via school plus supervised work or apprenticeship. Earn local journeyman if required by the jurisdiction.
    • To run your own business or pull permits statewide, qualify and pass the exam for Certified Electrical Contractor (EC). Registered Electrical Contractor (ER) is tied to local jurisdictions. Insurance, financial responsibility, and experience verification are required7.

  • HVAC (Air Conditioning)

    • Board: Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR).
    • Path: Start as a technician under a licensed contractor. EPA Section 608 certification required to handle refrigerants.
    • Contractor licenses: Class A (unlimited) and Class B (limited tonnage). Both require verified experience, exams, and insurance. Mechanical Contractor is another route for broader mechanical scopes75.

  • Plumbing

    • Board: Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR).
    • Path: Complete apprenticeship or verified equivalent experience.
    • Contractor licenses: Certified Plumbing Contractor (statewide) or Registered Plumbing Contractor (local). Exams, experience, and financial/insurance documentation required7.

  • Welding

    • Florida has no state welding license for general employment.
    • Employers often require AWS D1.1 structural certifications or process-specific tests. Pipe welders may also test to ASME standards. Many Miami programs embed AWS test prep and on-site bend tests6.

  • Aviation Maintenance

    • FAA issues Mechanic Certificates with Airframe and/or Powerplant ratings after Part 147 training or documented experience plus FAA exams. AIM Miami prepares students for these FAA tests1.

Before you enroll, confirm the exact license or certification you need for your target job and whether Miami-Dade requires a local journeyman card or competency card for field work7.

Online & Flexible Options

You can complete part of your training online, but hands-on labs are still required for most trades.

  • Blended programs: Many Miami technical colleges schedule lecture and theory online, with labs on campus in blocks during the week or evenings.
  • Evening and weekend labs: Popular for HVAC, electricity, and welding. Schools like Lindsey Hopkins, Miami Lakes, and Robert Morgan post flexible cohorts.
  • Test prep: EPA 608, AWS, NCCER, and FAA written exams often include online modules or practice tests.
  • Apprenticeship classroom hours: Some related technical instruction can be taken in hybrid formats through local training providers.

If you need maximum flexibility, ask admissions about hybrid sections, make-up labs, and multiple start dates. Also ask about embedded certifications, externships, and career placement support.

Next Steps

Miami has strong options at public technical colleges and accredited career schools. Pick a program that fits your schedule, includes the certifications employers want, and aligns with Florida’s licensing rules. Then visit campuses, talk to instructors, and get your plan in writing.

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook and OEWS data for construction and repair trades. https://www.bls.gov/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. School profiles and accreditation. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ ↩ ↩

  3. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Accredited Institution Directory. https://www.accsc.org ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. Council on Occupational Education (COE), Accredited Institutions. https://council.org/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. U.S. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification for refrigerants. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩ ↩

  6. American Welding Society (AWS), Certification Programs and Codes. https://www.aws.org ↩ ↩

  7. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board. https://www.myfloridalicense.com/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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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.