Here are the best schools in Oldsmar. This guide compares accredited programs near you, shows which trades are in demand, and explains Florida licensing. Use it to choose a program with the right length, schedule, and outcomes. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers all show steady demand and competitive pay in the Tampa Bay area1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Oldsmar, Florida
These schools are in or near Oldsmar and serve Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Program lengths are typical ranges. Check each school for current start dates and formats.
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 7 schools, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
7 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.
#1
St Petersburg College
📍
St. Petersburg, FL
•In-state option•BOC Score
74.6
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 - Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Culinary workers
$58,240
Medical assistants
$44,480
Phlebotomy technicians
$39,220
Nursing assistants
$37,470
Patient care technicians
$37,470
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Oldsmar, 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 Oldsmar, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
National Aviation Academy of Tampa Bay
$68,902
St Petersburg College
$54,088
Erwin Technical College
$41,518
Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater
$41,457
Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg
$40,318
Fred K Marchman Technical College
$34,166
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Oldsmar
Among the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $37,470 to $58,240 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data).
Electrician Electricians install and maintain electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industry. The Tampa Bay metro shows steady demand with retirements and construction growth. Training often starts with a 6-12 month school program or a paid apprenticeship. Wages rise with experience and credentials1. See our electrician career guide for pathways and exams: Electrician.
HVAC/R Technician HVAC technicians keep cooling and heating systems running. Florida’s climate drives year-round service calls. Entry training can be 9-12 months with EPA 608 certification. Many advance to foreman or licensed contractor roles and can specialize in commercial or controls1. Learn more: HVAC.
Welder Welders work in fabrication, construction, marine, and aviation support around Tampa Bay. Schools teach SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and pipe welding. Earning AWS certifications can boost job options and pay1. Explore career paths: Welding.
Plumber Plumbers install and service piping, fixtures, and gas lines. Work is steady across residential and commercial projects. Most start through a registered apprenticeship or school-based plumbing technology program, then pursue contractor licensing if they plan to run a business1. Get details: 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.
Florida licenses electrical contractors at the state level through the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board (ECLB) under DBPR2.
Choose Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) for statewide practice or Registered Electrical Contractor (ER) for a local jurisdiction2.
Steps for EC: documented experience, pass the state exam, financial responsibility, background check, and insurance2.
Journeyman and master electrician cards are issued by local counties or municipalities. Pinellas and Hillsborough maintain their own journeyman requirements and exams2.
Many start with an apprenticeship, then sit for local journeyman, and later upgrade to EC for business ownership.
HVAC/R
Florida licenses HVAC contractors through the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) under DBPR2.
Class A covers any size system statewide. Class B is up to 25 tons and 500,000 BTU heating. Class C is service only2.
All techs who handle refrigerants must hold EPA Section 608 certification3.
Entry-level techs can work under a licensed contractor while gaining experience.
Plumbing
Plumbing contractors are licensed by CILB as Certified Plumbing Contractor (CPC) for statewide practice or Registered Plumbing Contractor for local practice2.
Steps: experience, pass exam, financial responsibility, background check, and insurance2.
Journeyman plumber credentials are issued at the county or city level in many Florida jurisdictions2.
Welding
Florida does not license welders at the state level.
Employers often require AWS structural or pipe welding performance qualifications tied to job codes like D1.1 or ASME IX4.
OSHA 10 or 30-hour cards are common add-ons for job sites.
Exam scheduling for DBPR contractor licenses is typically through Pearson VUE. Review candidate handbooks and eligibility requirements before applying2.
Online & Flexible Options
Blended programs: Many Tampa Bay schools offer lecture online with labs on campus. Examples include HVAC theory online with scheduled shop hours.
Evenings and weekends: Public technical colleges often run evening cohorts so you can work while training.
Short-term certificates: Schools like St. Petersburg College offer stackable certificates that build to an A.S., which can help you earn while you learn5.
Certification prep: Ask about embedded prep for EPA 608, NCCER, AWS, and state contractor exams.
Credit for experience: Some programs assess prior learning or industry certifications for advanced standing.
Talk to admissions, tour labs, and ask about career placement and certifications. Choose the program that matches your goal, schedule, and budget. Then map your path to licensing with your county and the Florida DBPR.
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 (BLS), Occupational Outlook and Employment Projections. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
