Here are the best schools in Orange City. This page helps you compare accredited programs, choose a trade, and understand Florida licensing. You will also see which careers are growing and how long training takes. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers remain in steady demand across Central Florida1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Orange City, Florida
All schools below are within driving distance of Orange City and hold recognized accreditation (ACCSC, COE, or SACSCOC). Program lengths are typical ranges. Check each campus for exact 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 - Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, 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 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Culinary workers
$52,110
Plumbers
$50,490
HVAC technicians
$49,290
Electricians
$48,950
Medical assistants
$43,980
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Orange City, 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 Orange City, 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
Daytona State College
$49,001
City College-Altamonte Springs
$40,977
Paul Mitchell the School-Orlando
$31,116
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Orange City
Among the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $43,980 to $52,110 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 Orange City 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).
Central Florida keeps building homes, warehouses, hospitals, and theme park facilities. Contractors need entry-level helpers and apprentices. Electricians install and maintain power, lighting, and controls. Work is steady year round and often includes overtime. The field has solid job security and good wage growth with experience1.
Training path: 6-12 month electrical training or a registered apprenticeship. Many start as helpers and earn while they learn. See our electrician guide for tools, certifications, and next steps. Explore electrician careers.
HVAC/R Technician
Heat and humidity drive year-round service calls in Volusia and Seminole counties. Employers value EPA 608 certification and hands-on troubleshooting skills. Technicians work in residential, light commercial, and facility maintenance roles. Career ladders lead to installer, service tech, lead tech, and contractor12.
Training path: 9-12 month HVAC/R diploma or A.S. degree. Add EPA Section 608 and manufacturer-specific credentials. Explore HVAC careers.
Welder
Welding supports construction, fabrication, marine repair on the coast, and theme-park projects near Orlando. Entry roles focus on MIG and flux-core. Structural and pipe welding can raise pay with experience and additional certs. Many employers accept performance qualifications aligned with AWS codes1.
Training path: 6-12 month welding program. Earn AWS or NCCER credentials to stand out. Explore welding careers.
Plumber
New housing, remodels, and commercial buildouts keep plumbing steady. Service firms also need techs for repairs and repipes. Apprenticeships combine wages with classroom training. Licensed contractors can run their own business after gaining experience1.
Training path: Pre-apprenticeship or helper role, then a 4-year apprenticeship. Local journeyman cards are issued at the county level in Florida. Explore plumbing careers.
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.
Regulator: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board3.
To work as an employee: No statewide journeyman license. Many counties and cities issue journeyman cards. Employers may set hour and exam requirements.
To contract independently: Obtain a state Certified Electrical Contractor (EC) or Registered Electrical Contractor (ER) license. Typical steps:
4 years of verifiable experience or a mix of education and experience.
Pass trade and business exams.
Provide financial responsibility, insurance, and background check.
Apply to DBPR and maintain continuing education.
HVAC/R
Regulator: DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)3.
To work as a tech: EPA Section 608 certification required to handle refrigerants2. Most techs work under a licensed contractor.
To contract independently: Class A Air-Conditioning (unlimited), Class B (limited tonnage), or Mechanical Contractor license. Steps:
4 years of experience or education plus experience.
Pass trade and business exams.
Submit financials, insurance, background check.
Maintain continuing education.
Plumbing
Regulator: DBPR CILB for Certified or Registered Plumbing Contractor licenses3. Local jurisdictions may issue journeyman cards.
Contractor steps mirror HVAC: experience, exams, insurance, and DBPR application.
Welding
Florida does not issue a state welder license. Employers and job sites rely on performance qualifications and certifications aligned with AWS codes or NCCER credentials4.
Many local projects require site-specific weld tests. Keep cert records current.
Aviation Maintenance
Regulator: FAA. Complete an FAA-approved A&P program or documented experience, then pass written, oral, and practical exams for Airframe and Powerplant certificates.
Online & Flexible Options
You can finish trade theory online while doing labs on campus:
Florida Technical College and Southern Technical College offer blended courses with day, evening, and some weekend labs.
Daytona State and Seminole State provide hybrid formats for general education and some technical theory. Labs and competencies still happen in person.
UTI schedules day and evening cohorts. Orange Technical College and Lake Tech use modular, clock-hour formats that allow mid-year entry.
For HVAC, you can complete EPA 608 prep online, then test with an approved proctor2. OSHA-10/30 and NCCER Core safety can also be delivered in blended formats4.
Always verify that online hours meet Florida licensing and employer standards. Hands-on lab time and verified competencies are what employers look for when hiring; outcomes vary by local market.
If you need help choosing a program, start with your target license. Then pick a nearby accredited school that teaches to the exam and offers employer connections.
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, HVAC/R Mechanics, Plumbers, and Welders job outlook and wages. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board. https://www.myfloridalicense.com/↩︎↩︎↩︎
