Here are the best schools in Safety Harbor. This guide lists accredited options near you, the trades hiring now, and the steps to get licensed in Florida. Use it to compare programs and plan your next move.
Compare Trade Schools Near Safety Harbor, Florida
These schools are within a short drive of Safety Harbor and hold recognized accreditation or state approval. Program lengths are typical full‑time timelines.
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 Safety Harbor, 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 Safety Harbor, 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 Safety Harbor
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 are needed across Tampa Bay for construction, service, and solar projects. The BLS projects steady national growth and consistent replacement demand as experienced workers retire.1 Training paths typically include school-based electricity programs or an apprenticeship. See what an electrician does and the gear you’ll use on the job here: /trades/electrician.
HVAC/R Technician
Florida’s climate keeps HVAC technicians busy year-round. Employers look for grads with strong troubleshooting skills and EPA 608 certification. The occupation is projected to grow faster than average nationwide, with strong demand in warm regions.1 Explore the HVAC career path and certifications: /trades/hvac.
Welder
Welders work in manufacturing, marine, construction, and repair around Tampa Bay. Many jobs require process tests to AWS codes. Short programs can get you job-ready with SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW, then you add advanced processes on the job.1 Learn about welding processes and certifications: /trades/welder.
Plumber
Plumbers handle residential and commercial installs, service, and medical gas systems. Florida’s construction market and service demand provide stable work, with apprenticeships a common entry path.1 See training options and license pathways: /trades/plumber.
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 contractors at the state level through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Some journeyman cards are issued by local jurisdictions. Always confirm current rules before applying.
Electrician
Choose your path: school plus supervised experience or a registered apprenticeship.
Local journeyman cards are issued by some counties/cities; check local building departments for requirements.
To run a business or pull permits statewide, work as a Certified Electrical Contractor through the DBPR Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board (ECLB): documented experience, pass the trade/business exams, financial responsibility, background check, and insurance.2
Keep up with continuing education as required by the board.
HVAC (Air-Conditioning Contractor)
Entry-level techs need EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants.3
Contractor licensing is through the DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB): Class A (no limits) or Class B (up to 25 tons cooling/500,000 BTU heating). Requires verified experience (education may offset part), passing scores on exams, background check, and insurance.4
Many techs work under a licensed contractor while they log experience.
Plumbing
Local journeyman cards may be required by some jurisdictions for employment; verify with your county/city.
To contract statewide, obtain a Certified Plumbing Contractor license via the CILB: experience, exam, background check, and insurance.4
Welding
Florida does not issue a state welder license. Employers and building departments often require performance qualifications to AWS codes (e.g., D1.1) or ASME for specific jobs.5
Schools can help you prepare and test to relevant procedures.
Not sure which license you need? Ask your intended employer or apprenticeship sponsor first. Then confirm with the appropriate DBPR board.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid trade programs
Many local schools offer hybrid formats where theory is online and labs are on campus. Look for this at Pinellas Technical College, St. Petersburg College workforce programs, Southern Technical College, and Remington College. Hands-on lab hours are still required for skills check-offs.
Night and weekend schedules
Working adults can find evening sections in electricity, HVAC, and welding at several schools listed above. Ask admissions for current cohort start dates.
Short industry certifications
Add safety and compliance quickly: OSHA-10/30, NCCER Core, CPR/First Aid, forklift, and EPA 608 (online proctoring available for certain sections). Your school’s testing center can guide you on approved providers and proctoring rules.3
Apprenticeship
Paid training with related technical instruction in the classroom is a strong option for electricians, HVAC, and plumbing. Many programs partner with area colleges for credit toward an A.S. Verify program registration and credentials before you sign up.
How to Choose a School Near Safety Harbor
Verify accreditation and licensure. Use College Navigator and the ACCSC directory to confirm status for the exact campus you plan to attend.67
Tour the labs. Ask to see HVAC trainers, welding booths and machines, multimeters, and trainer boards. Check instructor certifications.
Ask about externships and hiring partners. Strong programs publish placement or apprenticeship connections.
Check schedules fit your life. Evening/weekend options are common in trades, but section availability changes each term.
Plan for exams. Make sure your program includes EPA 608 (HVAC), code-based prep (electric), AWS performance tests (welding), or state contractor exam prep if that’s your goal.
Visit our guides hub for choosing schools, apprenticeships, and financial aid: /guides/
Ready to shortlist? Contact 2-3 schools above, tour the labs, and ask about the next start date. Then choose the program that gets you licensed and job readyest.
Sources
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, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electricians; HVAC Mechanics and Installers; Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters; Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. Search institutions by campus to verify programs and accreditation. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), School Directory (e.g., National Aviation Academy, Southern Technical College, Remington College). https://www.accsc.org/↩︎
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)
