Here are the best schools in Sarasota Metro. This guide lists accredited programs, hands-on options, and flexible paths in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area. You’ll also find quick steps for Florida licensing in high-demand trades and trusted sources to check outcomes and accreditation123.
Compare Trade Schools Near Sarasota Metro, Florida
The schools below serve Sarasota and Manatee counties with accredited career and technical training. Program lengths are typical ranges; check each school for current schedules.
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 4 schools, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
4 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.
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 - North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, 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 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Culinary workers
$60,180
HVAC technicians
$59,070
Plumbers
$58,150
Dental assistants
$48,190
Medical assistants
$45,620
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Sarasota Metro, 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 Sarasota Metro, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota
$55,922
Manatee Technical College
$45,049
Meridian College
$41,872
Suncoast Technical College
$40,433
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Sarasota Metro
Among the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $45,620 to $60,180 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical culinary worker training runs 1-2 years (culinary school or apprenticeship) (TradeCareerPath program data).
New residential and commercial growth in Southwest Florida keeps electrical work steady. Apprenticeships and NCCER-based school programs can shorten your time to proficiency. Electricians earn solid wages and enjoy strong national demand through 20321.
HVAC/R Technician
Florida’s climate drives year-round service calls. Employers value grads with hands-on troubleshooting and EPA 608 credentials to handle refrigerants4. Preventive maintenance, heat pump installs, and IAQ upgrades are common revenue streams.
Welder
Fabrication, marine, and construction welding remain active along the Gulf Coast. Multi-process skills (GMAW, FCAW, SMAW) improve job options. Local employers often test on site; schools with booth time and plate/pipe practice help you ramp up quickly1.
Plumber
Plumbing contractors are busy with new builds, remodels, and service work. Progression often runs from helper to apprentice to journeyman (local) and then contractor. Backflow, medical gas, and gas piping skills can boost pay1.
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 most construction trades at the contractor level statewide through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Many entry-level technicians work under a licensed contractor while they gain experience5.
Complete an electrical school program or registered apprenticeship (NCCER-aligned training is a plus)6.
Accumulate qualifying experience (often ~4 years) under a licensed contractor.
Pass the Certified Electrical Contractor exam (or work as a Registered Contractor for specific localities).
Provide financial responsibility/insurance and complete continuing education to renew.
Note: Florida does not issue a statewide journeyman license; some local jurisdictions recognize journeyman cards.
HVAC/R (Air Conditioning Contractor)
Licensing authority: Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board5.
Common path:
Complete HVAC/R training or apprenticeship.
Earn EPA Section 608 refrigerant handling certification (required for anyone servicing systems with regulated refrigerants)4.
Qualify by experience to sit for the Class A or Class B Air Conditioning Contractor exam; meet insurance and financial requirements.
Technicians who are not contractors can work under a licensed contractor.
Plumbing (Contractor Level)
Licensing authority: Florida DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board5.
Common path:
School or apprenticeship + documented experience (often ~4 years).
Pass the Certified Plumbing Contractor exam (or Registered for a locality).
Maintain insurance and continuing education for renewal.
Welding
No state license required for general welding work.
Employers often require proof of competency and may prefer performance-based credentials aligned to recognized standards. Strong school lab experience and employer weld tests are key16.
General notes
OSHA-10/30 outreach cards are widely requested on job sites.
Background checks and driving records may be needed for field service roles.
Timelines vary: certificates can be 6-12 months; apprenticeships run ~3-4 years.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid learning: Local schools often deliver lecture online with required on-campus labs for trades like HVAC, welding, and electricity. Ask Suncoast Technical College, Manatee Technical College, and SCF about evening or weekend labs2.
Accelerated theory: EPA 608 test prep and code/safety theory can be taken online, but you still need hands-on practice for hiring confidence4.
Degree completion: SCF and Keiser offer online general education and selected career courses that pair with in-person labs or clinicals2.
Apprenticeships: Many employers sponsor earn-while-you-learn training. NCCER-based curricula map well to competency progression6.
Next Steps
Compare Florida trade schools: Visit the Florida state hub for more campuses near you.
Research trades: Explore requirements, certifications, and career paths in the Trades Hub.
Learn how to choose: See our Guides for picking a program, financial aid, and preparing for licensing exams.
Local programs fill fast. Tour campuses, meet instructors, and confirm accreditation and exam prep before you enroll. The right school should fit your schedule, budget, and target license.
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 trends for skilled trades. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. profiles for Suncoast Technical College, Manatee Technical College, State College of Florida, and Keiser University campus programs. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), Institution Directory. accreditation for Meridian College (Sarasota). ↩︎
U.S. EPA. Section 608 Technician Certification for handling refrigerants. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board requirements. ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
NCCER. National construction education standards, credentials, and curricula. ↩︎↩︎↩︎
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)
