Best Trade Schools in St. Petersburg, Florida (2025 Guide)

Updated September 14, 2025 | Brad Fishbein

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Here are the best schools in St. Petersburg. This guide compares accredited programs, program lengths, licensing steps in Florida, and where to start. Demand for skilled trades stays strong in the Tampa–St. Petersburg area1.

Top Trade Schools in St. Petersburg

Below are accredited options in St. Petersburg and the wider Tampa Bay area. Program lengths are typical ranges. Confirm current details with each school. Accreditation verified through College Navigator and ACCSC directories23.

School Program Length Highlights
Pinellas Technical College – St. Petersburg 4–15 months full time Public technical college. Hands-on labs for Electrician, HVAC/R, Welding, Plumbing, Automotive, Practical Nursing, Cybersecurity. Day and evening schedules. COE-accredited2.
St. Petersburg College (SPC) 4–18 months (certificates); 2 years (A.S.) Regionally accredited public college. A.S. in Engineering Technology, Biomedical Equipment, Computer Networking. Electrical Lineworker certificate partnership. Transfer pathways and strong employer ties2.
National Aviation Academy – Tampa Bay (Clearwater) 14–21 months Aviation Maintenance Technology and Professional programs. Preps for FAA Airframe & Powerplant exams. ACCSC-accredited. Day and night cohorts, hangar-based training3.
Southern Technical College – Tampa 10–24 months ACCSC-accredited. Programs in Electrical Trades Technology, HVAC, Medical Assisting. Day/evening classes, career services, employer partnerships3.
Erwin Technical College (Tampa) 12–15 months Public technical college. Programs in Electricity, HVAC, Welding, Plumbing, LPN, Culinary. COE-accredited. Strong placement support and industry certifications2.
American Institute of Beauty – St. Petersburg 4–12 months NACCAS-accredited cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nails, full specialist. State board prep. Day, evening, and part-time options2.
Ultimate Medical Academy – Clearwater/Tampa + Online 8–18 months ABHES-accredited. Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Tech, Billing and Coding, Patient Care Tech. Online general courses with on-campus labs. Support with certification exams2.

Skilled Trades in Demand

  • Electrician

    • Electricians install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial sites. Growth remains steady, and the region adds projects in construction, healthcare, and light manufacturing1. Entry roles start with classroom training plus paid apprenticeship or helper work.

  • HVAC/R Technician

    • Florida’s heat and humidity create year-round service calls. HVAC techs work on installation, diagnostics, and refrigerant handling. Employers value EPA 608 certification and OSHA safety cards. BLS expects consistent openings through 20321.

  • Welder

    • Welders join and repair metal parts in fabrication shops, shipyards, and construction. AWS code certifications help you qualify for structural, pipe, or aerospace work. Local demand is tied to construction and marine sectors around Tampa Bay1.

  • Plumber

    • Plumbers install and service piping, fixtures, and systems. Licensed contractors stay busy with residential retrofits, commercial TI work, and new construction. Apprenticeships are a common entry path with progressive wage steps1.

Licensing Requirements in Florida

Licensing is handled at the state level for most contracting trades through Florida DBPR’s Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB)4. Always confirm rules before you test or apply.

  • Electrician

    • Pathways:
    • Work as an electrical apprentice or helper while training.
    • Earn a local journeyman card where available, or qualify for state contractor licensure.
    • State licenses:
    • Certified Electrical Contractor (EC): Work statewide. Requires experience (typically 4 years or equivalent), approved exam, background check, financial responsibility, and insurance4.
    • Registered Electrical Contractor (ER): Limited to the locality of registration.
    • Steps:
    • Document experience or education.
    • Apply and pass the CILB exam.
    • Maintain workers’ comp/GL insurance and complete continuing education4.

  • HVAC Contractor

    • Required state license to contract. Two main classes:
    • Class A: Unlimited system size statewide.
    • Class B: Restricted capacity.
    • Steps:
    • Get EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants5.
    • Gain verified experience or education hours.
    • Apply to DBPR, pass the trade and business exams, meet insurance and financial requirements, and complete CE each renewal4.

  • Plumbing Contractor

    • Certified Plumbing Contractor (statewide) or Registered (local).
    • Steps:
    • Complete apprenticeship or equivalent verified experience.
    • Apply to DBPR, pass trade and business exams.
    • Provide financial responsibility and insurance. Complete CE for renewals4.

  • Welding

    • No statewide “welder license.” Employers and projects require industry credentials such as AWS D1.1 structural, D17.1 aerospace, or pipe codes. Many programs also issue NCCER credentials. Keep current procedure qualifications with your employer’s WPS/PQRs67.

  • Cosmetology and Barbering (if relevant to your program)

    • Florida DBPR boards regulate licensure. Complete required training hours at an approved school and pass the state exam for licensure8.

  • Aviation Maintenance

    • Complete an FAA Part 147 program or documented OJT pathway and pass FAA written, oral, and practical exams for Airframe and Powerplant certification9.

Online & Flexible Options

  • Hybrid learning: Many Tampa Bay schools blend online theory with in-person labs. UMA offers online courses with required clinical or lab hours on campus. Southern Technical College and SPC offer some evening and hybrid schedules.
  • Work-friendly schedules: Pinellas Technical College and Erwin Technical College offer day and evening cohorts for trades like Electricity, HVAC/R, Welding, and Plumbing.
  • Certification prep: Most programs embed prep for EPA 608, OSHA 10/30, NCCER, AWS, CompTIA, or NHA exams to help you qualify fast.
  • Credit pathways: SPC lets you stack short-term certificates into A.S. degrees, which can improve pay and mobility.

How to Choose a School

  • Verify accreditation and program approvals. Use College Navigator and the ACCSC directory for quick checks23.
  • Match the program to your license or certification goal. For HVAC, confirm EPA 608 training. For welding, ask which AWS codes you can test on. For electrician and plumber, confirm how the program counts toward experience.
  • Ask about schedules and labs. You need hands-on time for trades.
  • Check placement data and employer ties. Look for apprenticeship links or local contractors that hire grads.
  • Confirm total program hours. Florida licenses often require documented classroom and OJT hours.

Next Steps

Footnotes

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

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

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

  4. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Construction Industry Licensing Board. https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/construction-industry/ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Section 608 Technician Certification. https://www.epa.gov/section608 ↩

  6. American Welding Society (AWS), Certifications. https://www.aws.org/certification ↩

  7. NCCER, Credentials and Assessments. https://www.nccer.org/ ↩

  8. Florida DBPR, Board of Cosmetology. https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/ ↩

  9. Federal Aviation Administration, Mechanic Certificates (A&P). https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become ↩

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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.