Here are the best schools in Tallahassee Metro. This guide lists accredited options, program lengths, and specialties. You will also see Florida licensing steps for key trades and where to train locally. Skilled trades in the Big Bend area continue to offer solid job opportunities, especially in construction, HVAC, electrical, and public safety1.
Compare Trade Schools Near Tallahassee Metro, Florida
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 - Tallahassee, 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 Tallahassee, FL
Trade
Median annual wage
Radiologic technologists
$62,160
Medical assistants
$36,880
Phlebotomy technicians
$35,620
Nursing assistants
$34,180
Patient care technicians
$34,180
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee Metro, Florida (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Big Bend Technical College
$44,422
Lively Technical College
$35,313
Aveda Institute-Tallahassee
$29,369
North Florida Cosmetology Institute
$20,333
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in Tallahassee Metro
Among the Tallahassee, FL area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $34,180 to $62,160 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 Tallahassee Metro ranges from $2,026 to $13,378 per year (IPEDS and College Scorecard); schools that do not publish a rate are marked “Contact school for pricing” in the table below. Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data).
New construction, state facilities, and ongoing maintenance work keep electricians busy in the Tallahassee area. The occupation is projected to grow faster than average nationally, driven by building, solar integration, and upgrades1. Training through an apprenticeship or electricity program sets you up for entry-level roles, with advancement to journeyman and contractor. See career paths: Electrician.
HVAC/R Technician
North Florida’s heat and humidity create year-round demand for HVAC installation and service. Technicians with strong troubleshooting and EPA 608 credentials stand out. The field is growing faster than average and offers stable local work in residential and commercial service1. Learn the track: HVAC.
Welder
Welders support fabrication, construction, and manufacturing across the region. Certifications in SMAW, GMAW, and FCAW expand your job options. While growth varies by industry, certified welders remain valuable on job sites and in shops1. Explore training and certs: Welding.
Plumber
Residential and commercial plumbing demand remains steady with building and infrastructure needs. Apprenticeship plus licensure can lead to well-paid contractor roles over time. Outlook is stable, with opportunities to specialize in service, pipefitting, or medical gas1. Path 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.
Journeyman (local): Most counties/cities issue journeyman cards. Expect about 4 years (8,000 hours) of documented experience plus classroom training; pass a local exam where required.
Certified Electrical Contractor (statewide): 4 years proven experience (or equivalent), pass state exam, financial responsibility, and carry liability and workers’ comp insurance. Apply via DBPR2.
Tip: Many start in an apprenticeship, then test for journeyman locally before pursuing contractor status.
HVAC (Florida)
Board: Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR).
EPA Section 608 is required for anyone handling refrigerants3.
Certified Class A or B Air-Conditioning Contractor: 4 years verified experience or a combination of education/experience, pass the CILB exam, meet financial responsibility and insurance requirements2.
Technicians commonly work under a licensed contractor while building experience.
Plumber (Florida)
Board: Construction Industry Licensing Board (DBPR).
Plumbing Contractor (Certified or Registered): Document 4 years of experience or equivalent, pass exam, meet financial and insurance requirements2.
Apprenticeship is the preferred path. Local jurisdictions may recognize journeyman cards.
Welder (Florida)
Florida does not issue a state welder license.
Employers and projects often require AWS welder performance qualifications (e.g., D1.1 structural steel). Training programs prepare you for AWS or NCCER credentials45.
General
Verify current requirements with DBPR and your local jurisdiction before you enroll or test2.
Use O*NET to review day-to-day tasks, physical demands, and related certifications for each trade6.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid training: TCC and Lively offer hybrid or evening options for certain programs, combining online theory with in-person labs. This is common for welding theory, electrical code, and HVAC fundamentals7.
Exam prep: Florida contractor exam prep and EPA 608 test prep are widely available in online formats. Many students complete theory online and schedule in-person testing3.
Apprenticeships: Blended delivery is increasingly common. Look for NCCER-aligned coursework paired with paid on-the-job training4.
If you need maximum flexibility, ask admissions about:
Evening or weekend cohorts
Modular, self-paced clock-hour schedules
Credit for prior learning or work experience
Articulation from clock-hour certificates to A.S. degrees
Learn more trade paths and certifications: browse the Trades hub.
New to trades? See actionable planning checklists in our Guides.
Want a broader search? Explore all regions at the main Trade School hub.
Tallahassee has solid, accredited choices for hands-on careers. Pick a program that aligns with Florida licensing, offers the certifications employers want, and fits your schedule.
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 Technicians, Plumbers, Welders). ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) - Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board (licensing requirements and applications). ↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎
U.S. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (refrigerant handling). ↩︎↩︎
NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) - standardized curricula and credentials. ↩︎↩︎
American Welding Society (AWS) - welder performance qualifications and codes. ↩︎
O*NET OnLine - occupation details and work activities. ↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator (institution profiles for listed schools). ↩︎
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)
