The lowest-cost route into most careers in Miami is Miami Dade College, a public college where Florida residents pay $118.22 a credit. Private schools add short HVAC and electrical diplomas, broadcasting and audio programs and a long list of nursing and healthcare training, from 5-week nursing assistant courses to registered nursing degrees. This page compares the 15 schools we profile in Miami-Dade County, what they cost and which license each trade leads to.
Miami at a glance
- Schools listed
- 15: 1 public college, 5 trade, technical and media schools, 9 nursing and healthcare schools
- Where
- Miami, Hialeah, Doral, Kendall, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Cutler Bay, Coral Gables and North Miami Beach
- Lowest-cost route
- Miami Dade College: $118.22 a credit for Florida residents
- Short entry courses
- Nursing assistant in 5 to 9 weeks; dental assisting in 12 weeks; EMT in one semester
- Federal aid at
- 13 of the 15; South Florida Dental Assisting School takes none, and CBT says only that aid is likely
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile. Campuses in Broward County, such as Miramar and Pembroke Pines, are on the Fort Lauderdale page.
Miami Trade Schools and Career Colleges
Listed alphabetically within each group, not ranked. Each card links to a full profile with programs, outcomes and sources. Pick a trade to filter the list; each trade’s pay, length and license are in Trades and licensing.
Public college (1)
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College trains registered and practical nurses and more than 20 allied-health specialties, among them radiography, respiratory care, sonography, dental hygiene and surgical technology, plus EMTs and paramedics; North Campus runs the police, corrections and fire academies and funeral service, and Wolfson the Miami Culinary Institute and cybersecurity. Its RN and practical nursing programs are on Florida Board of Nursing probation for 2026-2027, and carpentry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC are taught only through its Construction Trades Institute.
- Length
- One semester (EMT, 11 credits) to about two years (associate degrees); practical nursing one year
- Accredited
- The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC), reaffirmed June 2025; ACEN, JRCERT, CoARC, CODA, CAAHEP and others for programs
- Federal aid
- Yes; a Lennar Foundation grant can cover EMT costs for eligible students
Cost: $118.22 a credit for Florida residents ($402.51 non-residents); $91.08 a credit for career technical certificates such as practical nursing
View school profile →Trade, technical and media schools (5)
CBT Technology Institute
CBT teaches eight-month air conditioning and refrigeration and electricity diplomas at all three campuses, in English or Spanish, with 20-month A.S. degrees at Flagler and Hialeah and computer networking at Flagler. Results differ by campus: Data USA gives the main campus a 93.4% graduation rate for 2024, while Niche shows 57% at Cutler Bay.
- Length
- 8 months (diplomas); 20 to 24 months (A.S. degrees)
- Accredited
- Council on Occupational Education (since 2022)
- Federal aid
- Likely, but confirm with the school (Niche shows 100% of Cutler Bay students receiving aid)
Cost: About $11,952 tuition for an 8-month diploma and $29,880 for a trade A.S. ($498 a credit), plus fees
View school profile →Florida Education Institute
FEI teaches a 36-week HVAC/R diploma in its Miami lab, hybrid medical assistant and pharmacy technician diplomas that end in an externship, medical billing and coding and business, and culinary and pastry diplomas and degrees in its Coral Gables kitchens. Federal data show a 73.6% graduation rate for 2024; the school publishes no tuition.
- Length
- 36 to 46 weeks (diplomas); 75 to 84 weeks (A.A.S. degrees)
- Accredited
- Council on Occupational Education (since 2001)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants, FSEOG and Direct Loans
Cost: Not published; federal data put the average net price at $36,273 a year (2024)
View school profile →Northbridge University (formerly Florida Technical College), South Miami
The South Miami campus teaches the hybrid Electrical (about 9 months) and HVAC/R (about 12 months) diplomas, each also with a PLC version, the Medical Assistant Technician diploma, a Hospitality Management bachelor’s and online billing, coding and computer support diplomas. Its accreditor, MSCHE, put the institution on Non-Compliance Probation on 25 June 2026 and asked for teach-out plans.
- Length
- About 9 to 12 months (diplomas)
- Accredited
- MSCHE, on Non-Compliance Probation since 25 June 2026
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: No Florida prices published; Niche lists $15,923 a year from federal data
View school profile →Miami Media School
Miami Media School teaches 8-month Radio & TV Broadcasting and Digital Media Production diplomas with two internships, a Hispanic Media Broadcasting program and an 18-month associate degree found only at this campus, and 6-month emphasis programs in sports broadcasting, film and video and audio production. ACCSC renewed its accreditation for five years in December 2024.
- Length
- 6 to 8 months (diplomas); 18 months (associate degree)
- Accredited
- ACCSC (renewed December 2024)
- Federal aid
- Yes; the Miami page does not mention VA approval, so ask
Cost: $18,495 (8-month programs) or $12,175 (emphasis programs), plus a $125 fee (October 2026)
View school profile →SAE Institute Miami
SAE’s Miami campus teaches a 12-month audio diploma, a 16-month audio AAS and a 900-hour Audio Technology diploma that is also taught in Spanish. In SAE’s latest outcomes report, 69% of Miami Audio Technology students graduated and 80% were reported employed.
- Length
- 12 months (diplomas); 16 months (AAS)
- Accredited
- ACCSC
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill accepted
Cost: $26,520 (Audio Technology), $26,694 (audio diploma), $38,019 (audio AAS), August 2026 catalog
View school profile →Nursing and healthcare schools (9)
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology (Miami Gardens)
The Miami Gardens campus, open since January 2020, teaches the ASN, practical nursing, a 5-week nursing assistant course, phlebotomy and blended associate degrees in sonography, radiologic technology and radiation therapy. Its ASN holds ACEN initial accreditation; in 2024-25, placement at this campus was 10% for phlebotomy and 63% for radiologic technology.
- Length
- 5 weeks (nursing assistant) to 90 or 105 weeks (associate degrees)
- Accredited
- ABHES; ACEN (ASN); CAAHEP (sonography)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and Direct Loans
Cost: $1,475 (nursing assistant), $1,980 (phlebotomy), $27,600 (practical nursing), $50,589 to $61,446 (imaging degrees), $54,978 (ASN), April 2026
View school profile →Compu-Med Vocational Careers
Compu-Med trains dental and medical assistants, patient care technicians, medical billers, EMTs and practical nurses, and its ASN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 82.61% (Hialeah) and 94.87% (Kendall) in 2025. Few ASN students finish, though: the school’s 2025 report gives graduation rates of 16% at Hialeah and 38% at Kendall.
- Length
- About 45 to 58 weeks (diplomas); 6 semesters (ASN)
- Accredited
- ACCSC; ASN accredited by NLN CNEA
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $51,350 tuition for the ASN (about $53,780 with fees); no diploma prices published
View school profile →Florida National University
FNU teaches nursing (ASN and BSN), respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, sonography, physical therapist assisting, dental and medical assisting and medical coding, with business, IT and paralegal degrees on campus or online. Its ASN and BSN first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates were about 72% in 2024, and CAPTE moved its PTA program to show-cause status in April 2026.
- Length
- 18-credit certificates to associate degrees of about two years
- Accredited
- The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC), reaffirmed 2022
- Federal aid
- Yes; VA benefits and military tuition assistance
Cost: $450 a credit (certificates) to $725 (nursing core), 2024-25 rates, the latest published
View school profile →Future-Tech Institute
Future-Tech’s only program is a two-year Associate of Science in Nursing that prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN. The program was on Florida Board of Nursing probation in 2021 and 2022 and ACCSC put the school on Warning in 2022; we could not confirm either status since, and the school publishes no pass rates.
- Length
- About 2 years (75 credits)
- Accredited
- ACCSC since 2006 (Warning in 2022; later status not confirmed)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $41,075 in all (2021-22 catalog, the latest published)
View school profile →FVI School of Nursing and Technology (Miami)
FVI’s main campus teaches the ASN, practical nursing, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, patient care technician, a 9-week nursing assistant course and EMT, with allied-health classes in English or Spanish. Its Miami ASN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 85.9% in 2025, and a move to non-profit ownership is pending.
- Length
- 9 weeks (nursing assistant) to 22 months (ASN)
- Accredited
- ACCSC (granted 2026); ACEN initial accreditation (ASN)
- Federal aid
- Yes, except EMT and nursing assistant
Cost: $1,795 (nursing assistant), $3,599 (EMT), $17,821 (medical assistant), $29,682 (practical nursing), $55,050 (ASN), 2026-27
View school profile →Keiser University (Miami)
Keiser’s Miami campus is one of 19 in Florida. Students take one four-week class at a time, mostly in associate degrees in nursing, allied health, IT and billing and coding, and programs and their accreditation vary by campus, so ask which ones Miami teaches. Keiser charged $12,408 per full-time semester in Fall 2025, about $62,000 in tuition for a 60-credit degree by our estimate.
- Length
- Associate degrees about 16 to 28 months
- Accredited
- SACSCOC; program accreditation varies by campus
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon
Cost: $12,408 per full-time semester plus fees (Fall 2025)
View school profile →South Florida Dental Assisting School (Hialeah)
This school trains dental assistants in 12 weeks of Friday or Saturday classes inside a working dental office, and the diploma includes Florida’s expanded duties and radiology training. It is not accredited, takes no federal aid and publishes no results.
- Length
- 12 weeks
- Accredited
- Not accredited; licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education
- Federal aid
- No; the school offers its own financing
Cost: $5,750 with book, uniform and materials (2026-27)
View school profile →Southeastern College (Miami Lakes)
Miami Lakes teaches the college’s only ACEN-accredited nursing AS and its RN to BSN, plus practical nursing, radiologic technology, sonography, surgical technology, medical assisting and a Basic X-Ray Technician program for Florida’s limited X-ray license. In 2025 its first-time pass rates were 80% on the NCLEX-RN and 95.24% on the NCLEX-PN, but the college reports graduation of 34% in the nursing AS and 31% in practical nursing.
- Length
- 8 months (certificates) to about 25 months (nursing AS)
- Accredited
- ACCSC; ACEN (nursing AS); CAAHEP (sonography, and surgical technology on probation since November 2024)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $12,576 per 16-week semester plus fees (2026-27)
View school profile →West Coast University (Miami)
WCU’s only Florida campus teaches a 20-month ADN, the BSN, an LPN-to-BSN for licensed practical nurses and, from 26 October 2026, a Direct-Entry MSN for people with a bachelor’s degree in another field. WCU publishes no NCLEX-RN pass rates for Miami.
- Length
- About 20 months (ADN); 8 semesters (BSN)
- Accredited
- WSCUC (reaffirmed February 2025); CCNE and NLN CNEA for nursing
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $58,030 (ADN), $91,572 (LPN to BSN), $99,447 (BSN), estimates for fall 2026 starts
View school profile →No schools on this page match. Try another trade, see Fort Lauderdale and Broward trade schools, or see all Florida trade schools.
Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University are universities rather than trade schools, but both train nurses in Miami: FIU’s nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 94% in 2025, and NSU’s Miami campus teaches its entry and accelerated BSN. Humboldt International University has a Miami office but teaches only online and takes no federal aid. Fortis College’s Cutler Bay campus is not enrolling new students.
We have not yet profiled the technical colleges run by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, including George T. Baker Aviation Technical College, the county’s public aviation mechanic school, or the area’s union apprenticeships.
- Price Miami Dade College first. Florida residents pay $118.22 a credit, and its health programs are accredited one by one.
- A diploma is not a license. Florida journeyman electricians are licensed by the county, and air-conditioning, plumbing and electrical contractors by the state after years of work.
- Check a nursing program’s standing with the Florida Board of Nursing. Miami Dade College’s RN and practical nursing programs are on probation for 2026-2027, and Future-Tech’s status since 2022 is not confirmed.
- Ask for completion rates as well as pass rates. Compu-Med reports 16% ASN graduation at Hialeah, and Southeastern 34% in its Miami Lakes nursing AS.
- Get the price in writing. FEI, Northbridge and Compu-Med (except its ASN) publish no tuition.
More in Florida: Fort Lauderdale and Broward trade schools · All Florida trade schools
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | Why they may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost college route | Miami Dade College | $118.22 a credit; nursing, allied health, EMT, paramedic, academies, culinary arts and cybersecurity |
| Electrician | CBT (8-month diploma or A.S.); Northbridge South Miami; Miami Dade College (Construction Trades Institute) | About $11,952 tuition for CBT’s diploma; a county journeyman license comes after years of work |
| HVAC | CBT; FEI (36 weeks); Northbridge (about 12 months) | EPA 608 certification is needed to handle refrigerant |
| Registered nurse | Miami Dade College; Compu-Med (94.87% NCLEX-RN at Kendall); FVI (85.9%); Southeastern Miami Lakes (80%); Cambridge; FNU; West Coast University; Keiser | Private ASN programs run about $51,000 to $58,000; check each program’s Board of Nursing status |
| Practical nurse (LPN) | Miami Dade College (one year); Southeastern (95.24% NCLEX-PN); Cambridge ($27,600); FVI ($29,682); Compu-Med | Miami Dade College charges $91.08 a credit for career certificates |
| Nursing assistant (CNA) | Cambridge (5 weeks, $1,475); FVI (9 weeks, $1,795) | Prepares for the Florida CNA exam |
| Medical or dental assisting | South Florida Dental Assisting School (12 weeks, $5,750); FVI ($17,821); Compu-Med; FEI; FNU; Southeastern | Florida does not license dental assistants; expanded duties and X-ray training count |
| Imaging, respiratory or surgical technology | Miami Dade College; Cambridge; FNU; Southeastern | Check programmatic accreditation (JRCERT, CAAHEP, CoARC) at your campus |
| Pharmacy technician | FVI ($17,765); FEI | Florida Board of Pharmacy registration |
| EMT, fire or police | Miami Dade College; FVI (EMT $3,599); Compu-Med (EMT) | Florida EMT certification after the NREMT exam |
| IT, networking or billing | CBT (networking); Miami Dade College (cybersecurity); FNU; Keiser; FEI (billing and coding) | Industry certifications such as CompTIA A+ and Network+ |
| Broadcasting or audio | Miami Media School ($18,495); SAE Institute ($26,520 to $38,019) | No license; ask for graduation and employment rates |
| Culinary arts | Miami Dade College (Miami Culinary Institute); FEI (Coral Gables) | Public college rate or a private 36-week diploma |
These match goals to published program features. They are not rankings.
Costs and financial aid
These are the prices each school published, with the date. They exclude tools, uniforms, and exam and license fees unless noted.
| Route | Example | Cost | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public college | Miami Dade College | $118.22 a credit (Florida residents); $402.51 (non-residents); $91.08 for career certificates | Current published rate |
| Electrical and HVAC | CBT diploma; CBT A.S. degree | About $11,952; about $29,880 (tuition at $498 a credit) | October 2026 |
| Nursing assistant | Cambridge; FVI | $1,475; $1,795 | April 2026; 2026-27 |
| Dental assisting | South Florida Dental Assisting School | $5,750 | 2026-27 |
| Medical assistant and pharmacy technician | FVI pharmacy technician; FVI medical assistant | $17,765; $17,821 | 2026-27 |
| EMT | FVI | $3,599 | 2026-27 |
| Practical nursing | Cambridge; FVI | $27,600; $29,682 | April 2026; 2026-27 |
| Registered nursing (ASN or ADN) | Future-Tech; Compu-Med; Cambridge; FVI; West Coast University | $41,075; $51,350 tuition; $54,978; $55,050; $58,030 | 2021-22; May 2026; April 2026; 2026-27; fall 2026 |
| Imaging degrees | Cambridge radiologic technology; radiation therapy; sonography | $50,589; $52,243; $61,446 | April 2026 |
| Media and audio | Miami Media School emphasis; 8-month diploma; SAE Audio Technology; SAE audio AAS | $12,175; $18,495; $26,520; $38,019 | October 2026; August 2026 |
| Per-semester schools | Keiser; Southeastern | $12,408; $12,576 per full-time semester | Fall 2025; 2026-27 |
FEI, Northbridge and most Compu-Med programs publish no prices, so ask for them in writing. For nursing and allied health, Miami Dade College’s per-credit rate is far below private totals, though its programs are competitive to get into.
Paying for training
- Federal aid: 13 of the 15 schools listed take Pell Grants or federal loans through the FAFSA. South Florida Dental Assisting School does not, CBT says only that aid is likely, and FVI’s EMT and nursing assistant courses are not eligible.
- Florida aid: Compu-Med lists the Florida Student Assistance Grant, Bright Futures and Vocational Rehabilitation among the aid it accepts; ask other schools which state programs they take.
- Grants and scholarships: a Lennar Foundation grant can pay EMT tuition, fees, books and uniforms at Miami Dade College for eligible students; CBT offers CareerSource South Florida scholarships of up to $1,500 for a diploma or $5,000 for an A.S.
- Veterans: FEI, FNU, Keiser and SAE accept VA education benefits, and CBT is a Yellow Ribbon school; ask the others before you rely on them.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works in Miami, how long training takes, what it pays and which license you need. Pay is the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro median annual wage for all experience levels (BLS 2025, via O*NET OnLine).
Electrical
Florida licenses electrical contractors, and counties license journeymen. The state’s Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board certifies contractors after a state exam and years of experience, for example four years as a foreman, supervisor or contractor within the last eight. The state does not issue journeyman licenses: those come from the county where you work, so check with Miami-Dade County’s licensing office.
- Length
- 8 to 9 months (CBT and Northbridge diplomas); 20 months (CBT A.S.); then years of work for a license
- Miami-area median pay
- $58,630 (electricians)
- License
- County journeyman license; state certified electrical contractor license from the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board
Schools on this page: CBT Technology Institute (Electricity Technician diploma at all three campuses; Electrical Technology A.S. at Flagler and Hialeah), Northbridge University, South Miami (Electrical and Electrical with PLC) and Miami Dade College (Construction Trades Institute courses).
CBT says its graduates may later seek county journeyman, maintenance or master electrician certification once they meet the requirements; the diploma itself is not a license. Construction Trades Institute courses may not earn college credit. Sources: Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board; our school profiles.
HVAC and building trades
Florida licenses air-conditioning, plumbing and other building contractors, not individual technicians. A state-certified contractor needs four years of experience, at least one of them as a foreman, and up to three years of college credit can count toward it, under the rules of the Construction Industry Licensing Board (s. 489.111). Technicians who handle refrigerant need federal EPA 608 certification. Florida does not license welders; employers test them.
- Length
- 8 months (CBT diploma); 36 weeks (FEI); about 12 months (Northbridge); 20 months (CBT A.S.)
- License
- Air-conditioning and plumbing contractor licenses from the Construction Industry Licensing Board (s. 489.111); EPA 608 for refrigerant
Schools on this page: HVAC at CBT, FEI, Northbridge and Miami Dade College’s Construction Trades Institute, which also teaches carpentry and plumbing.
Northbridge University is on accreditation probation, and its catalog lists plumbing among programs it is not enrolling. FEI’s course prepares students for the EPA and R-410A exams, which they still have to pass. Sources: Construction Industry Licensing Board (s. 489.111); our school profiles.
Nursing and healthcare
Florida nurses take the NCLEX after a program approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Nursing assistants are certified after a state exam given by Prometric; finishing an approved training program is one of three routes to the exam. Florida does not license dental assistants, but Board of Dentistry-approved programs train them in expanded duties and X-rays. Radiologic technologists and pharmacy technicians need Florida credentials, and most other allied-health jobs use national exams.
- Length
- 5 weeks (nursing assistant) and 12 weeks (dental assisting) to about two years (ASN and imaging degrees)
- Miami-area median pay
- $91,380 RN; $62,610 LPN; $38,010 nursing assistant; $44,930 medical assistant; $47,860 dental assistant; $45,240 pharmacy technician; $45,210 phlebotomist; $78,890 radiologic technologist; $86,250 sonographer; $80,880 respiratory therapist; $65,520 surgical technologist; $82,780 dental hygienist
- License
- NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN; Florida CNA exam; Florida radiographer license; pharmacy technician registration; national exams for other roles
Schools on this page: Nursing at Miami Dade College, Cambridge, Compu-Med, FNU, Future-Tech, FVI, Keiser, Southeastern and West Coast University; assisting and allied health at most of them and at FEI and South Florida Dental Assisting School.
Miami Dade College’s RN and practical nursing programs are on Board of Nursing probation for 2026-2027. FNU’s radiologic technology and sonography, and Cambridge’s radiologic technology, list no JRCERT or CAAHEP accreditation. Sources: Florida Board of Nursing; our school profiles.
EMT, fire and police
Florida EMTs and paramedics are certified by the Florida Department of Health after a state-approved course and the national NREMT exam.
- Length
- One semester (Miami Dade College EMT, 11 credits); 16 weeks (FVI EMT)
- Miami-area median pay
- $40,100 EMTs; $68,160 paramedics; $75,710 firefighters; $79,840 police officers
- License
- NREMT exam and Florida EMT or paramedic certification
Schools on this page: Miami Dade College (EMT and paramedic at the Medical and Homestead campuses; EMT and the fire, law enforcement and corrections academies at North Campus), FVI (EMT) and Compu-Med (EMT, Hialeah and Kendall).
FVI’s EMT course is not eligible for federal aid. Sources: Florida Department of Health; our school profiles.
IT, media, culinary and office
No state license is needed for IT support, networking, medical billing or media work; employers look for industry certifications such as CompTIA A+ and Network+ or AAPC and NHA coding credentials.
- Length
- 6 to 8 months (media diplomas); 12 months (CBT networking diploma); 36 weeks (culinary diplomas)
- Miami-area median pay
- $60,500 computer support specialists; $78,910 network support specialists; $49,010 medical records specialists
- Certification
- Industry certifications; none required by the state
Schools on this page: IT at CBT and Miami Dade College; media and audio at Miami Media School and SAE Institute; culinary arts at Miami Dade College and FEI; billing and coding at FEI, Compu-Med and FNU.
The two internships in Miami Media School’s 8-month diplomas are usually unpaid. Some CBT degree pages list out-of-date exam codes, so ask which exams the courses lead to. Sources: our school profiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest trade school in Miami?
Miami Dade College, a public college where Florida residents pay $118.22 a credit for associate degrees and college credit certificates and $91.08 a credit for career technical certificates such as practical nursing. Its EMT certificate is 11 credits, one semester.
How do I become an electrician in Miami?
In Florida, journeyman electricians are licensed by the county, not the state, and electrical contractors are certified by the state’s Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board after years of experience and an exam. CBT Technology Institute and Northbridge University teach electrical diplomas of about 8 to 9 months, and Miami Dade College has Construction Trades Institute courses.
Where can I study nursing in Miami?
Miami Dade College, Cambridge, Compu-Med, FNU, Future-Tech, FVI, Keiser, Southeastern and West Coast University all teach registered nursing in Miami-Dade. Recent first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates include 94.87% at Compu-Med Kendall and 82.61% at Hialeah (2025), 85.9% at FVI Miami (2025) and 80% at Southeastern Miami Lakes (2025). Miami Dade College’s RN and practical nursing programs are on Florida Board of Nursing probation for 2026-2027.
What are the fastest programs in Miami?
Cambridge’s nursing assistant course takes 5 weeks ($1,475) and FVI’s 9 weeks ($1,795). South Florida Dental Assisting School trains dental assistants in 12 weeks for $5,750, and EMT takes one semester at Miami Dade College or 16 weeks at FVI. CBT’s HVAC and electrical diplomas take 8 months.
Where can I train for HVAC in Miami?
CBT Technology Institute teaches an 8-month air conditioning and refrigeration diploma at its Miami, Hialeah and Cutler Bay campuses, in English or Spanish, for about $11,952 in tuition. FEI teaches a 36-week HVAC/R diploma in Miami and Northbridge University a diploma of about 12 months at Cutler Bay. Technicians need EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerant.
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked. Pay figures are Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro median annual wages from BLS 2025 data, via O*NET OnLine. Licensing requirements are from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Florida Statutes, the Florida Board of Nursing and the Florida Department of Health.