The lowest-cost routes into a trade around Orlando are Lake Technical College, a public technical college in Lake County where Florida residents pay $2.88 a clock hour, and BuildStrong Academy’s free carpentry and electrical pre-apprenticeships. Private schools add HVAC, welding, aviation, marine and motorcycle mechanics, truck driving, beauty, fitness and media programs, and a long list of nursing and healthcare training. This page compares the 20 schools we profile in the Orlando metro (Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties), what they cost and which license each trade leads to.
Orlando at a glance
- Schools listed
- 20: 1 public technical college, 7 trade, technical and media schools, 4 beauty, massage and fitness schools, 8 nursing and healthcare schools
- Where
- Orlando, Kissimmee, Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Sanford, Oviedo, Apopka, Eustis, Tavares and Clermont
- Lowest-cost route
- Lake Tech: $2.88 a clock hour for Florida residents; BuildStrong Academy: free
- Short entry courses
- Truck driving in 18 weekdays; nursing assistant in 5 weeks; construction pre-apprenticeship in about 9 weeks
- Federal aid at
- 17 of the 20; BuildStrong is free, and Roadmaster and Southern Technical Institute take none
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile.
Orlando 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 technical college (1)
Lake Technical College (Lake Tech)
Lake Tech charges Florida residents $2.88 a clock hour, so its 1,050-hour welding, automotive, diesel and pharmacy technician programs cost $3,024 in tuition and practical nursing $3,888; it also teaches HVAC/R, collision repair, cosmetology, culinary arts, IT, EMT and firefighter and police academies. Its practical nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-PN 12 of 15 in January to March 2026, below the national rate, while its trade programs report placement of 85% to 100%.
- Length
- 165 hours (phlebotomy) to 1,400 hours (automotive collision, about 47 weeks); most programs under a year
- Accredited
- Council on Occupational Education (since 1974) and Cognia
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants, Bright Futures and Florida Prepaid, but no federal student loans
Cost: $2.88 a clock hour for Florida residents ($11.52 out of state), 2026-27, plus books and fees; practical nursing totals $7,804.21
View school profile →Trade, technical and media schools (7)
Aviation Institute of Maintenance (Orlando)
AIM’s Orlando campus teaches the 21-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certificate for the FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) exams, and is one of two AIM campuses with the 27-month Aviation Maintenance Technical Engineer program, which adds avionics. Across AIM’s campuses, 51% to 78% of A&P starters graduated within 150% of program length in its 2025 report to ACCSC, and a change of ownership is pending for December 2026.
- Length
- About 21 months (A&P, 2,040 hours); about 27 months (with avionics, 2,640 hours)
- Accredited
- ACCSC; FAA Part 147 school
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill and military Tuition Assistance
Cost: No Orlando price published; about $53,000 for the A&P at the two AIM campuses with state filings
View school profile →BuildStrong Academy of Orlando
HBI’s first BuildStrong Academy, opened in June 2021, trains people with no construction experience in carpentry or electrical work for free: more than 300 hours of mostly hands-on training on a flexible 9-week model, ending in an HBI pre-apprenticeship certificate and OSHA 10. The certificate is not a license, and classes run full-time, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Length
- More than 300 hours; flexible 9-week model
- Accredited
- Not accredited; its curriculum is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor
- Federal aid
- Not needed: training is free
Cost: Free
View school profile →Full Sail University
Full Sail teaches film, music production and recording, game development and art, computer animation, graphic design, IT and computer science in month-long courses taken in a set order, so a campus bachelor’s can take as little as 20 months at 32 to 40 hours a week. In its latest ACCSC report, 85% of a campus Film bachelor’s cohort graduated, against 28% of an online Music Production bachelor’s cohort.
- Length
- About 7 months (certificates); 13 to 14 months (associate); from 20 months (bachelor’s)
- Accredited
- ACCSC (renewed for five years, June 2025)
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon
Cost: $10,500 (certificates); $37,500 to $54,540 (associate); up to $95,000 for a campus bachelor’s (late-2026 starts)
View school profile →Northbridge University (formerly Florida Technical College), Orlando and Kissimmee
Both campuses teach the hybrid Electrical (about 9 months) and HVAC/R (about 12 months) diplomas and the Medical Assistant Technician diploma; Kissimmee adds welding, practical nursing, the ASN and BSN, veterinary assisting and Electrical in Spanish. Its accreditor, MSCHE, put the institution on Non-Compliance Probation on 25 June 2026, and we found no NCLEX pass rates for Kissimmee.
- 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 →Roadmaster Drivers School (Orlando area)
Roadmaster trains drivers for the Class A CDL in a 160-hour course over 18 weekdays, after students finish the federally required entry-level driver training theory. It is not accredited and takes no federal aid; students pay through school financing, carrier tuition reimbursement, WIOA funding or VA benefits.
- Length
- 160 hours over 18 weekdays
- Accredited
- Not accredited; licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education
- Federal aid
- No; school financing and carrier tuition reimbursement
Cost: $7,535 at the Florida locations (October 2025 catalog), plus the DOT physical
View school profile →Southern Technical College (Orlando and Sanford)
STC teaches 10-month HVAC, medical assisting and veterinary assisting diplomas at both campuses, plus 18-month associate degrees in electrical trades and welding; Sanford adds an HVAC/Refrigeration AS. In its 2026 report to ACCSC, 75% of Sanford HVAC diploma students graduated and 75% of graduates found work; Orlando’s welding figures were 64% and 71%.
- Length
- 10 months (diplomas); 18 months (associate degrees)
- Accredited
- ACCSC (Orlando renewed July 2022, Sanford July 2026)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants, FSEOG and Direct Loans
Cost: $17,850 to $20,900 (diplomas); $34,000 to $34,450 (associate degrees), books included (2026-27)
View school profile →Universal Technical Institute (Orlando)
UTI’s Orlando campus is the only UTI campus teaching the 51-week Marine Technician program and one of two teaching Motorcycle Technician, with brand electives such as Harley-Davidson. Our profile does not list UTI’s other programs by campus, so ask Orlando which automotive or diesel programs it runs.
- Length
- 48 to 60 weeks (motorcycle); 51 weeks (marine)
- Accredited
- ACCSC
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill at most campuses
Cost: Set by campus; Orlando prices are not in our profile (Avondale, AZ core programs $26,935 to $54,095, August 2026)
View school profile →Beauty, massage and fitness schools (4)
Be Aveda Institute (Winter Park)
Be Aveda’s Florida schools teach 1,200-hour cosmetology, full-time or on a part-time hybrid track, a 900-hour spa program that combines skincare and massage, and massage therapy over about nine months; programs differ by school, so ask Winter Park which it runs. Be Aveda reports 73.68% graduation, 67.82% placement and 87.50% licensure for its Orlando, South Florida and Brandon schools combined (year not stated).
- Length
- 1,200 hours (cosmetology: 40 weeks full-time, 60 part-time); about nine months (massage)
- Accredited
- NACCAS for most Aveda schools; confirm the Winter Park school’s accreditation
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and federal loans
Cost: Not published for Winter Park; Be Aveda Fort Myers lists $19,550 for cosmetology (October 2025 catalog)
Cortiva Institute (Maitland)
Cortiva’s Maitland campus teaches 600-hour massage therapy, 300-hour skin care, nail technology, makeup artistry, a 720-hour skin care and massage diploma and a 976-hour advanced paramedical skin care program. In its latest report, 71% of Maitland massage students graduated, 75% of graduates found work and 92% of those who sat the licensing exam passed.
- Length
- 180 hours (nails, about 2 months) to 976 hours (advanced paramedical skin care, about 11 months); massage 600 hours, about 8 months
- Accredited
- ACCSC
- Federal aid
- Yes; the last published federal aid agreement was provisional
Cost: $3,995 (nails), $6,168 (skin care), $14,250 (massage), $19,300 (advanced paramedical skin care), June 2026
View school profile →NPTI Florida (National Personal Training Institute)
NPTI teaches only personal training: three 600-hour day diplomas of 18 weeks each, the entry Personal Fitness Training diploma, also partly online for Florida residents, and two advanced diplomas taught only in Orlando. By the school’s own report, 87% of its 2023-24 Orlando entry cohort graduated and 75% of graduates available for work found jobs in the field.
- Length
- 18 weeks (600 hours), Monday to Friday by day
- Accredited
- ACCSC (since 2014)
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill approved
Cost: $10,500 (Personal Fitness Training); $13,900 (each advanced diploma), books and fees included (2026-27)
View school profile →Paul Mitchell The School Orlando
This franchised Paul Mitchell school teaches cosmetology; other Paul Mitchell schools add esthetics, barbering or nails at some locations, so ask Oviedo which programs it runs. For 2024 the school reported 68% graduation, 87% placement and 99% licensure.
- Length
- Ask the school; Florida requires 1,200 hours for a cosmetology license
- Accredited
- NACCAS for most Paul Mitchell schools; confirm the Oviedo school’s status
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and federal loans
Cost: Not published; Paul Mitchell Fort Myers lists $16,029 for barbering (2026)
Nursing and healthcare schools (8)
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology (Altamonte Springs)
Cambridge’s Orlando-area campus teaches the ASN, a campus BSN found only here, practical nursing, a 5-week nursing assistant course, phlebotomy, medical assisting with an evening option and blended degrees in sonography, radiologic technology and radiation therapy. Its Altamonte Springs ASN reported 71% retention, 57% placement and 80% credentialing, and its radiologic technology and radiation therapy programs list no JRCERT accreditation.
- Length
- 5 weeks (nursing assistant) to 16 to 36 months (BSN)
- Accredited
- ABHES; ACEN (ASN and BSN); CAAHEP (sonography)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and Direct Loans
Cost: $1,475 (nursing assistant), $14,900 (medical assistant), $27,600 (practical nursing), $54,978 (ASN), $46,363 to $78,360 (BSN), April 2026
View school profile →Concorde Career Institute (Orlando)
Orlando teaches dental hygiene, dental and medical assisting, and phlebotomy, pharmacy and sterile processing technician diplomas, plus associate degrees in sonography, cardiovascular sonography, surgical technology and radiologic technology. ACCSC named Orlando a School of Excellence for 2022-23 and federal data show a 69% graduation rate, but its sonography and radiologic technology programs list no CAAHEP or JRCERT accreditation.
- Length
- 8 weeks (phlebotomy) to 26 months (dental hygiene at some campuses)
- Accredited
- ACCSC; CODA (dental hygiene), ASHP and ABHES for some programs
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon
Cost: Tuition sheets published only as images; Niche lists a net price of about $35,700 a year
View school profile →ECPI University (Lake Mary)
ECPI’s Lake Mary campus teaches the 18-month ADN, the BSN and an 11-month BS-to-BSN for people with a bachelor’s degree, plus physical therapist assisting, sonography, cybersecurity and electronics, in 5-week terms year-round. ECPI reports a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for the Lake Mary ADN in 2024 and 75% first-time NPTE passes for PTA; it lists no accreditation for sonography, and there is no practical nursing or medical assisting here.
- Length
- About 18 months (ADN, PTA, sonography); 2.5 years (BSN); 11 months (BS-to-BSN)
- Accredited
- SACSCOC; ACEN initial (ADN), CCNE (BSN), CAPTE (PTA)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $10,200 a semester (ADN), $9,270 (BSN), $9,984 (PTA, sonography), plus a $495 technology fee each semester
View school profile →Gwinnett Institute (Orlando)
Gwinnett Institute is the only Gwinnett campus with practical nursing (15 months, day or evening), and it also lists medical assisting, medical billing and coding, dental assisting and diagnostic medical ultrasound. It publishes no tuition, and federal data shown by Niche give the Orlando campus a 16% graduation rate.
- Length
- 12 months (day diplomas) to 15 months (practical nursing); evening diplomas 15 to 18 months
- Accredited
- ACCSC (the school’s Lilburn, GA campus has been on Warning since September 2026)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and Direct Loans
Cost: Not published; ask for the campus catalog supplement
View school profile →Keiser University (Orlando)
Keiser’s Orlando campus is one of three teaching the medical laboratory technician degree (about 20 months), and like most Keiser campuses it offers associate degrees in health, IT and billing and coding, one four-week class at a time. Programs and their accreditation vary by campus, so ask which ones Orlando teaches.
- 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 →Rasmussen University (Orlando and North Orlando)
Rasmussen’s campus programs are hybrid nursing and allied health, with online coursework, campus labs and clinicals: practical nursing, the ADN, a pre-licensure BSN and medical assisting; ask which ones each Orlando campus teaches. Neither Orlando campus has NCLEX results yet; at Rasmussen’s other Florida campuses, 76.51% to 82.14% of ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN in 2025.
- Length
- From 15 months (practical nursing), 21 months (ADN) and 33 months (BSN)
- Accredited
- Higher Learning Commission through APUS; ACEN (ADN at most campuses), CCNE (BSN)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $27,149 (practical nursing), $55,673 (ADN), $83,805 (BSN), Florida estimates for 2026-27
View school profile →South College (Orlando)
South College’s Orlando campus teaches practical nursing (as few as 12 months in Florida), the ASN and BSN, medical assisting, surgical technology, radiography, sonography and a physician assistant master’s, at a flat rate per quarter. Its nursing students train in an Orlando Health dedicated education unit, but we found no Florida pass rates.
- Length
- As few as 12 months (practical nursing); other lengths are set in the catalog
- Accredited
- The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC); program accreditation varies by campus
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants, FSEOG and Direct Loans
Cost: $5,775 per full-time quarter (practical nursing, medical assisting) or $7,325 (nursing major, imaging), plus a $695 fee each quarter (2025-26)
View school profile →Southern Technical Institute (Orlando)
STI teaches phlebotomy and patient care assistant diplomas and short courses such as CNA exam prep ($329), a 40-hour home health aide course ($299) and CPR. It is not accredited, takes no federal or state aid, publishes no results or diploma prices, and is a different school from Southern Technical College.
- Length
- Single sessions to under six months (patient care assistant)
- Accredited
- Not accredited; licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education
- Federal aid
- No federal or state aid
Cost: Short courses $59 to $349; diploma prices not published
View school profile →No schools on this page match. Try another trade, see Tampa Bay trade schools, or see all Florida trade schools.
Nova Southeastern University, Grand Canyon University (Lake Mary) and DeVry University have Orlando-area sites but are universities rather than trade schools; NSU runs one of its four physician assistant programs in Orlando, and DeVry teaches mostly online with evening classes on campus.
We have not yet profiled the area’s large public colleges, Valencia College, Seminole State College and Orange Technical College, or its union apprenticeships.
- Price Lake Tech first. Its 1,050-hour welding program costs $3,024 in tuition for Florida residents, against $34,450 for STC’s welding degree.
- 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 accreditation. Northbridge is on accreditor probation, and Roadmaster and Southern Technical Institute are not accredited.
- Ask for completion rates as well as pass rates. Federal data give Gwinnett Institute a 16% graduation rate, and Full Sail’s online bachelor’s cohorts graduate far less often than its campus ones.
- Get the price in writing. Gwinnett, Concorde, Northbridge, Paul Mitchell and Southern Technical Institute publish no program prices we could quote.
More in Florida: Tampa Bay trade schools · All Florida trade schools
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | Why they may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost route | Lake Tech; BuildStrong Academy | $2.88 a clock hour for Florida residents at Lake Tech; BuildStrong’s carpentry and electrical training is free |
| Electrician | BuildStrong (free pre-apprenticeship); Northbridge (about 9 months); STC (18-month AS, $34,000) | A county journeyman license comes after years of work |
| HVAC | Lake Tech (750 hours, $2,160 tuition); STC (10 months, $20,900); Northbridge (about 12 months) | EPA 608 certification is needed to handle refrigerant |
| Welding | Lake Tech (1,050 hours, $3,024 tuition); STC (18-month AAS, $34,450); Northbridge Kissimmee | Florida does not license welders; Lake Tech prepares for AWS 6G pipe certifications |
| Carpentry | BuildStrong Academy (free) | Pre-apprenticeship certificate and OSHA 10 |
| Automotive, diesel, marine or motorcycle | Lake Tech (automotive or diesel, $3,024 tuition each; collision $4,032); UTI Orlando (marine, motorcycle) | ASE and manufacturer certifications |
| Aircraft mechanic | Aviation Institute of Maintenance (about 21 months) | Prepares for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificates |
| Truck driver (CDL) | Roadmaster Apopka ($7,535, 18 weekdays) | No federal aid; carriers may reimburse tuition |
| Registered nurse | ECPI Lake Mary (ADN; 100% NCLEX-RN in 2024); Cambridge (ASN, BSN); South College; Rasmussen; Northbridge Kissimmee | Private associate degrees run about $55,000; check each program’s Board of Nursing status |
| Practical nurse (LPN) | Lake Tech ($3,888 tuition, $7,804.21 in total); Rasmussen ($27,149); Cambridge ($27,600); Gwinnett Institute; South College; Northbridge Kissimmee | Lake Tech’s first-time NCLEX-PN rate was 80% in early 2026 |
| Nursing assistant or patient care | Cambridge (5 weeks, $1,475); Lake Tech (Patient Care Technician, $1,728 tuition); Southern Technical Institute (CNA exam prep, $329) | Prepares for the Florida CNA exam |
| Medical or dental assisting | Cambridge ($14,900); STC ($19,600); Concorde; Gwinnett; Lake Tech; South College; Northbridge | Florida does not license dental assistants; expanded duties and X-ray training count |
| Imaging, surgical or therapy | Cambridge; Concorde; ECPI (PTA); South College | Check programmatic accreditation (JRCERT, CAAHEP, CAPTE) at your campus |
| Pharmacy technician | Lake Tech (1,050 hours, $3,024 tuition); Concorde (7 months) | Florida Board of Pharmacy registration |
| EMT, fire or police | Lake Tech (EMT $864; Firefighter/EMT $2,281; law enforcement academy $2,218, tuition) | Florida EMT, firefighter and law enforcement certification |
| Cosmetology, massage or skin care | Lake Tech (cosmetology, $3,456 tuition); Be Aveda Winter Park; Paul Mitchell Oviedo; Cortiva Maitland (massage $14,250) | Florida cosmetology license after 1,200 hours |
| Personal trainer | NPTI Florida ($10,500, 18 weeks) | Florida does not license personal trainers |
| Film, music, games or animation | Full Sail University ($10,500 certificates to $95,000 bachelor’s) | No license; ask for campus and online graduation rates |
| IT and cybersecurity | Lake Tech (900 hours, $2,592 tuition); ECPI; Keiser; Full Sail; Northbridge (online) | CompTIA certifications such as A+, Network+ and Security+ |
| Culinary arts | Lake Tech (1,200 hours, $3,456 tuition) | ACF Certified Fundamental Cook |
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 technical college | Lake Tech EMT; HVAC/R; welding, automotive or diesel; practical nursing | $864; $2,160; $3,024; $3,888 tuition ($7,804.21 in total for practical nursing) | 2026-27 |
| Free training | BuildStrong Academy carpentry or electrical | $0 | 2026 |
| Nursing assistant | Cambridge | $1,475 | April 2026 |
| Trade diplomas and degrees | STC HVAC diploma; electrical trades AS; welding AAS | $20,900; $34,000; $34,450 | 2026-27 |
| Truck driving | Roadmaster | $7,535 | October 2025 |
| Aviation maintenance | AIM A&P (campuses with state filings) | About $53,000 | 2024; September 2026 |
| Beauty and massage | Cortiva nails; massage; Lake Tech cosmetology | $3,995; $14,250; $3,456 tuition | June 2026; 2026-27 |
| Personal training | NPTI entry diploma; advanced diplomas | $10,500; $13,900 | 2026-27 |
| Medical assisting | Cambridge; STC | $14,900; $19,600 | April 2026; 2026-27 |
| Practical nursing | Rasmussen; Cambridge | $27,149; $27,600 | 2026-27; April 2026 |
| Registered nursing | Cambridge ASN; Rasmussen ADN; Cambridge BSN; Rasmussen BSN | $54,978; $55,673; $46,363 to $78,360; $83,805 | April 2026; 2026-27 |
| Per-term schools | South College; ECPI ADN; Keiser | $5,775 or $7,325 a quarter; $10,200 a semester; $12,408 a semester | 2025-26; October 2026; Fall 2025 |
| Media | Full Sail certificate; associate; campus bachelor’s | $10,500; $37,500 to $54,540; up to $95,000 | Late-2026 starts |
Gwinnett, Concorde, Northbridge, Paul Mitchell and Southern Technical Institute’s diplomas publish no prices we could quote, so ask for them in writing. Lake Tech charges out-of-state students four times the Florida rate.
Paying for training
- Federal aid: 17 of the 20 schools listed take Pell Grants or federal loans through the FAFSA. BuildStrong is free; Roadmaster and Southern Technical Institute take no federal aid; and Lake Tech offers Pell Grants but no federal student loans.
- Florida aid: Lake Tech and NPTI accept Bright Futures and Florida Prepaid, South College lists Bright Futures and EASE, and STC takes Florida Prepaid.
- Workforce funding: Cambridge’s Altamonte Springs campus is a WIOA training site, Roadmaster accepts WIOA funding, and Southern Technical Institute is a CareerSource Central Florida provider.
- Veterans: most Lake Tech programs are approved for VA benefits; Full Sail is an unlimited Yellow Ribbon school; NPTI and AIM accept the GI Bill; South College gives a $1,000 military grant each full-time term.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works around Orlando, how long training takes, what it pays and which license you need. Pay is the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford 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 the county where you work.
- Length
- About 9 weeks (BuildStrong pre-apprenticeship); about 9 months (Northbridge diploma); 18 months (STC associate degree); then years of work for a license
- Orlando-area median pay
- $50,820 (electricians)
- License
- County journeyman license; state certified electrical contractor license from the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board
Schools on this page: BuildStrong Academy (free, with OSHA 10), Northbridge University (Electrical diploma at Orlando and Kissimmee, also in Spanish at Kissimmee) and Southern Technical College (Electrical Trades Technology AS at Orlando and Sanford).
Lake Tech plans Electricity at a new Clermont site, Lake Tech South, still under construction in August 2026. STC’s electrical pages name no license, and BuildStrong’s certificate is not one. Sources: Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board; our school profiles.
HVAC, welding 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
- 750 hours, about 25 weeks (Lake Tech HVAC/R); 10 months (STC HVAC diploma); about 12 months (Northbridge); 1,050 hours, about 36 weeks (Lake Tech welding)
- 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 Lake Tech, STC (Orlando and Sanford) and Northbridge; welding at Lake Tech, STC and Northbridge Kissimmee; carpentry at BuildStrong Academy.
Lake Tech’s welding program prepares for AWS 6G pipe certifications and its HVAC/R for EPA certification; STC’s welding page does not mention AWS certification, and its HVAC page mentions EPA study material but not the 608 exam. Sources: Construction Industry Licensing Board (s. 489.111); our school profiles.
Automotive, aviation and truck driving
Florida does not license auto, diesel or marine mechanics; employers look for ASE certification and manufacturer training. Aircraft mechanics need the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificates, and pilots need FAA pilot certificates, including a commercial certificate to fly for pay. Truck drivers need a Class A CDL from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, after federal entry-level driver training and the state knowledge and skills tests.
- Length
- 1,050 hours, about 35 weeks (Lake Tech automotive or diesel); 48 to 60 weeks (UTI motorcycle); 51 weeks (UTI marine); about 21 months (AIM A&P); 18 weekdays (Roadmaster CDL)
- Orlando-area median pay
- $47,850 auto technicians; $60,240 diesel technicians; $48,240 motorcycle mechanics; $53,040 marine mechanics; $92,430 aircraft mechanics; $50,250 truck drivers
- License
- None for auto or marine work; FAA mechanic certificates; Class A CDL
Schools on this page: Lake Tech (automotive and diesel at the Transportation Innovation Hub in Tavares; collision repair in Eustis), Universal Technical Institute (marine and motorcycle), Aviation Institute of Maintenance and Roadmaster Drivers School.
Graduating from AIM does not give you a license: you still pass three FAA written tests and an oral and practical exam. Roadmaster’s listed price does not include the entry-level driver training theory course or the DOT physical. Sources: FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificates; Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; 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) to 33 months or more (pre-licensure BSN)
- Orlando-area median pay
- $83,550 RN; $61,030 LPN; $37,690 nursing assistant; $43,800 medical assistant; $46,480 dental assistant; $92,560 dental hygienist; $43,080 pharmacy technician; $39,390 phlebotomist; $76,320 radiologic technologist; $83,310 sonographer; $61,730 surgical technologist; $71,110 physical therapist assistant
- 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 Cambridge, ECPI, Gwinnett Institute (practical nursing), Lake Tech (practical nursing), Northbridge Kissimmee, Rasmussen and South College; assisting and allied health at most of them and at Concorde, Keiser, STC and Southern Technical Institute.
Cambridge and Concorde list no JRCERT accreditation for radiologic technology, and ECPI none for sonography. Lake Tech’s first-time NCLEX-PN rates were 75% and 80% in the first quarters of 2025 and 2026. Southern Technical Institute’s CNA courses are exam preparation, not state-approved training programs. 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. Firefighters and police officers train in state-approved academies and take state certification exams.
- Length
- 300 hours, about 6 months (EMT); 792 hours, about 32 weeks (Firefighter/EMT); 770 hours, about 19 weeks (law enforcement academy)
- Orlando-area median pay
- $38,510 EMTs; $59,870 paramedics; $45,520 firefighters; $63,010 police officers
- License
- NREMT exam and Florida EMT certification; Florida Firefighter I and II; CJSTC law enforcement certification
Schools on this page: Lake Tech’s Institute of Public Safety in Tavares: EMT, Firefighter/EMT, the Florida Law Enforcement Academy and correctional officer training, with Paramedic in Clermont.
Lake Tech reports 96% completion and 85% placement for EMT and 93% and 86% for its law enforcement academy; the pages do not give the year. Sources: Florida Department of Health; our school profiles.
Cosmetology, massage and fitness
Florida requires 1,200 hours of school for a cosmetology license, 220 hours for a facial specialist and 180 hours for a nail specialist, and the Board of Cosmetology licenses graduates after the state exam. Barbers need at least 900 hours of training (s. 476.114). Massage therapists need 500 or more hours at a board-approved school and the MBLEx exam, licensed by the Board of Massage Therapy. Florida does not license personal trainers.
- Length
- 1,200 hours, about 40 weeks (Lake Tech and Be Aveda cosmetology); 600 hours, about 8 months (Cortiva massage); 18 weeks (NPTI personal training)
- Orlando-area median pay
- $29,470 hairstylists and cosmetologists; $40,690 skincare specialists; $48,480 massage therapists; $43,750 fitness trainers
- License
- Florida cosmetology or specialist license; massage therapist license after the MBLEx; none for personal trainers
Schools on this page: Lake Tech (cosmetology, facials and nails), Be Aveda Institute, Winter Park, Paul Mitchell The School, Oviedo, Cortiva Institute, Maitland (massage, skin care, nails and makeup) and NPTI Florida (personal training).
Be Aveda and Paul Mitchell publish no Orlando-area prices. NPTI’s diplomas name no outside certification exam, so ask whether the gyms you want to work for require one. Sources: Board of Cosmetology; Board of Massage Therapy; 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
- 900 hours, about 30 weeks (Lake Tech IT); about 7 months (Full Sail certificates) to 20 months or more (Full Sail bachelor’s)
- Orlando-area median pay
- $54,430 computer support specialists; $63,460 network support specialists; $56,660 audio and video technicians; $91,150 animators and special effects artists
- Certification
- Industry certifications; none required by the state
Schools on this page: IT at Lake Tech, ECPI, Keiser, Full Sail and Northbridge (online); film, music, games and animation at Full Sail; culinary arts at Lake Tech; billing and coding at Gwinnett and Keiser.
Full Sail’s online bachelor’s cohorts graduated far less often than its campus cohorts (28% in one online Music Production cohort), and Niche reports median earnings of $39,233 six years after entry. Sources: our school profiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest trade school in Orlando?
Lake Technical College in Lake County charges Florida residents $2.88 a clock hour in 2026-27, so a 1,050-hour welding, automotive or diesel program costs $3,024 in tuition before books and fees. BuildStrong Academy of Orlando teaches carpentry and electrical pre-apprenticeships for free. We have not yet profiled Valencia College, Seminole State College or Orange Technical College.
How do I become an electrician in Orlando?
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. BuildStrong Academy runs a free electrical pre-apprenticeship, Northbridge University teaches an electrical diploma of about 9 months, and Southern Technical College an 18-month associate degree for $34,000.
Where can I study nursing in Orlando?
Cambridge (Altamonte Springs), ECPI (Lake Mary), Rasmussen, South College and Northbridge Kissimmee teach registered nursing, and Lake Tech, Gwinnett Institute, Cambridge, Rasmussen and South College teach practical nursing. ECPI reports a 100% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for its Lake Mary ADN in 2024, and Lake Tech’s practical nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-PN at 80% in early 2026. Rasmussen’s Orlando campuses have no results yet.
Where can I train for HVAC in Orlando?
Lake Tech teaches a 750-hour HVAC/R program for $2,160 in tuition, Southern Technical College a 10-month HVAC diploma ($20,900) at Orlando and Sanford, and Northbridge University an HVAC/R diploma of about 12 months. Technicians need EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerant.
Where can I train as a mechanic near Orlando?
Lake Tech teaches automotive and diesel programs of 1,050 hours ($3,024 tuition each) in Tavares, Universal Technical Institute teaches marine and motorcycle programs in Orlando, and the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Casselberry trains aircraft mechanics for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificates in about 21 months.
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked. Pay figures are Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford 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, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the FAA.