Tampa Bay has two low-cost public routes into a trade: Hillsborough College, at $104.39 a credit for Florida residents, and Pinellas Technical College, where most career programs cost a Florida resident a few thousand dollars in all. Private schools add aircraft maintenance, truck driving, beauty and fitness programs and a long list of nursing and healthcare training. This page compares the 21 schools we profile in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, what they cost and which license each trade leads to.
Tampa Bay at a glance
- Schools listed
- 21: 2 public colleges, 6 trade, aviation and truck driving schools, 5 beauty, massage and fitness schools, 8 nursing and healthcare schools
- Where
- Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Plant City, Ruskin, Pinellas Park, Odessa, New Port Richey and Spring Hill
- Lowest-cost route
- Pinellas Technical College: $2.92 a clock hour for Florida residents; Hillsborough College: $104.39 a credit, and free classroom instruction for its apprentices
- Short entry courses
- Dental assisting in 10 weeks; Class A CDL in about 4 to 5 weeks; phlebotomy in 165 hours; EMT in one semester
- Federal aid at
- 16 of the 21; Florida Trade Academy, the two CDL schools, Dental Assisting Institute and Southern Technical Institute take none
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile.
Tampa Bay 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 colleges (2)
Hillsborough College (formerly Hillsborough Community College)
Hillsborough College trains registered nurses and more than a dozen allied-health specialties, from dental hygiene and radiography to respiratory care and veterinary technology, plus EMTs, paramedics and police, corrections and fire recruits; its Ybor City training center teaches automotive, collision, diesel and welding, and eight employer-sponsored apprenticeships, among them electrician and plumber, charge no tuition for classroom instruction. Its associate degree nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 85.88% (219 of 255) in 2024.
- Length
- One semester (EMT, 12 credits) to about two years (AS); apprenticeships four years
- Accredited
- SACSCOC; ACEN, CODA, JRCERT, CAAHEP, CoARC, NAACLS and others for programs
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, Bright Futures and the Florida Student Assistance Grant
Cost: $104.39 a credit for Florida residents ($379.61 non-residents); $78.98 per vocational credit of 30 clock hours
View school profile →Pinellas Technical College
PTC charges Florida residents $2.92 a clock hour and estimates whole-program totals from $1,082 (phlebotomy) to $13,817 (marine service), among them electricity ($5,610), HVAC/R (about $4,100), plumbing, welding ($8,064), automotive, diesel, Class A CDL ($3,332), cosmetology, barbering, dental assisting and practical nursing ($8,427). Its St. Petersburg practical nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-PN 20 of 37 in January to March 2026, far below the national rate, against 2 of 2 at Clearwater.
- Length
- 165 hours (phlebotomy) to 1,500 hours (machining); mostly full-time weekday cohorts from 7 a.m.
- Accredited
- Council on Occupational Education (each campus) and Cognia; CODA (dental assisting)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants, but the St. Petersburg campus takes no federal student loans
Cost: $2.92 a clock hour for Florida residents ($11.71 non-residents), 2026-27; program totals $225 to $13,817 for residents
View school profile →Trade, aviation and truck driving schools (6)
Florida Trade Academy
Florida Trade Academy prepares people to enter an ABC registered apprenticeship in electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, pipe fitting or sprinkler fitting, with 24-week hybrid tracks of 150 hours that end in NCCER Core and Level 1 certificates. It publishes no current price or results, and its state registration listing dates from April 2023, so confirm when the next cohort starts.
- Length
- 24 weeks, 150 hours
- Accredited
- Not accredited; registered Florida pre-apprenticeship program
- Federal aid
- No
Cost: No 2026-27 price published; $4,000 a semester in May 2023
View school profile →National Aviation Academy (Tampa Bay)
NAA has trained aircraft maintenance technicians in Tampa Bay since 1969: a 14-month, 2,000-hour A&P program, day or evening, as a diploma or occupational associate degree, and a 21-month program that adds avionics certifications. The FAA exams cost about $2,100 on top of tuition by NAA’s own estimate, and the school publishes no pass rates.
- Length
- 14 months (A&P); 21 months (with avionics); 7 months (advanced avionics, for A&P holders)
- Accredited
- Council on Occupational Education (reaffirmed 2022); FAA Part 147
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill accepted
Cost: $41,500 (A&P), $62,250 (A&P with avionics), $20,750 (advanced aircraft systems), 2026-27
View school profile →Northbridge University (formerly Florida Technical College), Tampa
The Tampa campus teaches the hybrid Electrical (about 9 months) and HVAC/R (about 12 months) diplomas, the Medical Assistant Technician diploma and an 8-month Pharmacy Technician diploma, and is one of two Northbridge campuses with practical nursing, the ASN and BSN. Its accreditor, MSCHE, put the institution on Non-Compliance Probation on 25 June 2026, and we found no NCLEX pass rates for Tampa.
- Length
- About 8 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 (Tampa)
Roadmaster, which started in Tampa in 1992, 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 →SAGE Truck Driving Schools (Plant City)
SAGE teaches a 160-hour Class A course in Florida, about 4 to 5 weeks full-time, plus Class B, a Class B-to-A upgrade and a refresher. It is not accredited, takes no federal aid and publishes no CDL pass, completion or placement rates.
- Length
- 160 hours (Class A), about 4 to 5 weeks
- Accredited
- Not accredited; licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education
- Federal aid
- No; installment contracts, WIOA and a $1,000 Howes scholarship at selected locations
Cost: $5,450 for Class A, including physical, drug screen and road test (Plant City catalog, July 2024 to June 2025)
View school profile →Southern Technical College (Tampa and Brandon)
Tampa teaches a welding AAS, a 10-month electrical diploma, medical assisting and three allied-health degrees: sonography, CAAHEP-accredited, surgical technician and medical laboratory technician; Brandon teaches 10-month HVAC, medical assisting and veterinary assisting diplomas. In STC’s latest report, 32% of Tampa’s surgical technician starters and 44% of its sonography starters graduated.
- Length
- 10 months (diplomas); 18 to about 24 months (associate degrees)
- Accredited
- ACCSC; CAAHEP (sonography, Tampa); ABHES (surgical technician)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants, FSEOG and Direct Loans
Cost: $17,850 to $20,900 (diplomas); $34,450 (welding) to $48,900 (sonography), books included (2026-27)
View school profile →Beauty, massage and fitness schools (5)
Be Aveda Institute (Brandon and Clearwater)
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 each which it runs. Be Aveda publishes rates only for groups of its schools: 73.68% and 74.87% graduation and 87.50% and 98.64% licensure (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 each school’s accreditation
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and federal loans
Cost: Not published for Brandon or Clearwater; Be Aveda Fort Myers lists $19,550 for cosmetology (October 2025 catalog)
Cortiva Institute (St. Petersburg)
Cortiva’s St. Petersburg campus teaches 600-hour massage therapy, 300-hour skin care, nail technology, a 600-hour Full Specialist diploma, paramedical skin care and makeup artistry with skin care. In its latest report, 78% of St. Petersburg massage students graduated and 97% of the 30 who sat the licensing exam passed.
- Length
- 180 hours (nails, about 2 months) to 600 hours (massage and paramedical skin care, about 8 months)
- Accredited
- ACCSC
- Federal aid
- Yes; the last published federal aid agreement was provisional
Cost: $3,995 (nails), $6,168 (skin care), $13,200 (paramedical skin care), $14,250 (massage), June 2026
View school profile →Empire Beauty School (Tampa)
Empire’s Tampa campus teaches Florida’s 1,200-hour cosmetology program, full-time Monday to Friday or on part-time evenings, with clinic work in a student salon. Empire reports NACCAS rates by group of campuses; Tampa’s group reported 64.34% graduation, 72.80% placement and 85.66% licensure.
- Length
- 1,200 hours; part-time takes about twice as long
- Accredited
- NACCAS
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and Direct Loans
Cost: $19,388 to $19,429 for cosmetology at Empire’s Florida campuses (September 2026)
NPTI Florida (Tampa)
NPTI’s Tampa campus teaches only its 600-hour, 18-week Personal Fitness Training diploma, by day; the advanced diplomas are taught in Orlando. By the school’s own report, 91% of its 2023-24 Tampa cohort graduated and 78% 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, books and fees included (2026-27)
View school profile →Paul Mitchell The School Tampa
This franchised Paul Mitchell school teaches cosmetology; other Paul Mitchell schools add esthetics, barbering or nails at some locations. Ask the Tampa school which programs it runs and for its NACCAS graduation, placement and licensure rates.
- Length
- Ask the school; Florida requires 1,200 hours for a cosmetology license
- Accredited
- NACCAS for most Paul Mitchell schools; confirm the Tampa 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)
Arizona College of Nursing (Tampa)
Arizona College teaches one program, a pre-licensure BSN of 120 credits over nine semesters, with clinicals at local facilities. Tampa graduates passed the NCLEX-RN at 88.57% (62 of 70) in 2025, below the Florida average and down from 93.65% in 2024.
- Length
- 9 semesters (about 144 weeks)
- Accredited
- ABHES; CCNE (BSN)
- Federal aid
- Yes; the Tampa page lists Bright Futures scholarships
Cost: $98,160 tuition ($818 a credit), plus a $700 resource fee each semester (2026-27)
View school profile →ATA Career Education (ATA College, Spring Hill)
Spring Hill teaches a 15-month practical nursing diploma, 10-month medical and dental assisting diplomas, a medical assisting associate degree and limited medical radiography with medical assisting, with medical coding online. Its practical nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-PN at 86.89% (53 of 61) in 2025, but ATA reported 33% placement for Spring Hill medical assisting in 2024-25.
- Length
- 10 months (diplomas) to 17 months (limited radiography with medical assisting)
- Accredited
- ABHES
- Federal aid
- Yes; Pell Grants and Direct Loans
Cost: $17,641 (dental assisting), $18,033 (medical assisting), $30,378 (limited radiography with MA), $36,231 (practical nursing), July 2026
View school profile →Concorde Career Institute (Tampa)
Tampa 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 respiratory therapy. Its diagnostic medical sonography program is one of two at Concorde’s Florida campuses with CAAHEP accreditation.
- Length
- 8 weeks (phlebotomy) to 26 months (dental hygiene at some campuses)
- Accredited
- ACCSC; CODA, CAAHEP (sonography), CoARC, 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 $26,500 a year
View school profile →Dental Assisting Institute
DAI’s 10-week, 120-hour program combines home study with one clinic day a week and a 40-hour office practicum; graduates get Florida’s X-ray and expanded-functions certifications after 200 more hours of on-the-job training. It is not accredited, takes no federal aid and publishes no results.
- Length
- 10 weeks (120 hours)
- Accredited
- Not accredited; on the Florida Board of Dentistry’s approved expanded-duty and radiology list
- Federal aid
- No; in-house payment plan and CareCredit
Cost: $2,990 paid in full, with book and fees (classes from November 2026)
View school profile →Keiser University (Tampa, Clearwater and New Port Richey)
Keiser’s Clearwater campus is one of two teaching surgical technology, CAAHEP-accredited there, and one of three teaching medical laboratory technician, which at Clearwater is still seeking accreditation. Across its three Tampa Bay campuses Keiser offers associate degrees in health, IT and billing and coding, one four-week class at a time; ask which ones each campus 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 (Central Pasco and Tampa/Brandon)
Both campuses teach hybrid practical nursing, the ADN and the pre-licensure BSN, and Central Pasco adds surgical technology and radiologic technology. In 2025, 93.94% (Central Pasco) and 89.66% (Tampa/Brandon) of practical nursing graduates passed the NCLEX-PN on the first try, and 76.51% and 82.14% of ADN graduates passed the NCLEX-RN.
- Length
- From 15 months (practical nursing), 21 months (ADN, surgical technology) and 33 months (BSN)
- Accredited
- Higher Learning Commission through APUS; ACEN (ADN, and practical nursing at Central Pasco), CCNE (BSN), CAAHEP (surgical technology)
- Federal aid
- Yes
Cost: $27,149 (practical nursing), $40,994 (surgical technology), $53,600 (radiologic technology), $55,673 (ADN), $83,805 (BSN), 2026-27 estimates
View school profile →Southern Technical Institute (Pinellas Park)
STI teaches phlebotomy and patient care assistant diplomas and short courses such as CNA exam prep ($329; day, evening or weekend), 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 →Ultimate Medical Academy (Clearwater and Tampa)
UMA teaches mostly online, but its Clearwater campus runs blended clinical medical assistant, patient care technician, phlebotomy and dental assistant with expanded functions programs. Florida’s Commission for Independent Education reports 84.73% completion and 64.53% placement at Clearwater for 2024-25, and UMA takes federal aid under a provisional agreement that requires a letter of credit.
- Length
- 4 months (phlebotomy) to 20 months (dental associate degree); most diplomas about 11 to 12 months
- Accredited
- ABHES; CAHIIM (health information management)
- Federal aid
- Yes, under a provisional agreement that runs to March 2027
Cost: $475 a credit for online programs and Clearwater associate degrees; Clearwater diploma prices are in the catalog only
View school profile →No schools on this page match. Try another trade, see Orlando trade schools, or see all Florida trade schools.
Kaplan Real Estate Education (formerly Bob Hogue School of Real Estate), based in St. Petersburg, sells Florida real estate license courses, mostly online, from $269 for the 63-hour sales associate course. Saint Leo University (Tampa and Spring Hill), Strayer University (Tampa) and Nova Southeastern University (Clearwater) have sites here but are universities rather than trade schools.
We have not yet profiled St. Petersburg College, Pasco-Hernando State College, Hillsborough County Public Schools’ technical colleges or the area’s union apprenticeships.
- Price the public colleges first. Pinellas Technical College estimates $8,064 in all for welding, against $34,450 for a private welding degree on this page.
- 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 nursing pass rates by campus. Pinellas Technical College’s St. Petersburg practical nursing graduates passed at 54.05% in early 2026, against 100% at Clearwater.
- Ask for completion rates as well as pass rates. 32% of STC Tampa’s surgical technician starters graduated, and Rasmussen says 18% to 50% of ADN students finish on time.
- Check accreditation and aid. Northbridge is on accreditor probation; Florida Trade Academy, the CDL schools, Dental Assisting Institute and Southern Technical Institute are not accredited and take no federal aid.
More in Florida: Orlando trade schools · All Florida trade schools
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | Why they may fit |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-cost route | Pinellas Technical College; Hillsborough College | $2.92 a clock hour at PTC; $104.39 a credit at Hillsborough College, whose apprenticeships charge no classroom tuition |
| Electrician | PTC (1,200 hours, $5,610); Hillsborough College (four-year apprenticeship); Florida Trade Academy (24 weeks); STC Tampa (10 months, $18,900); Northbridge Tampa | A county journeyman license comes after years of work |
| HVAC | PTC (750 hours, about $4,100); STC Brandon (10 months, $20,900); Northbridge Tampa; Florida Trade Academy | EPA 608 certification is needed to handle refrigerant |
| Plumbing | PTC St. Petersburg (1,080 hours, $5,247); Hillsborough College (apprenticeship); Florida Trade Academy | A state plumbing contractor license comes after years of work |
| Welding | PTC (1,050 hours, $8,064); Hillsborough College (1,050 hours); STC Tampa (AAS, $34,450) | Florida does not license welders; employers test them |
| Automotive, diesel or marine | PTC (automotive $12,039; collision $10,061; marine $13,817); Hillsborough College (automotive, about $9,233) | ASE and manufacturer certifications |
| Aircraft mechanic | National Aviation Academy (14 months, $41,500) | Prepares for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificates |
| Truck driver (CDL) | PTC St. Petersburg ($3,332); SAGE Plant City ($5,450); Roadmaster Tampa ($7,535) | Class A CDL from the state after the knowledge and skills tests |
| Registered nurse | Hillsborough College (85.88% NCLEX-RN in 2024); Arizona College (BSN, 88.57%); Rasmussen (ADN, 76.51% and 82.14%); Northbridge Tampa | Compare each campus’s latest Board of Nursing results |
| Practical nurse (LPN) | PTC ($8,427); Rasmussen ($27,149; 93.94% and 89.66%); ATA Spring Hill ($36,231; 86.89%); Northbridge Tampa | PTC St. Petersburg’s recent quarterly pass rates were far below its Clearwater campus |
| Nursing assistant or patient care | Southern Technical Institute (CNA exam prep, $329); UMA (patient care technician) | Florida CNA exam; patient care technician is not a licensed job in Florida |
| Dental or medical assisting | Dental Assisting Institute (10 weeks, $2,990); PTC (dental, CODA, $6,177); Hillsborough College (dental, CODA, about $7,500); ATA; Concorde; STC; UMA; Northbridge | Florida does not license dental assistants; expanded duties and X-ray training count |
| Imaging, surgical or respiratory | Hillsborough College; Concorde Tampa; STC Tampa; Keiser Clearwater; Rasmussen Central Pasco; PTC (surgical technology, $6,690) | Check programmatic accreditation (JRCERT, CAAHEP, CoARC) at your campus |
| Pharmacy technician | Concorde (7 months); Northbridge Tampa (8 months) | Florida Board of Pharmacy registration |
| EMT, fire or police | Hillsborough College (EMT, paramedic, police, corrections and fire academies); PTC St. Petersburg (EMT, $1,661) | Florida EMT certification after the NREMT exam |
| Cosmetology, barbering or massage | PTC (cosmetology $7,552; barbering $5,705); Empire Tampa; Be Aveda; Paul Mitchell Tampa; Cortiva St. Petersburg (massage $14,250) | Florida cosmetology license after 1,200 hours; barbers 900 |
| Personal trainer | NPTI Florida Tampa ($10,500, 18 weeks) | Florida does not license personal trainers |
| IT and networking | PTC ($4,737 to $5,023); Hillsborough College; Keiser | CompTIA certifications such as A+, Network+ and Security+ |
| Culinary arts | PTC ($7,289); Hillsborough College (Culinary Management AS, ACF-accredited) | ServSafe and ACF credentials |
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 | Hillsborough College | $104.39 a credit (Florida residents); $379.61 (non-residents); $78.98 per vocational credit | October 2026 |
| Public technical college | PTC phlebotomy; Class A CDL; electricity; welding; practical nursing; marine service | $1,082; $3,332; $5,610; $8,064; $8,427; $13,817 (resident totals) | 2026-27 |
| Apprenticeships | Hillsborough College (eight trades) | No tuition for classroom instruction; apprentices buy tools and books | October 2026 |
| Dental assisting | Dental Assisting Institute; PTC; Hillsborough College; ATA | $2,990; $6,177; about $7,500; $17,641 | 2026; 2026-27; October 2026; July 2026 |
| Truck driving | PTC; SAGE; Roadmaster | $3,332; $5,450; $7,535 | 2026-27; 2024-25; October 2025 |
| Aviation maintenance | National Aviation Academy A&P; with avionics | $41,500; $62,250 | 2026-27 |
| Trade diplomas and degrees | STC electrical diploma; HVAC diploma; welding AAS | $18,900; $20,900; $34,450 | 2026-27 |
| Beauty and massage | Cortiva nails; PTC cosmetology; Cortiva massage; Empire cosmetology | $3,995; $7,552; $14,250; $19,388 to $19,429 | June 2026; 2026-27; June 2026; September 2026 |
| Personal training | NPTI | $10,500 | 2026-27 |
| Practical nursing | PTC; Rasmussen; ATA | $8,427; $27,149; $36,231 | 2026-27; 2026-27; July 2026 |
| Registered nursing | Rasmussen ADN; Rasmussen BSN; Arizona College BSN | $55,673; $83,805; $98,160 tuition | 2026-27 |
| Per-semester school | Keiser | $12,408 per full-time semester | Fall 2025 |
Concorde, Northbridge, Be Aveda, Paul Mitchell and Florida Trade Academy publish no current program prices we could quote, so ask for them in writing. Non-residents pay about four times the resident rate at Pinellas Technical College and more than three times at Hillsborough College.
Paying for training
- Federal aid: 16 of the 21 schools listed take Pell Grants or federal loans through the FAFSA. Florida Trade Academy, Roadmaster, SAGE, Dental Assisting Institute and Southern Technical Institute take none; PTC’s St. Petersburg campus offers Pell Grants but no federal loans; and UMA takes aid under a provisional agreement.
- Florida aid: Hillsborough College lists Bright Futures, the Florida Student Assistance Grant and the Florida First Responders Scholarship; PTC accepts Bright Futures and Florida Prepaid for tuition; UMA lists FSAG and Bright Futures.
- Local funding: NAA lists WIOA funding through CareerSource and Hillsborough Education Foundation scholarships of $500 to $20,000; St. Pete Works EDGE funds PTC’s CDL and drone training for young adults in some South St. Petersburg zip codes.
- Veterans: Hillsborough College is approved for veterans’ training, PTC accepts the Post-9/11 GI Bill and VR&E, and NAA, NPTI, Keiser and UMA accept the GI Bill.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works in Tampa Bay, how long training takes, what it pays and which license you need. Pay is the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 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
- 24 weeks (Florida Trade Academy pre-apprenticeship); 1,200 hours (PTC Electricity); 10 months (STC diploma); four years (Hillsborough College apprenticeship)
- Tampa Bay median pay
- $57,450 (electricians)
- License
- County journeyman license; state certified electrical contractor license from the Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board
Schools on this page: Pinellas Technical College (Electricity at both campuses, and electrician apprenticeships at Clearwater), Hillsborough College (electrician apprenticeship), Florida Trade Academy, Southern Technical College, Tampa and Northbridge University, Tampa.
Hillsborough College’s apprenticeships need a sponsoring employer; classroom instruction is free, but apprentices buy their own tools and books. STC’s electrical pages name no license. Sources: Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board; our school profiles.
HVAC, plumbing, 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 (PTC HVAC/R); 1,080 hours (PTC plumbing); 10 months (STC HVAC diploma); 1,050 hours (PTC and Hillsborough College 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 PTC, STC Brandon, Northbridge Tampa and Florida Trade Academy; plumbing at PTC St. Petersburg, Hillsborough College (apprenticeship) and Florida Trade Academy; welding at PTC, Hillsborough College and STC Tampa; carpentry through Hillsborough College’s apprenticeship and Florida Trade Academy.
Both PTC campuses are AWS accredited test facilities, and the AWS Certified Welder test costs extra. Florida Trade Academy’s HVAC page does not mention EPA 608 certification. 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 (PTC automotive); 1,800 hours, about 16 months (Hillsborough College automotive); 14 months (NAA A&P); 320 hours (PTC Class A CDL); 160 hours (SAGE and Roadmaster)
- Tampa Bay median pay
- $47,880 auto technicians; $61,060 diesel technicians; $54,470 marine mechanics; $71,510 aircraft mechanics; $50,560 truck drivers
- License
- None for auto or marine work; FAA mechanic certificates; Class A CDL
Schools on this page: Pinellas Technical College (automotive and collision; diesel and marine at Clearwater; CDL at St. Petersburg), Hillsborough College (automotive, collision, diesel and heavy equipment at its Ybor City Campus Training Center), National Aviation Academy, SAGE and Roadmaster.
NAA’s A&P price leaves out the FAA exams, about $2,100 by its own estimate. SAGE and Roadmaster take no federal aid and publish no Florida pass rates. 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
- 10 weeks (dental assisting) to nine semesters (Arizona College BSN)
- Tampa Bay median pay
- $85,470 RN; $62,490 LPN; $37,470 nursing assistant; $44,480 medical assistant; $46,890 dental assistant; $95,870 dental hygienist; $43,370 pharmacy technician; $39,220 phlebotomist; $77,430 radiologic technologist; $82,120 sonographer; $81,630 respiratory therapist; $62,910 surgical technologist
- 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 Hillsborough College, PTC (practical nursing), Arizona College, ATA Spring Hill (practical nursing), Rasmussen and Northbridge Tampa; assisting and allied health at most of them and at Concorde, Dental Assisting Institute, Keiser, STC, Southern Technical Institute and UMA.
PTC’s St. Petersburg NCLEX-PN rates were 60.87% and 54.05% in the first quarters of 2025 and 2026, and its surgical technology program is not CAAHEP-accredited. Rasmussen’s radiologic technology program is JRCERT-accredited at Fort Myers and Ocala but not, by its own list, at Central Pasco. Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus, home to most of its health programs, is the site of a planned Rays ballpark, so ask where classes will meet. 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
- One semester (Hillsborough College EMT, 12 credits); 300 hours (PTC EMT); three semesters (paramedic); 770 hours, about 26 weeks (law enforcement academy)
- License
- NREMT exam and Florida EMT or paramedic certification; Florida firefighter certification; CJSTC law enforcement certification
Schools on this page: Hillsborough College (EMT at Dale Mabry, Plant City and SouthShore; paramedic; the law enforcement, corrections and fire academies; a Fire Science AS) and Pinellas Technical College (EMT at St. Petersburg, $1,661).
Hillsborough College’s corrections academy is designed for Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office cadets, and its law enforcement academy has limited places with extensive screening. Sources: Florida Department of Health; our school profiles.
Cosmetology, barbering, 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 (cosmetology at PTC, Empire and Be Aveda); 900 hours (PTC barbering); 600 hours, about 8 months (Cortiva massage); 18 weeks (NPTI personal training)
- Tampa Bay median pay
- $29,520 hairstylists and cosmetologists; $43,920 skincare specialists; $51,470 massage therapists; $45,490 fitness trainers
- License
- Florida cosmetology, barber or specialist license; massage therapist license after the MBLEx; none for personal trainers
Schools on this page: Pinellas Technical College (barbering at both campuses; cosmetology, facials and nails at St. Petersburg), Empire Beauty School, Tampa, Be Aveda, Brandon and Clearwater, Paul Mitchell The School, Tampa, Cortiva Institute, St. Petersburg and NPTI Florida, Tampa.
Be Aveda and Paul Mitchell publish no Tampa Bay prices, and NPTI’s diploma names no outside certification exam. Sources: Board of Cosmetology; s. 476.114; 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 (PTC Computer Systems and IT); 1,050 hours (PTC Network Support Services); 1,110 hours (PTC Medical Coder/Biller, online)
- Tampa Bay median pay
- $61,050 computer support specialists; $76,160 network support specialists; $50,020 medical records specialists
- Certification
- Industry certifications; none required by the state
Schools on this page: IT at PTC, Hillsborough College and Keiser; media at PTC (digital media) and Hillsborough College (broadcasting, game design); culinary arts at PTC and Hillsborough College; billing and coding at PTC, ATA and UMA (online) and Keiser.
UMA’s online students completed at 56% in 2024-25, against 85% at its Clearwater campus. Sources: our school profiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest trade school in Tampa Bay?
Pinellas Technical College charges Florida residents $2.92 a clock hour in 2026-27 and estimates whole-program totals of $1,082 for phlebotomy, $3,332 for a Class A CDL and $5,610 for electricity. Hillsborough College charges $104.39 a credit, and its eight apprenticeships charge no tuition for classroom instruction.
How do I become an electrician in Tampa?
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. Pinellas Technical College teaches a 1,200-hour Electricity program ($5,610), Hillsborough College runs a four-year electrician apprenticeship with an employer, and Florida Trade Academy a 24-week pre-apprenticeship.
Where can I study nursing in Tampa Bay?
Hillsborough College, Arizona College of Nursing, Rasmussen and Northbridge teach registered nursing, and Pinellas Technical College, Rasmussen, ATA Spring Hill and Northbridge teach practical nursing. Recent first-time pass rates include 85.88% for Hillsborough College’s ADN (2024), 88.57% for Arizona College Tampa (2025) and 93.94% for Rasmussen Central Pasco’s practical nursing (2025); Pinellas Technical College’s St. Petersburg practical nursing rate was 54.05% in early 2026.
Where can I get a CDL in Tampa Bay?
Pinellas Technical College’s St. Petersburg campus teaches a 320-hour Class A course for about $3,332 and tests on site. SAGE in Plant City charges $5,450 for 160 hours including the physical and road test, and Roadmaster in Tampa $7,535; neither takes federal aid.
Where can I train as an aircraft mechanic in Tampa Bay?
National Aviation Academy in Clearwater teaches a 14-month, 2,000-hour program for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificates for $41,500 (2026-27), day or evening, and a 21-month version with avionics for $62,250. The FAA exams cost about $2,100 more.
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked. Pay figures are Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 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.