Trade Schools
With expected job growth of 5 percent from 2020 to 2030, the demand for HVAC installers and mechanics in the United States will continue to increase.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage reported by HVAC installers and mechanics in Florida was $46,850.
Salaries and job opportunities vary depending on education, location, and construction activity.
Before being ready for employment you will need to complete some specialized training and acquire a certificate, diploma, or degree in the field.
This page includes information about the top training programs in Florida.
1South Florida Academy of AC
About the School
South Florida Academy of AC offers an HVAC training program that allows students to graduate in as few as four weeks.
Weekend and weekday classes are available.
Courses Offered
Instruction focuses on hands-on training and students receive their EPA Certification, EPA Card, and a trade school diploma in Residential and Light Commercial HVAC or HVAC Maintenance technician.
For the Diploma in Residential and, Light Commercial students need 185 hours while the HVAC Maintenance Technician program includes a 60-hour HVAC course.
The 60-hour Maintenance Technician class takes place on Saturdays and Sundays for three weekends.
The 185-hour class is held for four weeks Monday through Friday.
South Florida Academy of AC is licensed through the Commission for Independent Education.
The Academy also offers a self-employment program for those who are ready to be their boss and need help in the process of setting up a business.
Contact Information
- Address: 3343 W Commercial Blvd, Ft Lauderdale FL 33309
- Phone: 561-702-1943
- Website: https://www.sfaac.com
2DMAC Tech Trade School
About the School
DMAC Tech Trade School offers tech trade training in a variety of fields.
The programs are available online and can be completed by students at their own pace, from the comfort of their homes.
Courses Offered
The school’s catalog includes the following Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning programs:
Basic HVAC Certification and Training- this self-paced course costs $1,990, includes 30 lessons, and can be completed in four weeks.
Advanced HVAC Certification and Training- a fully online program that costs $2,990 and includes 31 lessons
Premium HVAC Certification and Training- a fully online course that costs $3,990 and includes 31 lessons
EPA 608 Universal Certification, HVAC Excellence, and Nate Certification study and exams are included in the courses.
A high school diploma, high school certificate, or equivalent is recommended before applying for employment.
Those interested can enroll by filling out a form on the school’s website.
The courses cover topics such as:
- HVAC Electrical fundamentals
- Electrical Safety
- Formulas
- Components
- Maintenance
- Refrigeration Technology
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: DMAC Tech Trade School Orlando & USA: 15224 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32826
- Phone: 407-285-1288
- Website: https://dmaceducation.online
3Southern Technical College
About the School
Southern Technical College offers training programs in a variety of high-demand fields.
Training is available at seven campuses in Florida.
Courses Offered
The College’s catalog includes an Associate Degree and Diploma programs in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning/Refrigeration.
HVAC training is available in Auburndale, Brandon, Orlando, and Sanford.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment.
Students enrolled in this program learn how to install and service residential and light commercial air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration systems.
The Associate Degree program can be completed in 18 months while the HVAC Diploma program is 10-months long.
The school offers flexible scheduling with day and evening classes available.
Training focuses on hands-on learning under the supervision of experienced instructors.
Classes are kept small so each student receives the attention they need.
Southern Technical College, Orlando, Auburndale, Brandon, and Sanford campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges to award associate’s degrees and diplomas.
The Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, and Tampa campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and diplomas.
Contact Information
- Address: 2910 S. Orlando Drive, Sanford, FL 32773
- Phone: (877) 347-5492
- Website: https://www.southerntech.edu
4South Florida Institute of Technology
About the School
South Florida Institute of Technology offers a variety of academic programs designed to help students prepare for careers in the health, business, and construction industries.
The institute offers training in Hialeah and Miami.
South Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
Its catalog includes a Refrigeration & AC Repair Technician program designed to train students for entry-level positions in the field.
The curriculum includes theoretical and hands-on classes in installation, design, maintenance, and repair of residential and commercial equipment.
This program includes classes such as:
- Fundamentals of Electricity
- Principles of Applied Electricity
- Electric Motors
- Air Conditioning Systems
- Commercial Refrigeration
- Domestic Refrigeration
- HVAC Blueprint and Project Estimator
- And more
Applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent.
Students who don’t have a diploma or GED, but are beyond the age of compulsory age of education must pass the Ability to Benefit exam with a minimum of 14/50 for the Scholastic Level IV entrance exam.
The total cost for this program is approximately $9,940 and includes tuition, registration fee, books, and supplies.
Contact Information
- Address: 720 NW 27 Ave 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33125
- Phone: (305) 649-2050
- Website: https://www.sf-institute.com
5Florida Education Institute
About the School
Florida Education Institute helps students prepare for new careers in a variety of in-demand industries.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
There are no application deadlines or fees.
Classes start every three to four weeks, depending on the program of study.
Courses Offered
The Insitute’s catalog includes a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration program.
This program is lab-based and almost every class allows students to train and work on actual equipment.
The lab equips students with experience in the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of HVAC/R equipment.
Students also learn how to:
- Repair or replace defective air conditioning and refrigeration equipment and components
- Use blueprints or design specifications to install and repair HVAC/R systems
- Install electrical wiring and controls and test them for proper operation
- Determine systems’ energy use and make efficiency improvement recommendations
- And many other skills
Contact Information
- Address: 5818 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33144
- Phone: 305-444-1515
- Website: https://fei.edu
6Florida Technical College
About the School
Florida Technical College offers a variety of career training programs at its Pembroke Pines campus.
The campus includes large classroom settings, computer and medical labs, a student resource center, a student lounge, administrative offices, and a movie theater.
Florida Technical College is an academic unit of NUC University.
NUC University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Florida Technical College is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education.
Courses Offered
The following HVAC programs are available:
- HVAC/R with PLC- this program covers the knowledge and skills needed to perform maintenance, installation, and repairs on heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning systems as well as how to work with programmable logic controllers
- HVAC/R Diploma- a program that equips students with skills needed for entry-level positions in the field
Students can also earn the following related certifications:
- EPA 608 Universal
- OSHA 10
The HVAC/R with PLC program is 15 months long and includes 1,200 total hours: 640 hours of lectures and 560 hours of lab work.
The HVAC/R diploma program can be completed in 12 months and includes 960 total contact hours: 520 for lectures and 440 for lab training.
Contact Information
- Address: 12520 Pines Blvd. Pembroke Pines, FL 33027
- Phone: (844) 332-3409
- Website: https://www.ftccollege.edu
7Withlacoochee Technical College
About the School
An adult post-secondary institution, Withlacoochee Technical College offers hands-on training programs that prepare students for careers in a variety of fields.
The College serves adults and high school students who are at least 16 years of age.
The training programs focus on hands-on practice in state-of-the-art facilities using high-tech equipment.
Most programs are designed to be completed in one school year.
High school students usually spend part of the day at their home high school and part of the day at WTC.
Most post-secondary career and technical education programs start in January and August.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
The enrollment process includes the following steps:
- Completing an application
- Paying an application fee
- Testing and counseling- if required
- Paying the registration fee
Withlacoochee Technical College is fully accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
The College’s catalog includes a Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration training program.
The program focuses on electrical theory and application, component identification, system troubleshooting, fabrication of duct systems, line sets, electrical circuits, and more.
The program prepares students with the skills needed to become EPA Certified.
Contact Information
- Address: 1201 W. Main Street, Inverness, FL 34450
- Phone: 352-726-2430
- Website: https://www.wtcollege.org
8Orange Technical College
About the School
The Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration program offered by the Orange Technical College can be completed in as few as nine months by full-time students.
Orange Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
This course is available at the College’s South and West campuses.
The program includes 750 hours and costs approximately $5,120.
Students learn planning, management, technical and production skills, as well as entry-level engineering design of HVAC technology, labor and community issues, health, safety, environmental issues, and other related skills.
Trainees need an academic skill level of grade 9 in reading and grade 10 in math.
Students are ready to take employment-ready exams in the following fields:
- Air Conditioning/Electrical
- EPA Section 608 Certification
- Heat Pump
- Light Commercial Refrigeration
- 4-10 A Safety Certification
A three-year apprenticeship program is also available through the Air Conditioning Contractor’s Association of Central Florida.
Apprentices earn a salary while learning the skills needed for a career in the HVAC field.
After completing the apprenticeship, trainees are accepted by the industry as journeymen.
Contact Information
- South Campus: 2900 W Oak Ridge Rd, Orlando, FL 32809
- West Campus: 955 E Story Rd, Winter Garden, FL 34787
- Phone: 407-317-3212
- Website: https://www.orangetechcollege.net
9Cruz Institute
About the School
Cruz Institute provides training programs for those who want to start rewarding careers as HVAC technicians or electricians.
Its Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Heating Technology program covers planning, management, finance, technical and production skills related to this field, as well as the principles of technology, health and safety, environmental issues, and many other topics that prepare students for certification and employment in the field.
The program tuition includes EPA 608 testing which takes place on-site.
Upon passing this test, students can find employment as Certified Technicians.
This certification is required in any job that involves working with refrigerants.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older before starting training
- Exhibiting the ability to work safely in environments that are sometimes dangerous
- A high school diploma or GED is highly recommended
Those interested can apply through the school’s website.
The application process takes between two and five days.
Contact Information
- Address: 1272 S John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34741
- Phone: 407-530-5951
- Website: https://cruzinstitute.com
10George Stone Technical College
About the School
George Stone Technical College offers a wide range of career technical education programs that prepare students for new careers in a year.
The campus is located two miles south of Interstate I-10, exit 7.
George Stone Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
George Stone Technical College catalog includes a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration program that prepares students for employment in the field.
Students gain an understanding of heating, air-conditioning, refrigerants, and ventilation industries while also learning about planning, management, finance, and technical and production skills.
The program also covers the underlying principles of technology, health, safety, and environmental issues, among other topics.
Before leaving school, students should obtain EPA certification if they want to work with refrigerants.
The curriculum includes the following courses:
- Introduction to HVAC/R
- HVAC/R Fundamentals
- HVAC/R Service Practices
- HVAC/R Intermediate Service Practices
- HVAC/R Advanced Service Practices or HVAC/R Advanced Commercial and Industrial Service Practices
The program includes 1,350 hours in total.
The program costs $4,260 approximately in total for Florida residents, which includes tuition, books, and supplies.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Contact Information
- Address: 2400 Longleaf Dr, Pensacola, FL 32526
- Phone: (850) 941-6200
- Website: https://www.georgestonecenter.com
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 1,210 | $49,010 | $23.56 | $63,600 | $31,780 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 440 | $48,900 | $23.51 | $62,960 | $36,300 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 740 | $44,710 | $21.5 | $58,120 | $29,510 |
| Gainesville, FL | 460 | $46,140 | $22.18 | $59,680 | $29,490 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 170 | $43,290 | $20.81 | $57,430 | $31,040 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 2,320 | $50,560 | $24.31 | $67,010 | $33,660 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 820 | $48,030 | $23.09 | $63,700 | $35,870 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 9,130 | $50,410 | $24.23 | $68,130 | $31,380 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 760 | $52,980 | $25.47 | $86,920 | $31,470 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 1,640 | $48,410 | $23.28 | $62,890 | $34,720 |
| Ocala, FL | 390 | $44,420 | $21.36 | $58,250 | $30,960 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 4,240 | $50,440 | $24.25 | $71,810 | $32,120 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 860 | $47,730 | $22.95 | $61,380 | $35,250 |
| Panama City, FL | 570 | $51,570 | $24.79 | $76,780 | $32,910 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 840 | $47,900 | $23.03 | $61,520 | $34,320 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 510 | $47,430 | $22.8 | $62,340 | $31,810 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 300 | $47,540 | $22.86 | $62,200 | $36,090 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 300 | $47,580 | $22.88 | $63,100 | $31,150 |
| Sebring, FL | 130 | $44,910 | $21.59 | $58,040 | $32,660 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 520 | $44,570 | $21.43 | $58,940 | $30,580 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 5,830 | $49,170 | $23.64 | $62,310 | $36,700 |
| The Villages, FL | 110 | $46,030 | $22.13 | $59,970 | $35,020 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list, it’s time to continue the research and decide if this is the right path for you and what school will prepare you for employment in the field.
This is an important step, so make sure you have information about all the factors that are relevant to you.
