Florida Trade Academy

Every institution of higher education has a place and a purpose. Finding the right pathway for you is the key to your future, especially for those looking to enter the workforce for the first time or re-enter it once again. For many, that means looking for on the job vocational learning and technical training options that provide a more direct path toward a stronger and more sustainable paycheck.

Florida Trade Academy is a groundbreaking program offering trade education programs for career seekers and job changers.

Florida Trade Academy is a pre-apprenticeship program designed to prepare you with the hands-on training, practical skills and core courses needed to get started on a path toward career success and satisfaction in the trades. After completing a pre-apprenticeship program, you will be enrolled in a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) to receive your license and certification, as well as employed with a trade company in your favored field to “earn while you learn” and connect with employers to put your skills to work. The program will offer career-entry guidance and emphasize the importance of succeeding in school and in the workforce.

FTA is driven by its mission to close the skills gap that has become increasingly prevalent in the U.S. and to become a reliable resource for talent at a time when millions of jobs remain unfilled.

FTA’s certified programs are structured to reduce turnover, increase productivity, and lower recruitment cost, while keeping student loan debt to bare minimum.

A Program for Every Passion

ELECTRICAL

HVAC

PLUMBING

SHEET METAL

SPRINKLER FITTER

ROOFING

CARPENTRY

PIPE FITTING

Enter Florida Trade Academy

The product of a partnership between Livingstone Schools, Inc., and the Gulf Coast Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Florida Trade Academy (FTA) represents a new framework for apprenticeship studies and hands-on work experience in the state of Florida. Slated to be up-and-running for the 2022-23 academic school year, FTA is dedicated to helping employers and employees find common ground in their chosen fields.

A booming Florida economy demands for workers in skilled trades

Newly enrolled students will learn first-hand from professionals who know the jobs because they do the jobs every day.

No time or effort is wasted on educational elements that only look good on paper. You will spend your time learning real life, practical skills that will translate to your new career.

After preliminary coursework is completed, students transition into paid apprenticeships with ABC to complete the full program, graduating faster and with more immediate earning power than their four-year counterparts. Even better, as your capabilities increase, so do your wages.