How do I find a registered apprenticeship program in Florida?

Use the free tool — Apprenticeship Finder FL

What is a registered apprenticeship?

A registered apprenticeship pays a wage from day one. The wage rises on a schedule as you gain skills, and you finish with a national credential. This is according to Apprenticeship.gov — how it works.

Where to find real programs in Florida

This guide does not invent program names, sponsors, addresses, phone numbers, start dates, or wages. Here are the types of registered apprenticeships found in Florida:

Electrical JATC programs
Plumbers & pipefitters programs
ABC Florida chapters
Florida college-based programs
Employer-sponsored programs

To find and verify an actual program, use these official directories:

Apprenticeship.gov Finder — the federal finder lists registered programs by trade and location.
Florida Department of Education — Apprenticeship — registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in Florida, by county.

What you'll be paid while training

Registered apprentices are paid from day one, on a wage schedule that rises with each step. Starting pay commonly runs around 40–60% of the journey rate. This guide never states a specific dollar wage for a program — ask the sponsor directly what the starting wage is before you apply.

How long it takes

Typical registered programs run 1 to 5 years, depending on the trade:

Electrical and plumbing: commonly 4–5 years
HVAC: commonly 3–5 years
Many healthcare and IT programs: commonly 1–2 years

Check the sponsor's own listing for the exact term — this varies by program.

Your situation

A criminal record does not bar most apprenticeships. Some sponsors have drug-testing or driver's-license requirements, and some jobsites — utilities or federal work, for example — run background checks. Ask the sponsor what applies to their program.

If you are a veteran, GI Bill benefits can pay a monthly housing allowance while you are in a registered apprenticeship. See VA — On-the-job training & apprenticeships.

Registered programs must follow equal-opportunity rules. Sponsors often have pre-apprenticeship or outreach programs for women and Spanish-speaking applicants — ask about these when you contact a sponsor.

Your county's CareerSource center can help with applications, testing, and training funds. See CareerSource Florida.

Strengthen your application

Apprenticeship programs are competitive. Nothing here can promise you admission or a job. A math refresher, an OSHA-10 card, a pre-apprenticeship, or simply showing up in person to the sponsor can all make an application stronger.

What to do next

This is general information, not career, legal, or financial advice, and it can be wrong. Verify every program, wage, and start date with the sponsor, on Apprenticeship.gov, or on the Florida Department of Education list before you rely on it.

The free tool reads your own county, the trades you're curious about, and your situation — no account, nothing stored — and gives you the registered apprenticeships likely to fit, roughly what they pay while you train, what to have ready to apply, and the official directories to check.

The full version — $9

Application pack · One applicant: full match plus the personal statement, checklist, prep plan and call script

Use the free tool

Apprenticeship Finder FL gives general guidance about registered apprenticeships in Florida; it can be wrong, and it is not career, legal or financial advice. It names program types, not specific programs — verify on Apprenticeship.gov and the Florida Department of Education list, or with your county CareerSource center. Nothing you paste is stored.