First responder training in Florida
133 first responder programs in 5 fields of public safety, with costs, results and funding that can make them free
52 schools offer these programs, and Florida has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 5 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.
First responder training covers the people who come when you call 911: EMT and paramedic classes, police and corrections academies and fire academies, along with criminal justice and fire science certificates and degrees. It also takes in security guard training.
All job training programs in Florida, every line of work
Accredited first responder schools in Florida, each school with its accreditor
First responder training by state, to compare Florida with other states
Compare first responder programs in Florida: cost, pay and results
48 programs at 30 schools
- Most cost
- $1,685 to $6,100
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $40,600
- Working 6 months later
- 86%
- Finished
- 80%
42 programs at 19 schools
- Most cost
- $1,869 to $3,384
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $58,400
- Working 6 months later
- 94%
- Finished
- 90%
28 programs at 23 schools
- Most cost
- $2,326 to $4,283
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $40,500
- Working 6 months later
- 89%
- Finished
- 86%
12 programs at 8 schools
- Most cost
- $3,412 to $18,050
- Earned a year, estimated
- about $38,600
- Working 6 months later
- 80%
- Finished
- 47%
3 programs at 3 schools
- Most cost
- Not enough data
- Earned a year, estimated
- Not reported
- Working 6 months later
- Not reported
- Finished
- Not enough data
Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Florida may offer more. How these figures are made
Other job training in Florida, by line of work
- IT certification programs429
- Trade school programs360
- Medical certification programs256
- Business and office training239
- Nursing and patient care programs235
- Allied health programs181
- Transportation and logistics training118
- Culinary and hospitality programs59
- Child care and social services training28
- Beauty school2
- All job training in Florida2,040
Programs approved in Florida in each line of work.
Where the Florida first responder numbers come from
Which Florida programs are counted?
Programs Florida approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).5 They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Florida offers.
What the figures for each field mean
Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).
Sources for the funding facts about first responder programs in Florida
Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources
- US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
- US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
- Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
- US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
- US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List