Education & Training

Pinellas County has a diverse and growing workforce as a result of a strong foundation in education starting from Pinellas County Schools to Higher Education institutions such as St. Petersburg College, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus, Eckerd College, and a multitude of training and workforce programs. Enhanced educational opportunities for preparing students and educators for multiple career pathways are provided through organizations such as the Pinellas Education Foundation. Employers in Pinellas have all the programs and resources to meet talent needs of companies as industries and technologies grow and change.

Higher Education

Image of a bull statue from University of South Florida St. Petersburg, and the facade of a building for the Unviversity.

University of South Florida, St. Petersburg

Anchoring Florida’s High Tech Corridor, Pinellas County and Tampa Bay are home to the University of South Florida.  With 48,000 students and with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee, it is one of the largest universities in the nation and a growing powerhouse for research, rating in the top 50 for federal research expenditures. USF’s historic invitation in 2023 to join the Association of American Universities takes what many in Tampa Bay once considered a “best-kept secret” to an unprecedented new level. Joining the AAU is a tremendous milestone as it formalizes USF’s position as a leading research university.

Learn more about:
Degrees
Partnerships
Corporate Training & Continuing Education
Startup Support
Innovation Scholars Career Exploration
USF and Target Industries
Advanced Manufacturing
Business & Financial Services
Defense & Homeland Security
Life Sciences
Marine Sciences
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St. Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College works closely with the business community and continually updates industry-focused programs. The school’s enrollment tops 44,000, and it awards more than 5,000 Bachelors’ and Associates’ degrees annually. Its Associates’ Degree in Engineering Technology was the first in Florida and serves as a national model. Learn more about:

  • Connect with SPC Business Relationship Managers:
    SPC’s Business Relationship Managers (BRM) help make those connections with employers to understand their hiring needs and engage with them across the College, ranging from mentorship and internships to guest lecturing and advisory committees.
Image of University Robotics Lecture: Black Teacher Explain Engineering to Students. She Uses Interactive Whiteboard. Diverse Group of Young Engineers Listen in Class About Program Development for Robotic Arm.

Eckerd College

Eckerd College is a private college of liberal arts and sciences with over 2,000 students and 39 majors with pre-professional programs in Engineering & Applied Science, Pre-Law, Pre-Health (pre-dentistry, pre-med, and pre-veterinary science). The college has more National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings scholars than any other college in the country.

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Specialty Programs

  • Keiser University in Clearwater, Florida, offers career-focused degree programs in the fields of business, criminal justice, education, general studies, health care, information technology, legal studies, nursing, psychology and interdisciplinary studies
Image of medical students standing and talking in front of Nova University in Clearwater, Florida.

Medical Schools & Healthcare Education

Career & Technical Education

Engineer Training Apprentices On CNC Machine.

Industry-driven Programs

  • Pinellas Technical College offers students first-rate career and technical education in over 40 career areas and about 60 programs to nearly 5,000 full-time students.  Continuing education courses and commercial training services are offered through the Industry Services Department.
  • National Aviation Academy (NAA) is an aviation maintenance school that brings innovation to meet the demands of today’s workforce, with certification for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanics. 
  • AmSkills Inc., provides workforce training and apprenticeships primarily for the Manufacturing Industry. Programs are offered with a focus on recruitment and training in high school, as well as bootcamps, training classes, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.

K-12 Education

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Pinellas County Schools

Pinellas County Schools is an award-winning district that is the largest employer in Pinellas County, the eighth largest district in the state and the 28th largest district in the nation.

Programs offered include:

  • Career Academies offering national/industry certifications
  • Fundamental Schools
  • Magnet Programs in STEAM
  • Charter Schools
  • International Baccalaureate Programs for gifted students
  • School choice

The area is also home to more than 120 private & faith-based K-12 schools with religious, preparatory, military, boarding and gifted education.