Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved diesel mechanic programs in Florida

Quick answer

Diesel mechanic training in Florida is spread across 25 cities, with Orlando the largest at 4 locations.

VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 29 diesel mechanic training locations in Florida with 41 approved programs: 26 with school programs and 3 with apprenticeship or on-the-job training. 8 have a VA caution flag.

Before you enroll, open the VA profile to confirm the exact program, and ask the School Certifying Official to confirm your start date. [VA: Choosing a GI Bill approved school]

29 locations, by city

Wilton Simpson Technical College

Brooksville, FL
VA profile for Wilton Simpson Technical College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Diesel Systems Technician 1

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 21Accredited (national)Student complaints in VA data: 1

Florida Panhandle Technical College

Chipley, FL
VA profile for Florida Panhandle Technical College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Diesel Systems Technician 1
  • Diesel Systems Technician 2

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 35Accredited (national)

Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater

Clearwater, FL
VA profile for Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Diesel Systems Technician 1
  • Certificate: Diesel Systems Technician 2

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 102Accredited (national)

Star Center

Dania Beach, FL
VA profile for Star Center (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Private
  • Diesel Crossover Endorsement
  • Oicew Diesel Engine

GI Bill students (all programs): 5Not accredited (accreditation is not required for VA approval of many trade programs)

Fort Myers Technical College

Fort Myers, FL
VA profile for Fort Myers Technical College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Diesel Maintenance Technician

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 43Accredited (national)

Show all 29 locations

Traviss Technical College

Lakeland, FL
VA profile for Traviss Technical College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Diesel Systems Technician 1
  • Certificate: Diesel Systems Technician 2

VA caution flag: School placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring. The Department of Education has placed this school on Heightened Cash Monitoring because of financial or federal compliance issues. Learn more about Heightened Cash Monitoring

GI Bill students (all programs): 31Accredited (national)

Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College

Miami Lakes, FL
VA profile for Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Diesel Systems Technician

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 12Accredited (national)

Brewster Technical College

Tampa, FL
VA profile for Brewster Technical College (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program Public VA caution flag
  • Certificate: Diesel System Technician I

VA caution flag: School has an accreditation issue. This school's accreditation has been taken away and is under appeal, or the school has been placed on probation, because it didn't meet acceptable levels of quality. Learn more about this school's accreditation

GI Bill students (all programs): 8Accredited (national)

Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 24, 2026. School details come from VA's data file dated October 8, 2026. The list is sorted by city, then name. It isn't a ranking.

Common questions

How many GI Bill-approved diesel mechanic programs are in Florida?

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 41 approved programs at 29 locations in Florida as of October 24, 2026. That's about 5% of the 612 diesel mechanic locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 21 public colleges and technical schools, 4 for-profit schools, 3 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 1 private nonprofit school.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which cities in Florida have diesel mechanic programs?

By number of locations: Orlando (4), Tampa (2), Bradenton (1), Brooksville (1), Chipley (1), Clearwater (1) and 19 more cities.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Are there paid diesel mechanic apprenticeships in Florida that take the GI Bill?

Yes. 3 locations offer VA-approved on-the-job training in Florida (3 programs); 3 of them are registered apprenticeships. With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you're paid wages plus a monthly housing payment that steps down every six months.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]

Do any diesel mechanic schools in Florida have VA caution flags?

Yes. 8 locations have a VA caution flag. Each flag is shown on its listing in VA's wording. Read it before you enroll.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Other trades in Florida

← All Diesel Mechanic programs · Does the GI Bill cover diesel mechanic school?

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool data (ComparisonToolData.xlsx)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Choosing a GI Bill approved school”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.