Occupational Training
Lake Wales is served by two technical centers, Travis Vocational Technical Center and Ridge Vocational Technical Center. They both provide standard training in most skilled occupations and specialized training customized to employers' needs.
Traviss Vocational Technical Center
Traviss Vo-tech Center, fully accredited, has provided Polk County with quality technical and vocational training for more than 25 years. Travis offers 45 occupational courses in regular programs with day and evening classes. In addition to traditional programs, Traviss provides customized training through programs taught in the short course style either on campus or at the job site.
Programs include:
Accounting
Architectural Drafting
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Mech's
Auto Repair
Business Ed
Carpentry
Child Guidance
Computer Applications
Data Processing
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Drafting
Diesel Mechanics
Electricity
Electronics
Health Care
Machine Shop
Plumbing
Sheet Metal
Welding
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Ridge Vocational Technical Center
Ridge Vo-tech Center has been in existence for 17 years and operates utilizing an individualized competency-based approach of teaching traditional core courses and industry service programs. Ridge offers plant training on campus or at the job site.
Programs include:
Accounting Operations
Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating
Automotive Technology
Automotive Service Technology
Business Software Application
Commercial & Industrial Electricity
Commercial Foods & Culinary Arts
Computer Applications
Computer Programming
Cosmetology
Cosmetology Specialist-Nails |
Data Entry
Electronics
Marine Mechanics Technology
Massage Therapy
Office Support Technology
Residential & Commercial Carpentry
Truck/Bus Mechanics
Heavy Truck Driving
Welding
Word Processing
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Polk County Workforce Development Board, Inc.
The Polk County Workforce Development Board (PWBD) is a private, non-profit organization established in July 1999 as a result of the Workforce Florida Act. The Board oversees the planning, operation and finances for welfare reform and federal job training programs which include the following progams:
Welfare-to-Work
School-to-Work |
One-Stop Career Centers
High Skill/High Wage Jobs
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The Board itself consists of 40 dedicated volunteers appointed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. The Board has over $10 million dollars allocated for workforce preparation and related activities. For new and expanding businesses, training funds are available for On-the-Job Training and Customized Training. Additional training funds are available through grants awarded by Enterprise Florida.
Education
Polk Community College
Winter Haven & Lakeland, Florida
Polk Community College is a two year accredited school which serves residents of Lake Wales and the Southeast Region on two campuses. The school provides specialized company-specific training such as IS 9000 and high skilled training for employees. Specifically, the College administers the High Wage/High Skill Training Program. The State of Florida has set aside up to $5 million to be spent on high wage/high skill training specific to each company that qualifies. Employees to be trained must average $11.50 per hour.
Accounting
Automotive Technology
Business Administration
Computer Science
Economics
Finance
Health Information Technology |
Marketing Management
Multimedia Technology
Nursing
Office Systems Technology
Power Generation & Process Technology
Quick Response Training Grants
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Warner Southern College and Webber College
Warner and Webber College are in the back yard of Lake Wales, just 10 minutes away to be exact. Both are four year institutions with accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Warner Southern College
Lake Wales, Florida
Warner provides excellence in Christian higher education through a curriculum and community that consciously integrates and models Christian faith and scholarship. The three largest fields of study are: Business, Education, and Religion.
Webber International College
Babson Park, Florida
Webber offers the Associate, Bachelor, and the newly formed Master's degree in Business Administration in the following areas of concentration:
Accounting
Finance
Retail Marketing
Marketing |
Management
Hotel & Restaurant Management
International Travel & Tourism
Sports & Club Management |
University of South Florida
Lakeland, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, Sarasota
Although based in Tampa, the University of South Florida has many campuses throughout Florida with one campus being as close as 30 minutes away in Lakeland. Undergraduate degrees are offered in more than 100 academic areas. For the graduate student there are two specialist programs, 87 master's and 22 doctoral programs
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