Florida has made one of the largest state-level investments in CDL training capacity in the country — a real, named, dollar-specific commitment across 5 state colleges. This guide covers exactly where that money went, how CareerSource funding actually works in Florida (the process order matters), and named programs with real contacts.
Through the Job Growth Grant Fund and the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant (PCOG), the state directed real, specific funding to expand CDL training capacity at named institutions:
| College | Funding | Capacity Added | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broward College | $2.6 million | Tuition funded for up to 142 students; leads the initiative | South Florida |
| Northwest Florida State College | $1.5 million | Up to 250 students in year one | Panhandle (DeFuniak Springs) |
| Valencia College | $1.3 million | Up to 200 students in year one | Central Florida (Orlando) |
| State College of Florida | $1M+ (via PCOG) | Existing program expansion | Southwest Florida |
| Daytona State College | Included in $500,000 WIOA allocation | Tuition funding via local workforce boards | East Central Florida |
This is a detail most funding guides get backwards. In several other states, you secure funding approval before enrolling. In Florida, CareerSource typically works the opposite way for CDL programs:
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Apply and get accepted to a CDL program | Programs like Indian River State College require this first |
| 2. Bring your acceptance letter to CareerSource Florida | Your local CareerSource center or regional workforce board |
| 3. Complete career counseling and eligibility assessment | Skills assessment, labor market review, individual employment plan |
| 4. Funding approval finalized | Only after acceptance letter and assessment are complete |
| 5. Begin CDL training | According to your authorized schedule |
Timeline: Class A CDL training in as little as 4 weeks; Class B in as little as 1 week. New classes start monthly.
Funding: Accepts WIOA funding through CareerSource — but CareerSource requires an acceptance letter from the program before approving funding. Sallie Mae education loans are also an option.
Verification: Listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, meeting all federal ELDT requirements.
Contact: Jimmy Kern, jkern@irsc.edu, (772) 336-6256
Notable: The program also offers School Bus and Passenger Vehicle CDL training for those who already hold a CDL, and instruction goes beyond minimum ELDT requirements — including hands-on training in sliding the fifth wheel, adjusting trailer tandems, and proper coupling procedures.
CareerSource Northeast Florida requires its training partner programs to meet specific performance thresholds — a useful benchmark for evaluating any Florida CDL program, whether or not it's a CareerSource partner:
| Metric | Required Standard |
|---|---|
| Completion and credential attainment rate | 75% |
| In-field employment within 3 months of completion | 75% |
| Employment retention at 12 months | 75% |
The Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant (PCOG), administered by the Florida Department of Education, has awarded nearly $12 million statewide to school districts, colleges, universities, and private training entities to start or expand registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs — a broader initiative than CDL specifically, but one that includes CDL-adjacent trades in several regions.
| Your Situation | Best Path |
|---|---|
| Want the fastest program with WIOA eligibility | Indian River State College (4 weeks Class A) |
| Live in South Florida | Check Broward College's expanded CDL program directly |
| Live in the Panhandle | Northwest Florida State College's Chautauqua Center |
| Live in Central Florida | Valencia College |
| Unsure which CareerSource center serves you | Check employflorida.com's Eligible Training Provider list by region |
Whichever program you choose, passing the knowledge tests is step one. Practice free now.
Start Florida CDL Practice Tests See Full Cost BreakdownSources: Florida Department of Education (fldoe.org); CareerSource Florida; Indian River State College. Last verified July 2026.