What First Coast Technical College, Putnam County does

First Coast Technical College (FCTC) is a public career and technical education institution operating under the governance of the St. Johns County School District in Northeast Florida. Originally authorized in 1965 as St. Augustine Technical Center, the college was renamed First Coast Technical Institute in 1999 and became First Coast Technical College in 2007; from 2007 to mid-2016 it operated as an independent charter school before returning to direct district operation on July 1, 2016. FCTC delivers hands-on, industry-aligned certificate programs across more than 20 occupational verticals including healthcare (Dental Assisting, EMT, Paramedic, Practical Nursing, Surgical Technology), skilled trades (Automotive, Diesel, HVAC/R, Welding, Industrial Machinery Maintenance), public safety (Firefighter, EMT), human services (Cosmetology, Facials, Nails), education (Early Childhood), hospitality (Culinary Arts), agriculture (Landscape and Nursery Management), and information technology (Applied Cybersecurity). It also runs Adult Education (ABE/GED/ESOL), the BOOST support program for students with disabilities, and Career Navigators and Career Placement services. The institution operates two physical campuses in St. Augustine — the Main Campus at 2980 Collins Avenue and a dedicated Public Safety Campus at 3640 Gaines Road — and integrates instruction with real-world practice through community-facing service labs (Knot Just Hair Salon, The Hidden Nursery, Tech Tots Child Care, Walter's Reef Café, and the Character Counts Conference Center).

FCTC's business model combines tuition and program fees, federal Title IV financial aid (Pell Grants via FAFSA, Federal School Code 012544), state and foundation scholarships administered through the separate FCTC Education Foundation 501(c)(3), veteran education benefits, and modest transaction revenue from its community-facing service facilities and conference center rentals. Customer segments are highly distributed: adult learners seeking career retraining, dual-enrolled high school students from St. Johns County, students with disabilities served through BOOST, adult education learners pursuing GED/ESOL outcomes, and regional employers (healthcare facilities, fire rescue departments, automotive dealers) that hire graduates and support curriculum alignment. The institution does not participate in federal student loan programs, and revenue is supplemented by community donations and the FCTC Education Foundation, which assisted 80+ students across 18 programs during the 2024–25 academic year.

Name

First Coast Technical College, Putnam County

Legal name

First Coast Technical College

Website

https://fctc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

First Coast Technical College is a public career and technical education institution operated by the St. Johns County School District in Northeast Florida, offering 20+ certificate programs in healthcare, trades, public safety, IT, and human services across two St. Augustine campuses serving adult learners, high school students, and regional employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Vocational training programs
• Adult education services
• Healthcare workforce training
• Professional certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Palatka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: FCTC generates revenue through student tuition and fees for career and technical education programs, adult education classes, and continuing workforce education courses. The college accepts federal student aid through FAFSA, state grants, and veterans benefits.
2. Community Services Revenue: Revenue generated from community-facing services including cosmetology salon (Knot Just Hair Salon), plant nursery sales (The Hidden Nursery), childcare services (Tech Tots), and conference center rentals (Character Counts Conference Center).
3. Donations and Scholarships: The FCTC Education Foundation provides scholarships and emergency assistance to students, funded through community donations. The foundation supports over 80 students across 18 programs annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

First Coast Technical College delivers career and technical education programs across healthcare, skilled trades, public safety, information technology, human services, hospitality, and agriculture, awarding industry-recognized certificates and credentials. The college also operates adult education (ABE/GED/ESOL), the BOOST support program for students with disabilities, career placement services, and community-facing service labs (salon, nursery, childcare, conference center, and culinary café). Programming is delivered across two St. Augustine-area campuses serving primarily Northeast Florida, including Putnam County.

Product overview

First Coast Technical College is a technical college offering career and technical education programs as a unified portfolio of certificate and credential programs. The institution provides over 20 distinct career-focused programs spanning healthcare (Dental Assisting, EMT, Paramedic, Practical Nursing, Surgical Technology), technical trades (Automotive, Diesel, HVAC/R, Welding, Industrial Machinery), public safety (Firefighter, EMT), human services (Cosmetology, Facials, Nails), education (Early Childhood), hospitality (Culinary Arts), and agriculture (Landscape, Nursery). The college also operates adult education (GED, ESOL), the BOOST support program for students with disabilities, career placement services, and community services including Tech Tots Child Care, a conference center, and continuing education classes. Programs include hands-on training labs where students practice skills, with some programs having community-facing outlets such as the Hidden Nursery, Knot Just Hair Salon, and Walter's Reef Café.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dental Assisting Technology & Management (ATD) Career and technical education program preparing students for dental assistant careers; accredited by American Medical Technologist (AMT) so graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) certification exam.
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Entry-level emergency medical training program preparing students for EMT certification and careers in emergency services.
• Paramedic Advanced emergency medical training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
• Practical Nursing Nursing program approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing, in compliance with USDE Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), preparing graduates for licensure through the Nurse Licensure Compact.
• Surgical Technology Surgical technology program training students to assist in surgical procedures as part of the operating room team.
• Applied Cybersecurity Technical program training students in cybersecurity skills and practices for information technology careers.
• Master Automotive Service Technology 1 & 2 Automotive service technology training program preparing students for careers as automotive technicians, aligned with National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) standards and ASE certification.
• Diesel Systems Technician 1 & 2 Training program for medium-heavy truck and bus technology diagnostics and repair.
• Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) 1 & 2 Technical training in HVAC/R systems installation, maintenance, and repair.
• Welding Technology & Welding Technology Advanced Welding certification program accredited by the American Welding Society, with night class availability.
• Industrial Machinery Maintenance 1 & 2 Training program for industrial machinery maintenance technician careers.
• Firefighter Firefighter training program meeting Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training requirements.
• Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician Combined Combined firefighter and EMT certification program meeting Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training requirements.
• Cosmetology Licensure program for cosmetologists approved by the Florida Board of Cosmetology, with hands-on training delivered through the student-run Knot Just Hair Salon.
• Early Childhood Education Training program for early childhood education careers, with student access to Tech Tots Child Care for practical experience.
• Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality Culinary arts program with student-operated Walter's Reef Café (temporarily closed) for hands-on training in commercial kitchen settings.
• Landscape and Turf Management Agricultural program training students in landscape design and turfgrass management.
• Nursery Management Horticulture program with student-operated Hidden Nursery (10,000 sq ft greenhouse) for plant cultivation and sales experience.
• Adult Education (ABE/GED/ESOL) Adult Basic Education, GED preparation, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs for adult learners seeking to complete secondary education or improve literacy.
• BOOST Program Building Opportunities for Occupational Success Together — post-secondary support program for students with documented disabilities providing career training with individualized support, in partnership with Best Buddies.
• Career Placement Services Career placement services supporting students and graduates with job searches, resume building, employer connections, and interview preparation.
• Character Counts Conference Center 6,500 sq ft conference facility accommodating up to 500 guests, equipped with stage, breakout rooms, and audio-visual capabilities, available for rental to external organizations.
• Community Enrichment & Continuing Workforce Education Lifelong learning classes offered various times throughout the year for personal development, job training, hobbies, and skill-building.

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong completion, placement, and licensure rates

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Best BuddiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBest Buddies organization provides peer mentors supporting BOOST program students with disabilities in becoming engaged and active members of the college community. Students participate in Career and Technical Education courses alongside non-disabled peers.
• St. Johns County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSJCSD serves as the charter sponsor and governing authority for FCTC, operating it as a district school since July 1, 2016. The district provides administrative support, strategic planning, and operational oversight.
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)coreOthersCAAHEP, along with CoAEMSP, provides programmatic accreditation for FCTC's Paramedic program, ensuring compliance with national educational standards for emergency medical services.
• American Heart AssociationminorOthersAHA provides training materials and certification standards for health science programs including CPR and basic life support training.
• National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF)minorOthersNATEF provides industry-standard certification and evaluation for automotive technology programs ensuring alignment with employer expectations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pinellas Technical College: Public Florida technical college under Pinellas County Schools offering similar CTE programs in healthcare, trades, culinary, and public safety — directly comparable as a sister district-operated technical college serving a different Florida region.
• Manatee Technical College: Public Florida technical college operated by Manatee County School District, offering comparable CTE program portfolio (healthcare, trades, IT, cosmetology) — directly comparable peer in the same state and governance structure.
• Orange Technical College: Public Florida technical college under Orange County Public Schools, offering extensive CTE programs across multiple campuses — comparable in scale, governance model, and program breadth to FCTC.
• Atlantic Technical College: Public Florida technical college operated by Broward County Public Schools, offering similar CTE programs — comparable as a multi-campus district-operated technical college with comparable program mix and employer engagement model.
• Charlotte Technical College: Public Florida technical college under Charlotte County Public Schools offering CTE programs in healthcare, trades, and cosmetology — directly comparable as a smaller district-operated Florida technical college.
• Lorenzo Walker Technical College: Public Florida technical college under Collier County Public Schools serving Southwest Florida — comparable as a district-operated technical college with similar healthcare and trades program offerings.
• Fred K. Marchman Technical College: Public Florida technical college under Pasco County Schools serving the Tampa Bay region — comparable as a district-operated technical college with similar healthcare, public safety, and trades programs.
• Traviss Technical College: Public Florida technical college under Polk County Public Schools offering CTE programs in healthcare, trades, and public safety — directly comparable peer serving Central Florida with similar district governance model.

Emerging players

• Florida Technical College: Private for-profit Florida institution offering CTE and degree programs — comparable as a Florida-based CTE provider, though operates under different governance (private) and includes degree pathways beyond FCTC's certificate focus.

Regional players

• St. Johns River State College: Public Florida state college serving the same Northeast Florida region as FCTC, including Putnam County — comparable as a regional postsecondary institution with overlapping CTE-adjacent programs though primarily focused on associate degrees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FCTC-First-Coast-Technical-College
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-coast-technical-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstcoasttech
• Xx.com/firstcoasttech

Compliance17 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Coast Technical College, Putnam County