Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy

What Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy does

Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy (TCAA), legally Donna J. Beasley Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy, is a Fort Myers, Florida-based 501c3 non-profit founded in 2003 that operates the largest registered apprenticeship program in Southwest Florida. The academy delivers 4-year registered apprenticeships in four trades — Electrical, HVAC-R, Pipe Fitting, and Plumbing — combining 144 hours per school year of classroom instruction at TCAA's 20,000 sq ft facility with 2,000 hours of on-the-job training provided by participating construction contractors. All programs follow the NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) curriculum framework and are accredited by both the Florida Department of Education and NCCER.

The core technology platform is the NCCER standardized curriculum with a mandatory NCCER Core Curriculum prerequisite for all apprentices. Instructional delivery relies on NCCER-certified Craft Instructors who are active industry professionals, supported by dedicated training labs and a computer testing center. Graduates receive nationally recognized certifications qualifying them to sit for journey-level certified exams. The DJB Technical Academy operates as a separate 2012-established sub-brand serving at-risk youth in Lee County.

TCAA's business model is employer-driven: apprentices must be 18 or older and employed by a participating contractor to enroll, with classroom instruction costs paid by those contractors and apprentices earning wages throughout their training. Revenue therefore flows from contractor sponsorship rather than individual tuition, eliminating student debt as a barrier. The academy targets four customer personas — high school graduates (with advanced standing for prior construction certifications), career changers, military veterans using GI Bill benefits, and the sponsoring contractors themselves — and markets through its website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and community outreach including high school visits, CBIA Shadow Day, and Junior Achievement Inspire events.

Name

Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy

Legal name

Donna J. Beasley Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy

Website

https://tcaafl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy is a Fort Myers, Florida non-profit operating the largest registered apprenticeship program in Southwest Florida, delivering 4-year NCCER-accredited training in Electrical, HVAC-R, Pipe Fitting, and Plumbing trades through a contractor-sponsored model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Apprenticeship Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL)

Keywords

• Registered apprenticeship training
• Skilled trades education
• HVAC apprenticeship program
• Electrical apprenticeship training
• Plumbing apprenticeship program

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Myers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contractor Sponsorship Revenue: Registered Apprenticeship programs funded by participating contractors who pay for apprentice classroom instruction as part of their employee development investment. Apprentices earn wages while learning with no tuition debt.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy operates registered apprenticeship programs in four construction trades—Electrical, HVAC-R, Pipe Fitting, and Plumbing—combining paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Apprentices must be employed by a participating contractor who sponsors and funds their classroom education, allowing apprentices to earn wages while learning with no student debt. Programs are NCCER- and Florida Department of Education-accredited, and graduates receive nationally recognized certifications eligible for journey-level exams.

Product overview

Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy offers a unified registered apprenticeship training platform with four core trade programs: Electrical, HVAC-R, Pipe Fitter, and Plumber apprenticeships. Each program is a 4-year commitment requiring 144 hours of classroom instruction and 2,000 on-the-job training hours per school year. All programs share the NCCER Core Curriculum as a mandatory prerequisite and are accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and the Florida Department of Education. The academy provides 'earn while you learn' training with no student debt, and graduates receive nationally recognized certifications qualifying them to sit for journey-level certified exams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DJB Technical Academy: A separate technical academy established in 2012 for at-risk youth in Lee County, fulfilling the final wish of Donna J. Beasley.

Products and services

• Electrical Apprenticeship A 4-year registered apprenticeship program in the electrical trade covering residential and commercial electrical work, electrical theory, motor calculations, and voice/data/video systems. Includes hands-on lab work and leadership pathways to Field Manager, Service Manager, Sales Manager, General Manager, and business ownership.
• HVAC-R Apprenticeship A 4-year registered apprenticeship program in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration covering soldering, brazing, leak detection, troubleshooting, and hands-on lab work. Includes pathways to Service Manager, Sales Manager, General Manager, and business ownership.
• Pipe Fitter Apprenticeship A 4-year registered apprenticeship program in pipe fitting covering oxyfuel cutting, above-ground pipe installations, threaded pipe fabrication, excavation, and hands-on lab work. Includes advancement opportunities to Foreman, Superintendent, Department Manager, and Inspector roles.
• Plumber Apprenticeship A 4-year registered apprenticeship program in plumbing covering residential and commercial plumbing, layouts, processes, fabrication, installation, architectural aspects of plumbing systems, and hands-on lab work. Includes pathways to Field Manager, Service Manager, Sales Manager, General Manager, and business ownership.
• NCCER Core Curriculum A mandatory prerequisite curriculum that all apprentices in any trade must pass and complete before advancing to their specific trade apprenticeship programs. Accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-year commitment with 2,000 OJT hours + 144 classroom hours per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lee County School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Collaboration to help high school students having difficulty in traditional school settings. Integrated pre-apprenticeship programs with academic education, eventually leading to pursuit of public charter school.
• Workforce Board of Southwest FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership established for Youth Build Grant program to provide at-risk youth opportunity to explore careers in construction trades. Grant required collaboration with multiple community partners.
• Fort Myers Housing AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Community partner in Youth Build Grant program. Youth Build participants rebuilt senior and family housing projects in Fort Myers areas as part of the program.
• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005NCCER provides the standardized curriculum framework and instructor certification for TCAA's apprenticeship programs. TCAA is an NCCER-accredited training provider, ensuring all programs meet national industry standards.
• Florida Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005State accreditation body that provides official recognition of TCAA's registered apprenticeship programs as meeting highest industry standards required by the Department of Education.
• B&I ContractorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor construction contractor that employs TCAA graduates. Serves as employer-sponsor for apprentices in plumbing and electrical trades, providing on-the-job training while apprentices attend TCAA classroom instruction.
• Cheslosky ElectricminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElectrical contractor that employs TCAA apprentices. Testimonial from contractor praising TCAA's education and training that accelerates progress in the industry.
• United MechanicalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMechanical contractor employer of TCAA pipe fitting graduates. Testimonial from 2023 graduate citing helpful instructors providing real-world scenarios.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• United Association (UA) of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Techs: International union that runs registered apprenticeship programs for plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC service technicians. Competes with TCAA for the same apprentice candidate pool and trades in Southwest Florida, though via union rather than open-shop sponsorship.
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC): National trade association operating chapter-based apprenticeship programs in the electrical trade. Operates a registered apprenticeship model closely aligned with TCAA's electrical apprenticeship, including DOL-recognized curriculum and contractor sponsorship.
• SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association): Trade association with HVAC and sheet metal apprenticeship programs delivered through local chapters. Comparable to TCAA's HVAC-R program in serving mechanical contractors with structured, DOL-recognized curriculum and apprenticeship pathways.
• Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC): Trade association that operates registered apprenticeship programs for plumbing and HVAC trades via state and local chapters. Overlaps with TCAA's plumbing and HVAC-R apprenticeships in target audience, curriculum standards, and contractor sponsorship economics.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National construction trade association that runs multi-trade apprenticeship programs (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry) with open-shop contractor sponsorship. Directly comparable model to TCAA's multi-trade, contractor-funded registered apprenticeship platform.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) / Electrical Training Alliance: International union with formal electrical apprenticeship programs delivered through joint apprenticeship training committees (JATCs). Directly competes with TCAA's electrical apprenticeship for apprentice candidates in Southwest Florida, though via union sponsorship.

Others

• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): For-profit technical training provider with HVAC and electrical programs alongside transportation trades. Adjacent rather than direct competitor to TCAA's apprenticeship model, but targets similar candidates seeking skilled-trades careers.
• Lincoln Educational Services: For-profit technical school offering HVAC, electrical, and plumbing programs nationwide. Adjacent competitor in skilled trades training, though its for-profit tuition-based model differs structurally from TCAA's contractor-sponsored apprenticeship approach.
• CareerSource Southwest Florida: Regional workforce development board that channels federal/state workforce funds into training programs. Already partners with TCAA via the 2006 Youth Build Grant and refers candidates, making it an enabler rather than direct competitor.
• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): National curriculum and accreditation organization for construction trades training. Functions as TCAA's core curriculum and instructor certification partner rather than a competitor, but operates in the same construction-workforce development ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TriCountyApprenticeshipAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tri-county-apprenticeship-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/tricountyapprenticeship

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Tri-County Apprenticeship Academy