Construction Training and Certifications Offered Free of Charge, Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Wallace State Community College in Hanceville will provide certification opportunities for men and women in the construction field through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
Starting on April 1, anyone with the desire to earn certification in a wide range of construction skills can do so for free, saving themselves or their employer the $750 to $2,500 it would normally cost for training. There are no educational requirements. A high school diploma or GED is preferred, but is not necessary.
The only requirement is mandatory attendance to the first three classes on April 1, 3 and 8 where participants will learn core fundamentals regarding safety, reading blueprints and other basic information necessary for completing training.
From then on, separate one-day certification classes will be offered. Each day ends with testing for certification on the topic covered. Participants can choose to attend any or all of the individual certification courses.
The individual courses and dates include:
April 10: NCCER Site Layout certification (Core 1)
April 15: NCCER Concrete Reinforcing Materials and Forms certification (Core 2)
April 17: NCCER Handling and Placing Concrete certification (Core 3)
April 22: NCCER Introductory to Masonry certification
April 24: NCCER Floor Systems certification
April 29: NCCER Wall and Ceiling Framing I certification
May 1: NCCER Wall and Ceiling Framing II certification
May 6: NCCER Roof Framing I certification
May 8: NCCER: Roof Framing II certification
May 13: NCCER Roofing Applications certification
May 15: NCCER Exterior Finishing Certification
May 20 NCCER Basic Stair Layout certification
May 22: NCCER Electrical Safety certification
May 29: NCCER Residential Electrical Services certification
June 3: NCCER Introduction to HVAC certification
June 5: NCCER Introduction to Drain, Waste and Vent Systems certification
June 10: NCCER Plastic Pipe and Fittings certification
June 12: NCCER Copper Pipe and Fittings Certification
Classes on June 17, 19, and 24 will be determined based on the need of individuals to complete certifications if any absences occurred.
Wallace State will provide the books and tools for use during the classes as well as cover the cost of the certification exams. Classes will be offered on Mondays and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the written certifications.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays during this time period a hands-on lab will be offered for additional practical certifications related to the classroom topics covered.
These classes will prove beneficial to both employers who are looking for certified employees without having to pay for their training. Plus, the certification will give them a head start since NCCER is likely to become the OSHA certifying agency for the construction industry and is already highly regarded in the field.
For more information about these classes, call Drafting/Design instructor Kristi Bain at (256) 352-8165 or Construction Training instructor Rick Nail at (256) 352-8226.
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Kristen Holmes
Director, Communications & Marketing
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 256-352-8118 direct
256-352-8314 fax 256-339-2519 cell
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu