Nine courses focusing on professional trades and industry have been scheduled by the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Division of Workforce Solutions and Community Education this fall.
Drastically reduced tuition fees for all of the courses, from welding and electrical to HVAC and industrial mechanic, are available through the FastForward Program, which provides short-term training to eligible Virginians for in-demand jobs.
“If you’re looking for a new career or job opportunity, now is the time to register in a FastForward program at DSLCC,” says FastForward Career Coach Brooklyn Shehan. “With an abundance of financial assistance funding opportunities available, our FastForward programs have never been more affordable. It’s a wonderful opportunity to complete your training and obtain a new job in a high-demand occupation quickly.”
All of the courses prepare participants to sit for industry-recognized credentialing exams.
For more information about these industry courses and to register for a preferred class and financial assistance funding, contact Shehan at (540) 863-2848 or bshehan@dslcc.edu.
The courses offerings include:
Intro to Skilled Trades
Introduction to Skilled Trades, or NCCER Core Curriculum, is a 12-week hybrid course that covers basic knowledge and requirements needed in the construction and industrial trades. NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) awards nationally recognized credentials. Topics include safety, construction math, hand and power tools, construction drawings, rigging and materials handling, among others. Completion of this course will provide basic skills needed to continue on for certification in any NCCER craft and is a prerequisite for the first levels of Electrical, HVAC and Industrial Maintenance Mechanic.
This course is being offered in two locations: Rockbridge County High School, from August 10 through November 16, with five in-person classes meeting on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9:30 pm; and on the DSLCC main campus in Clifton Forge, from August 12 through November 18, with five in-person classes meeting on Thursdays, also from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. Ten online Zoom lectures are scheduled for both groups.
Electrical
Electrical (Level 1) is a 15-week hybrid course that covers safe working practices and basic electrical theory. Students must have completed or be enrolled in a NCCER Core Curriculum (see above) course. Class will meet online or in-person on the DSLCC main campus in Clifton Forge on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9:30 pm, from August 10 through November 16.
Electrical (Level 3) is an 18-week hybrid course for students who have completed the Level 2 course, and will meet online and in-person on Thursdays from 5:30 to 9:30 pm on the DSLCC main campus in Clifton Forge. There are also two Saturday class sessions on September 18 and October 30. Topics include transformers, electrical distribution systems, lighting fixtures, and motor control devices, among others.
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
Industrial Maintenance Mechanics (IMM) install, build, tear down, maintain and report manufacturing plant equipment and production line systems in businesses and factories. IMM (Level 1) is a 15-week hybrid course that meets on Tuesdays, August 10-December 21, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. In-person classes meet on the DSLCC campus in Clifton Forge. Students should have completed or be enrolled in a NCCER Core Curriculum course.
Welding
Three welding courses are scheduled on the DSLCC Clifton Forge campus. Although these course are being offered as non-credit, students may be eligible to crosswalk any of these courses for credit toward the Welding Career Studies Certificate or Pipe Welding Certificate.
New welding students are required to attend safety training on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 am to 12:30 pm, August 23-30.
SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding), an introductory course that covers basic welding processes, will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 24 through October 14.
GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, October 18 through December 13. Coursework provides up to 75 hours of training, including both lecture and hands-on labs.
GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 14 through December 14. Students will learn how to weld different types of materials, shapes and joints.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
HVAC (Level 1) is a 20-week hybrid course that will meet on Mondays, August 16 through December 6, 5:30 to 9:30 pm, with in-person classes meeting at Rockbridge County High School. There are also two Saturday sessions on September 25 and November 6. Topics include trade math, basic electrical safety and fundamentals of heating and cooling systems. Students should have completed or be enrolled in a NCCER Core Curriculum course.
HVAC (Level 3) is an 18-week hybrid course that will meet on Wednesdays, August 11- December 15, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm, at Rockbridge County High School. A prerequisite is HVAC Level 2. Topics include troubleshooting heating and cooling systems, as well as hardware and wiring.
More details are available at https://www.dslcc.edu/workforce.