Applied Technologies and Trades offers NCCER certification courses to give job applicants the credentials needed for hiring
Brenitha Richardson knows a thing or two about the value of certification training when it comes to obtaining and keeping a job in some of the largest industries in Texas. In fact, she holds a few certifications of her own.
“In the past, it was experience that got you into the door but employers want more now,” said Richardson, a National Council for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certified instructor who trains for construction site safety supervisor, construction site safety technician, and field technology and safety technology at San Jacinto College. She also holds certifications to teach OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 courses.
“Today, employers want people with the right education and certifications because these job candidates are more apt to have the proper safety knowledge, up-to-date credentials, and are more open to change and can adapt to the growing industries,” she said.
Non-destructive testing jobs often include inspection technicians, shearwave technicians, quality control technicians, inspection engineers, corrosion technicians and metallurgical technicians. Photo credit: Jeannie Peng-Armao, San Jacinto College marketing, public relations, and government affairs department.
Richardson has seen her fair share of hiring processes through her work with Dow, Kelly Services, and Austin Industrial. She shares stories of her experiences with many of her students who pass through her NCCER core class at San Jacinto College to obtain the certifications they need to be considered for jobs.
NCCER certifications are considered the gateway credentials for work in such places as processing plants.
The Applied Technologies and Trades program in the San Jacinto College Continuing and Professional Development (CPD) division offers a wealth of NCCER courses in the areas of welding, electrical, pipefitting, as well as programs in machining, electrical, non-destructive testing, pipefitting, engineering design graphics, commercial truck driving, diesel technology, automotive technology, and air conditioning repair.
“Applied Technologies and Trades offers a wide variety of courses because we train for the vast employment needs of the oil and gas and manufacturing industries,” said Dr. JD Taliaferro, director of Applied Technologies and Trades. “There just aren’t enough people out there with the experience to do the work that is needed in this region.”
Taliaferro noted that it’s important for students to look specifically for the NCCER certification because it’s required of the contractors for work, an industry recognized standard.
“We’re expanding our NCCER technologies to include industrial maintenance and millwright training because industry wants someone who is a jack of all trades,” said Taliaferro. “This is big right now because this is the next piece from welding, process technology, instrumentation, and pipefitting. It’s the next high demand job.”
Development of the new Industrial Maintenance/Millwright program is in response to requests from industry partners in the petrochemical industry and the contractors who build or maintain their facilities. The program will be offered through the College’s partnership with the Construction Maintenance and Education Foundation (CMEF). A recent Jobs and Education for Texans grant will fund the equipment.
Students who complete the Industrial Maintenance/Millwright Certification program will hold National Council for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) credentials upon successful completion and have the skills and abilities to install and maintain rotating equipment and high-level electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
“I tell my students the more you learn, the more you earn,” said Julian Gutierrez, a San Jacinto College sheet metal training instructor who also attended the College in 2007 for training certifications.
Gutierrez works as a journeyman for McCorvey Sheet Metal Works, L.P. He has worked as a journeyman on some of Houston’s largest projects, including the BBVA Compass Stadium, George R. Brown Convention Center, and Minute Maid Park.
“I see companies hiring daily,” said Gutierrez. “Every trade that plays a role in building projects is in need for more qualified workers. We can’t produce the number of students that are needed out there for the work.”
For a complete list of the NCCER courses offered through Applied Technologies and Trades, please visit http://www.sanjac.edu/continuing-professional-development/corporate-and-workforce/applied-technology-and-trades.
About the Continuing and Professional Development division
This noncredit division of the College provides training for both current and future employees in the professional and technical job sectors, as well as provides participants with open enrollment course options to enhance their lives. Professional and technical training is available through contract training, open enrollment and grant funding. For more information, call 281-476-1838.
– Jeannie Peng-Armao