FKCC Expands Apprenticeship Program: Plumbing and HVAC Classes Start in January
KEY WEST, FL, November 28, 2018—Florida Keys Community College will expand its construction apprenticeship program to include the fields of plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). Classes for the new apprenticeships begin in January 2019 and build upon the first apprenticeships in electrical and carpentry, which began in August.
Despite being the smallest of the 28 institutions in the Florida College System, FKCC is the second state college to become the registered sponsor of its own apprenticeship program. The innovative “learn while you earn” model is tuition-free and enables FKCC to streamline the registration process for both employers and apprentices. FKCC’s apprenticeships partner the College with Florida’s Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor, as well as local construction organizations to train workers in high-demand construction careers in the Florida Keys. 
The College’s apprenticeships provide education and training in all aspects of the respective trades—from conceptual to practical skills. Students are employed full-time with a sponsoring employer. They attend classes, which are tuition-free, at FKCC’s Key West Campus while also completing on-the-job training under the direct supervision and instruction of experienced professionals. As apprentice students advance through the program, their progress is rewarded with periodic wage increases.
Upon successful program completion, an apprentice will be considered a “journey worker” and will receive a four-level certification by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) as well as a nationally recognized Completion of Apprenticeship certificate by the State of Florida.
The deadline for students and sponsoring employers to apply is December 10. For more information about participating in one of the new apprenticeships, please contact Megan Perez, Director of Community Engagement and Testing, at [email protected] or 305-809-3185, or visit www.fkcc.edu/apprenticeships.
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