In-Demand Trades

Looking for a High-Demand Career?

Have you ever fixed something at home or at work and wondered to yourself, “Wow, I think I could do this for a career!”? If so, you may be in the wrong line of work or never realized what you were capable of in a skilled trades career. People who have a knack for DIY or those who have always enjoyed working with their hands should consider a career in the trades. Skilled tradespeople who can repair, build or maintain equipment that most people cannot do on their own can make a sizable income for them and their families, especially if they build up their skills to take on an entrepreneurial approach to having their own business. What’s even more interesting is that despite all the high-demand for trades jobs, skilled workers are hard to find and are always in demand.

Here are a few in-demand career training programs offered at Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions:

Electrical

With a long history of providing high-quality, student-centered learning, our goal is to give individuals the opportunity to learn a trade, become skilled crafts professionals, earn a good living, and build Virginia.

Job Outlook: Electrical work will always be needed, which is why the employment of electricians is expected to increase about 12 percent between now and 2018, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Certification and Benefits: Through our educational affiliate, National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), we use Contren, a competency-based, task-driven, and nationally recognized curriculum. Students can brush up on their electrical basics with individualized classes or advanced higher with their skills with an apprenticeship. Apprenticeship students will progress from years 1 – 4 covering specific skills in the electrical trade.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Our HVAC program is designed as a hybrid training model to suit the busy lifestyles of our students. Hybrid training is a combination of online training and lives classroom/lab training, thus limiting (not eliminating), the number of onsite classes you have to attend each year. On average students attend class twice a month for formal instruction and hands-on training and in the meantime complete online assignments.

Job Outlook: The employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is expected to grow 34 percent from now to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. The rising demand for trained technicians will result in excellent employment opportunities.

Certification: When successfully completing both the written and performance testing in HVAC apprenticeship classes: Students will receive an NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) Certification. It is these portable, industry-recognized credentials that many industry leaders look for when making employment decisions.

Benefits:

• The program uses the NCCER curriculum which provides valuable national credentials that are helpful to students when seeking employment and/or building their careers.
• The program is in compliance with the National Office of Apprenticeship requirements for classroom training
• NATE-Recognized Training Provider (National American Technician Excellence)

Plumbing

Classes are structured in a hybrid learning setting, a combination of on-line training and live classroom/ lab training. On average, students attend hands-on labs every other week with an off-week to complete online learning. Apprenticeship students will progress from years 1 – 4 covering specific skills in the plumbing trade.

Benefits:

• The program uses the NCCER curriculum which provides valuable national credentials that are helpful to students when seeking employment and/or building their careers.
• The program is in compliance with the National Office of Apprenticeship requirements for classroom training

Job Outlook: Employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is expected to grow 26 percent from now to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Stricter water efficiency standards and new building and power plant construction are projected to spur demand for workers.

Certification: When successfully completing both the written and performance testing in this class: Students will receive an NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) Certification. It is these portable, industry-recognized credentials that many industry leaders look for when making employment decisions.

Welding

Ideal for new welders and those who want to enhance current welding skills, our Welding Basics, Certified Welder Fast-Track Training Program or apprenticeship programs are designed to American Welding Society (AWS) standards and prepare students for AWS Certifications. Apprenticeship students will progress in the classroom and on-the-job training learning specific skills in the welding trade. Recommended training includes the Certified Welder Program or individual welding classes to increase skills in specific welding techniques.

Benefits

• Accelerated Program
• Hands-on Learning
• State-of-the-Art Equipment and Facilities
• Experienced Instructors
• Prep for Certification Test with a Certified Welding Instructor
• Opportunity for National Certification

Mechatronics and Industrial Maintenance

The mechatronics and industrial maintenance technicians are in great demand in the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, and the US for that matter. The demands for these positions are only going to increase as the senior experienced employees are retiring. The development of current employees from your workforce may be the only way to fill these critical positions in advanced manufacturing.

Having skilled and knowledgeable technicians perform at a high level is extremely important in the overall productivity of a facility. The “Super Technician” or Multi-Craft Technician must troubleshoot any piece of equipment or system in the following areas:

• Electrical
• Mechanical
• Fluid Power – Hydraulics and Pneumatics
• Programmable Logica Controllers (PLC)
• Robotics
• Metal Machining
• HVAC
• Welding

What is Apprenticeship?

Registered apprenticeship is an agreement between an employer who needs a skilled worker and an employee (the apprentice) who wants to “earn while learning” a skilled occupation. Learn more about these programs available in Apprenticeship Training

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Fast-Track Career Training

Like what you see in a skilled trades career and want to get started now?  Start, enhance or change your career today with one of our Fast Track Training Programs. We offered skilled trades program training in Middletown, Luray, and Warrenton, Virginia at one of our campus locations. Gain the skills to take that next step toward the new you!

Learn about our Fast-Track Career Training Programs to get you quickly skilled and ready to apply for a new promotion, job, or career.