Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – Eligible students can prepare for an in-demand career in plumbing at no cost this fall through a new Plumbing Technician Program being offered through the Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships (CATA) at South Texas College.
Funding from the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling Education (TRUE) grant and Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) will allow qualifying participants to complete 242 hours of workforce training with their tuition fully covered.
The TRUE grant is able to cover the program’s 96 hours and provides a gas allowance, while TPEG funding covers the remaining 146 hours for students who meet financial aid requirements.
Leadership with CATA says the new plumbing program is set to provide hands-on training to assist unemployed or underemployed adults with entry-level construction and plumbing skills.
“This is their chance to develop foundational and hands-on skills needed to begin a career in the plumbing and construction industry,” said CATA Director Leonel Garcia. “Through this program, the students will gain exposure to industry-recognized standards while developing practical skills they can take directly into the workforce.”
The program will combine classroom instruction with hands-on training based primarily on National Craft Assessment and Certification (NCCER) including Introduction to Basic Construction Skills and NCCER Plumbing Level 1 core courses.
NCCER is a nationally recognized construction education and credentialing organization whose curriculum reflects established industry standards.
The new program will be divided among three STC courses beginning with Construction Tools and Techniques, a 96-hour course focused on essential construction competencies. Students in the course will learn about workplace safety, hand and power tools, construction math, drawings, materials handling, rigging and other fundamental skills used throughout the construction trades.
Students will then complete 38 hours of Basic Plumbing Skills, introducing them to piping systems, drains, vents, water lines, fixtures and standard plumbing practices. Students will also work through NCCER Plumbing Level 1 competencies such as plumbing safety, tools of the trade and plumbing math along with drain, waste and vent systems.
The final course, Basic Pipefitting: Installation and Rigging, provides 108 hours of additional hands-on training in pipe fabrication, cutting, fitting and installation. The course also covers valves and fittings, rigging, safety procedures, trade math and blueprint interpretation.
Garcia said the program reflects STC’s commitment to aligning workforce education with the needs of employers and communities across the Rio Grande Valley.
“Most importantly, this program helps us respond to the needs of our local industry by creating another pathway for individuals in our community to enter a high-demand skilled trade and build a sustainable career,” Garcia said.
Students who successfully complete the applicable curriculum and assessment requirements will have their completed credentials documented through NCCER, providing industry-recognized evidence of the skills they have acquired.
The program does not grant a state plumbing license or make a participant a licensed plumber. Instead, it provides entry-level occupational preparation and NCCER credentials that can help students begin pursuing opportunities in the industry and continue building their experience.
For more information on STC’s new Plumbing Technician Program, as well as many others offered by CATA, visit southtexascollege.edu/cata/.
Information source: STC
