(HARLINGEN) – The Workforce Training and Continuing Education Office at Texas State Technical College recently received a $119, 988 Building Trade Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission.

This grant will help train 40 trainees in TSTC’s National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Electrical Level 1 and Construction Level 1 courses.

“The partnership we have with the TWC is great,” said Myra Deleon, TSTC’s Continuing Education project manager. “Their donations help open doors of opportunity for many individuals and families. They help people grow.”

Deleon added that in light of some large construction projects forecast for the South Texas region, such as SpaceX and Texas LNG, this recent donation from TWC allows Workforce Training and Continuing Education to be proactive in assuring that the region has a trained workforce.

“These are the credentials that most large contractors require for their employees,” said Deleon. “They are precursors to an individual looking for a career in the electrical and construction industries.”

NCCER Electrical Level 1 is a 224-hour electrical course that consists of NCCER Core, NCCER Electrical, safety and forklift components and a CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) and first aid sessions.

Those who enroll in this course can expect to learn the foundation of safety, communication skills and construction drawings to the theory of residential electrical circuits and will become certified in first aid, CPR and AED use.

NCCER Construction Level 1 is a 262-hour course and focuses on the NCCER Core and NCCER Basic Framing, introduction to carpentry and a safety and forklift component. The course will also focus on basic safety, wood frame structures, layout, floors, wall and roofs.

In addition to the electrical wiring and construction training, students will also become forklift- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certified.

Both NCCER credentials are recognized internationally so can be used to work in the United States and abroad.

“Safety is everyone’s number one priority, so the more safety training an employee has the more marketable they are to employers,” said Deleon. “Trainings like these help minimize accidents and get people home to their families at the end of the day.”

The NCCER Electrical and Construction Level 1 courses are held in the evening and open to anyone in or pursuing a career in the industry.

Class tuition and books are generally covered by TWC grants or sponsored by the employer, Workforce Solutions grants and the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation.

The next NCCER session starts October 30 and is still open for enrollment.

For more information on the NCCER curse and tuition sponsors call TSTC Continuing Education at 956-364-4567.