In October, the Community College of Vermont will begin offering several free workforce development courses and workshops at five of the College’s academic centers across the state. These new training programs are designed to equip students with technical skills and industry certifications in high-demand sectors, with a focus on manufacturing, technology, business applications, and health and human services.
These courses will give students and current workers the core skills desired by many Vermont employers, and will allow them to advance their careers in growing fields. CCV has worked with business leaders around the state to assess the practical needs of employers and develop training and credential programs that prepare Vermonters to enter the 21st century workforce.
“Technical skills and industry credentials are becoming more and more important in many sectors across Vermont’s economy,” said Penne Lynch, CCV’s executive director of workforce development. “There is a gap in today’s workforce between the highly specialized jobs at many Vermont businesses and the workers who don’t yet possess the right skills for those jobs. CCV’s new courses help solve both problems: businesses can hire the workers they need to continue expanding, and students will have an affordable path to gain the necessary training and certifications to succeed.”
The new courses and workshops include Intro to Computer Science; Microcomputer Applications; Certified Production Technician (CPT) modules; Career Readiness Certificate Pro (CRCPRO) courses in technology, manufacturing, and health and human services; and a Quickbooks workshop. CCV also offers free programs in Microsoft IT Academy and the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification, which allow students to develop essential technology skills required by an increasing number of employers. These programs are funded by a Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant (TAACCCT) from the U.S. Department of Labor, and are free for new students.
“The Certified Production Technician training offers a wonderfully packaged, and easy to understand training program for the needs of today’s workers,” said Rudy Chase, a manufacturing executive and CCV instructor. “The training allows all levels of employees to build, or maintain a competitive edge in meeting the demands of the current manufacturing marketplace. I particularly like the comprehensive emphasis on safety, continuous improvement, and other skills that are of vital importance to the needs of the production workers of today.”
Rutland offerings include CRCPRO: Tech and Quickbooks Workshop.
CCV is Vermont’s second largest college, serving over 7,000 students each semester. For more information visit https://ccv.edu.
