Agency gets green light from ApprenticeOhio to open Carpentry and Building Trades Training Program
Career Development and Placement Strategies (CDPS), a workforce development agency serving Northeast Ohio, is offering a pathway to careers in the high-demand field of commercial and residential carpentry. According to Maurice Stevens, the founder and CEO of CDPS, “It has been a journey developing our training and classroom space and finalizing our curriculum for our Carpentry and Building Trades Training. It’s exciting to be at the point where we can now accept students.”
Successful completion of the 288 hours of training leads to certification by the National Center for Construction, Education and Research (NCCER) in 12 weeks. From there, students enter the paid apprenticeship portion of the training, leading to journey worker status. According to a study by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), Ohio has 24,936 current openings in the carpentry field. “We are working closely with industry representatives, workforce partners and community agencies to expand apprenticeships in the greater Akron area. Our Carpentry and Building Trades Training can be an important first step for individuals seeking careers in the trades sector,” noted Stevens.
The Carpentry and Building Trades Training Program is free to individuals who meet the federal guidelines and complete the enrollment process at Ohiomeansjobs.com. The training takes place Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. The 288-hour training includes both classroom and hands-on training. Upon successful completion, students will earn an industry-recognized certification from NCCER and placement into paid apprenticeships with area employers. Apprentices start at $15 per hour and earn step increases as they progress through the 2000-hour apprenticeship to become journeyworkers in residential and commercial carpentry. “Earn-while-you-learn opportunities through apprenticeships are a proven way to increase the earning potential for our students, while helping employers in the construction and trades sector to recruit employees ready to work who have earned a nationally recognized certificate,” noted Paul Magnus, Director of Programs for Career Development and Placement Strategies.
Career Development and Placement Strategies plans to start the first 12-week session on June 7th. CDPS is holding weekly informational sessions for interested individuals. The sessions take place at 221 Beaver Street, Akron, in the Well Building. Free parking is available in the back lot of the building. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Career Development and Placement Strategies at 330-752-7129 to reserve a space. Additional information on the Carpentry and Building Trades Training Program and other programs and services offered is available online at www.cdps4u.org .