In an innovative move to provide workforce readiness skills and a path to industry-recognized certification in the construction field, Northland Pioneer College (NPC) is launching a new core Construction Integrated Education and Training (CON-IET) pathway at the college’s location in Whiteriver, AZ, this spring.
The CON-IET program combines two entry-level construction courses, CON 102-Introduction to Construction Methods and CON 111-Plan Reading and Employment, with a workforce readiness course (CCP 106). The block covers instruction and training in construction safety and tools, math, plan reading, communication, and employability. According to NPC College and Career Preparation faculty and IET Chair Jesse Reeck, “the partnership between construction instruction and workforce training allows for extra support, especially with math and communication skills, for students who are either working toward their High School Equivalency (or GED®) or who may just need a refresher.” Upon completion, students will also earn an OSHA-10 endorsement and an entry-level national work-ready certification.
For the spring 2025 semester, students who enroll in the CON-IET pathway will receive a scholarship for the program’s tuition courtesy of NPC. The CON-IET block will be offered in person at the Whiteriver Center on Friday mornings. Reeck noted, “For students who would like to accelerate on their own, NPC is also offering two additional classes at the Whiteriver center that can be taken self-pay.” Those include CON 120-Concrete and Masonry Systems and CON 126-Framing Systems. They will be offered at the Whiteriver Center during the spring semester on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“This is a great opportunity for students to complete the foundational courses for NPC’s broader construction program and be ready to enter the workforce in entry-level positions in the field,” said Reeck. Upon completion, students will earn the industry-recognized Core Certificate from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Students with NCCER certification are well equipped and trained for careers on project sites and can demonstrate a working knowledge of hand and power tools, construction math, materials handling, construction drawing, rigging, and safety and employability skills.
NCCER certification can go on students’ resumes and is a pre-requisite to additional NCCER certifications and for entry to NPC’s Certificate of Proficiency in Construction and Associate Degree in Construction programs. For those who wish to pursue further education and certification, NPC will support students with resources and assistance to apply for federal financial aid and scholarships.
To set up your enrollment in the program, contact NPC’s Whiteriver Learning Assistant Amber Kessay at Amber.Kessay@npc.edu or call (480) 269-7420 (Google Voice). Students without a high school diploma or equivalency must also register with Amber and attend an orientation session scheduled for Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at NPC’s Whiteriver Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information on the CON-IET pathway, contact Jesse Reeck at jessica.reeck@npc.edu or call (928) 536-6782.
