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classroom training before securing a job with a contractor. Local employers hope to use the program as a recruitment tool to hire apprentices. Other opportunities may be incorporated for high school juniors or seniors that are interested in a career in HVAC and could include evening classes and hands-on experience with local contractors during the summer. Upon graduation, students could potentially work full time while they complete the apprenticeship. Currently seven local HVAC contractors have agreed to send their newer employees to the HVAC Apprenticeship program, including Daniell Heat and Air, GTS, Grisham Air Care, City Plumbing, Heating and Electric, Climate Control Heating and Air Conditioning, Knox AC and Heating, and the Garland County Sheriff’s Office. The program may expand to include more experienced employees that could benefit from a national credential in the future. “Once a student completes the training they receive a national credential from the Department of Labor,” stated Albrecht. “This credential will allow students to work in any state as an HVAC Technician.”

The apprenticeship model of training is a combination of on-the-job training and related instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Nationally, apprenticeship programs have been on an upward trend in recent years. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 1,700 new apprenticeship programs were established nationwide in FY 2016. Arkansas has 88 active apprenticeship programs and saw 21 new programs in 2016 alone. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts demand for qualified, well- educated HVAC technicians will grow to grow 14 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to BLS. The BLS expects the demand will be driven by commercial and residential building construction, the growing number of sophisticated climate- control systems, and increased emphasis on energy efficiency and pollution reduction. ongoing throughout the year. Contact Community and Corporate Training for registration information at 501- 760-4393 or 501-760-4135. Enrollment will be