South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) graduated six students from their inaugural Plumbing course on Monday, October 24, 2022.
The five-month course offered students 500 hours of hands-on and classroom training to prepare them to become a licensed plumber.
The graduates were joined by their family and friends as they were awarded their certifications. Speakers at the event included Steven Mathews, Vice President of SLCC’s Workforce & Economic Development Department, who congratulated the students on their pursuit of a career in a trade that offers high wages, flexibility, and steady work.
Students earned certifications in NCCER Core, NCCER Plumbing Level 1 and NCCER Plumbing Level 2. Students now have the option to work as a plumber’s helper for on-the-job training hours towards their journeyman’s license or can enroll into a formal apprenticeship program.
SLCC created this program in response to the Plumbing industry’s growing need to fill positions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there will be a 5% increase in job opportunities for plumbers in the next 10 years.
“I am so excited to announce we are graduating our first plumbing class on October 24th. We are giving our students an opportunity for a high-demand and high-wage career. This program is a clear example of how SLCC is a leader in meeting the needs of the workforce. The need for trained plumbers is outrageous and could not have been accomplished without the strong support of our community. I believe George Meany said it best, "Anybody who has any doubt about the ingenuity, or the resourcefulness of a plumber never got a bill from one", stated Nicole Lopez, Director for SLCC’s New Iberia campus.
For more information on SLCC’s short-term courses, visit www.solacc.edu/workforce or email workforce@solacc.edu.
Pictured below are Vance Jolivette, Brix Schexnayder, Bronsyn Boggs, Instructor Raina Duck, Richard Moore, Marcella Peron, and TaJuan Gibson.
