Iowa Valley announces upcoming 10-week utility technician training
MARSHALLTOWN – Iowa Valley Continuing Education will offer a 10-week Utility Technician Training March 14 – June 7, 2013. This training successfully served 88 participants over the last year and a half and will again be funded through State of Iowa Energy Sector Partnership Grant (or SESP) funds through Iowa Workforce Development. Alliant Energy is IVCE’s training partner.
“It’s a short-term intensive training, developed in cooperation with Alliant Energy, which successfully combines industry and college training,” Lori Wildman, IVCE Workforce Education Coordinator, explained. “This ‘blended’ training program’s goal is to expose students to the overall skills needed to gain entry in the utility industry (energy sector jobs) or jobs that use our transferable skills. The overall skills component is what makes us ‘different’ and perhaps ‘unique’.”
Training will be held both at the college and on site at Alliant Energy’s training facility and includes: MeterPro (meter reading); computer basics; basic electricity; gas; welding; hand and power tools; climbing; heavy equipment; Class A CDL training; customer interaction; math; print reading; mechanical drives; team building; technical writing/reading; CPR Certification (American Red Cross, 2-year); safety; resume, interviewing and job search skills; Human Resources day with utilities and more. Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program.
“The Utility Technician program provides flexible training opportunities that will potentially lead to exciting career opportunities with good income potential,” noted Wildman. “We’ve had great employment success out of the previous Utility Technician trainings we’ve held.”
Wildman added the program should appeal to and serve a broad audience, including those that are possibly under-employed or unemployed, dislocated, persons wishing to gain skills in a new area, veterans or first time students. Entrance criteria includes that persons must be at least 18 years old, be a high school graduate or hold a GED, possess a current and valid driver’s license, and achieve a silver level on the National Career Readiness Certificate test (NCRC), to make application to the program
Persons with questions regarding the IVCE 10-week Utility Technician Program can contact Wildman at 641-844-6987or email, lori.wildman@iavalley.edu. Or visit the Utility Technician website at www.oneyeartoacareer.com.