College Offers Spring Start for Construction Certificate Program

September 30, 2016

This year, Hudson Valley Community College will offer a spring semester start for its one-year Construction certificate program, which traditionally begins in the fall. Students interested in careers in residential construction can take advantage of this delayed start to apply for the program before the Spring 2017 semester, which begins on Jan. 17.

The Construction certificate program is for those who wish to enter the workforce immediately. Graduates of the year-long program are prepared for careers in the residential construction industry, and training covers masonry and concrete, framing systems, insulation, sheetrock and interior finishing, plumbing and electrical work. 

The curriculum includes both classroom work and practical laboratories, including the opportunity to build several small buildings in the college's Hudson Hall construction lab. This approach allows students to learn a wide range of hands-on skills while providing them with a strong foundation of knowledge in the field. 

With ample opportunities for employment with local companies year-round, the job placement rate for graduates of the Construction certificate program is nearly 100 percent, according to the college's Center for Careers and Transfer. Graduates are employed as carpenters, masons, builders and framing crew workers, to name a few examples. 

While salaries vary, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $42,090 for carpenters and $39,640 for masons as of May 2015, both above the median for all occupations, which was $36,200 at that time.

Graduates have the option to enter the workforce immediately or transfer into the Construction Technology – Building Construction A.A.S. degree program for three additional semesters to gain a broader background in project management and commercial building design and pursue careers in construction management.

More information on the Construction certificate program can be found at www.hvcc.edu/eit/const_certificate. Those interested in starting the program this spring should contact the college's Admissions office at (518) 629-7309. 

***

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 75,000 alumni.