Skilled Trades

Jobs requiring trade skills are some of the most stable in our region. No matter how the workforce shifts, we need people who are able to plan, construct and fix our surroundings.

Skilled-Trades
Skill Trades icon

Train for Jobs Hiring Now

See some of our current Skilled Trades courses below. These National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) offerings prepare you for construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and heavy equipment careers. To receive financial aid, please get in touch with us directly to register for your course or program through CCWA.

Through programs at CCWA, you can learn from experienced instructors using state-of-the-art simulators and hands-on teaching to train for nationally recognized credentials in this field. We develop all courses in direct response to job availability and demand—for example, the Heavy Equipment Operator program was created to meet the growing employment need for operators.

CCWA’s skilled trade courses are stackable for more credentials. Career paths in skilled trades start with the NCCER CORE class—in which you can earn a credential in as little as 40 hours. Courses require the CORE prerequisite and many have the CORE built into training dates. Check the description and talk with us about the format that best matches your schedule.

Employment Opportunities

Flexible, steady employment opportunities

Quick training

Train in as little as 2-3 months

Skills

Gain in-demand skills

Are You Ready to Spark Your Career With an Apprenticeship?

Our new partnership with the Independent Electrical Contractors Chesapeake (IECC) will offer a fully accredited, Year 1 Electrical Apprenticeship program in our renovated trades labs at the Downtown Campus of Reynolds Community College – leading to journey worker’s electricians license.


Apply Now!

key take aways

Takeaway Skills

  • Core craft skills
  • Orientation to the trades
  • Safety
  • Heavy equipment operation
  • Introduction to tools
  • Construction math
  • HVAC operation and repair
  • Electrical operation
  • Construction skills
  • Plumbing
  • Fiber optics installation and repair
Courses

Current Courses

See some of our current Skilled Trades courses below. To receive financial aid, please get in touch with us directly to register for your course or program through CCWA.

IECC Electrical apprenticeship

10/01/2025 - 05/29/2026

IECC is Independent Electrical Contractors Chesapeake. CCWA partners with IECC to present the Related Technical instruction for a 4 year apprenticeship program to become an electrician. Receive industry-leading, hands-on learning in conjunction with traditional classwork. Work full-time and attend classes two days per week (one day of virtual learning and one day of in-class instruction). Receive nationally recognized credentials as a Journeyworker Electrician upon satisfactory completion of the program. IECC is the sponsor for the apprentices, manages the apprenticeships for the employers, and tracks the apprentices’ training and education. CCWA offers the training on Reynolds and Brightpoint campus’ with CCWA instructors. There are fees and prerequisites in the application process.

Fiber Optics Installer

01/13/2026 - 02/26/2026

Fiber Optic Installers are responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing fiber optic cables and related equipment. Fiber optic installers typically work in various industries such as telecommunications, internet service providers, cable television companies, and data centers. This program will cover basics of fiber and transmission theory, various cables and connectors, splicing, installation, and more.

NCCER - Introductory Craft Skills - leads to Electrical, Daytime Class

02/03/2026 - 03/19/2026

$366 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. This course leads to and is a prerequisite for HVAC 1. The NCCER CORE training course is a prerequisite to all other NCCER Level 1 craft curriculum in construction and industrial occupations such as carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, welding, drywall, and construction craft laborer.

NCCER Electrical 2

02/10/2026 - 06/30/2026

The Level 2 class expands upon Level 1 and introduces students to the following: Alternating Current, Motors, Theory & Application, Electrical Lighting, Conduit bending, Pull and Junction boxes, Conductor Installations, Cable Tray, Conductor Termination & Slices, Grounding and Bonding, Circuit Breakers & Fuses, Control Systems and Fundamentals Concepts. Textbook is included for the course. The National Electrical Code Book is required for the class and the responsibility of the student to provide.

NCCER: Introductory Craft Skills – Leads to HVAC 1 (Evening Class)

02/17/2026 - 03/18/2026

$533 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. This course leads to and is a prerequisite for HVAC 1. The NCCER CORE training course is a prerequisite to all other NCCER Level 1 craft curriculum in construction and industrial occupations such as carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, welding, drywall, and construction craft laborer.

Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician

02/23/2026 - 05/11/2026

$900 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. The Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician program prepares students for entry-level employment in maintenance in the rental housing industry. It covers interior and exterior maintenance, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and appliance repair – and includes lectures and hands-on labs.

NCCER: Introductory Craft Skills – Leads to Electrical Evening class

02/25/2026 - 03/26/2026

$366 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. This course leads to and is a prerequisite for Electrical 1. The NCCER CORE training course is a prerequisite to all other NCCER Level 1 craft curriculum in construction and industrial occupations such as carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, welding, drywall, and construction craft laborer.

NCCER – HVAC Level 1 (Evening class)

03/19/2026 - 05/20/2026

$833 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. The NCCER HVAC level 1 certification course is part of the required training for many companies’ apprenticeship programs. This course is intended for students interested in entering the HVAC industry and it can help you get a foot-in-the-door to a helper or apprentice position. The NCCER Introductory Craft Skills course is a required prerequisite for this course.

NCCER: Introductory Craft Skills – Leads to Plumbing 1

03/23/2026 - 05/07/2026

$533 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. This course leads to and is a prerequisite for Plumbing 1. The NCCER CORE training course is a prerequisite to all other NCCER Level 1 craft curriculum in construction and industrial occupations such as carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, welding, drywall, and construction craft laborer. $366 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents

NCCER – Electrical Level 1 (Daytime class, Intro class is a required prerequisite)

03/24/2026 - 06/03/2026

$833 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. The NCCER Introductory Craft Skills course is a required prerequisite for this course. The NCCER Electrical level 1 certification course is part of the required training for many companies’ apprenticeship programs. This course is intended for students interested in entering the Electrician industry and it can help you get a foot-in-the-door to a helper or apprentice position. Instruction will cover topics such as Orientation to the Electrical Trade, Electrical Safety, Electrical Circuits, Electrical Theory, National Electrical Code, Device Boxes, Raceways, Fittings, Conduit, Conductors and Cables, Fasteners and Anchors, Basic Electrical Construction Drawings, Residential Electrical Services, and Electrical Test Equipment.

NCCER – Electrical Level 1 (Evening class)

03/31/2026 - 05/28/2026

$833 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. The NCCER Introductory Craft Skills course is a required prerequisite for this course. The NCCER Electrical level 1 certification course is part of the required training for many companies’ apprenticeship programs. This course is intended for students interested in entering the Electrician industry and it can help you get a foot-in-the-door to a helper or apprentice position. Instruction will cover topics such as Orientation to the Electrical Trade, Electrical Safety, Electrical Circuits, Electrical Theory, National Electrical Code, Device Boxes, Raceways, Fittings, Conduit, Conductors and Cables, Fasteners and Anchors, Basic Electrical Construction Drawings, Residential Electrical Services, and Electrical Test Equipment.

NCCER – HVAC Level 1 (Daytime class, Intro class is a required prerequisite)

04/08/2026 - 07/08/2026

$833 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. The NCCER HVAC level 1 certification course is part of the required training for many companies’ apprenticeship programs. This course is intended for students interested in entering the HVAC industry and it can help you get a foot-in-the-door to a helper or apprentice position. The NCCER Introductory Craft Skills course is a required prerequisite for this course.

NCCER: Introductory Craft Skills – Leads to Heavy Equipment Operator (HYBRID)

05/05/2026 - 05/28/2026

$366 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. This course leads to and is a prerequisite for Heavy equipment operator 1. The NCCER CORE training course is a prerequisite to all other NCCER Level 1 craft curriculum in construction and industrial occupations such as carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, welding, drywall, and construction craft laborer.

NCCER – Plumbing Level 1

05/11/2026 - 08/13/2026

$833 Fast Forward Price for VA Residents. The NCCER Plumbing level 1 certification course is part of the required training for many companies’ apprenticeship programs. This course is intended for students interested in entering the Plumbing industry and it can help you get a foot-in-the-door to a helper or apprentice position. The NCCER Introductory Craft Skills course is a required prerequisite for this course. There may be Spanish and English speaking students in the class.

NCCER - Heavy Equipment Operator 1

06/02/2026 - 07/16/2026

$1150 FastForward Price for VA residents. Students will learn the following content: core craft skills, orientation to the trade, heathvy equipment safety, identification of heavy equipment, basic operational techniques, utility tractors, introduction to earmoving, interpreting civil drawings, and using simulator exercises for equipment basic controls, loading and unloading, excavating, and trenching. Students receive hands-on training with using simulators, which replicates real-life operating scenarios through rotation-motion platforms and high-resolution 3D displays for excavator and wheel loader equipment. Prerequisite: NCCER Core Craft Skills

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get more funding to participate in the program?
We have FastForward program funding as well as scholarship opportunities from FANTIC, Re-Employ VA and Trades. Contact us directly to find out which apply to you.
Are classes taught in person or online?
Both. Many of our skilled trade classes are hybrid, so you will be required to be in class for some sessions and online with reliable internet for others.
Do you offer job placement?
Job placement is not guaranteed but CCWA has partnerships with many companies in the state and can provide aid in preparing for apprenticeship or job interviews. Our skilled trade students have gone on to careers with James River Air, Tribble Electric, eTEC Mechanical, ColonialWebb, Atlantic Constructors, Woodfin/EMC, ITAC, Rudy Hawkins Electrical and others.

Contact Us Contact us to learn more about how you can utilize CCWA’s offerings and receive the best available pricing for current courses.

John McGarry
Coordinator, Trades & Construction

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