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
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How to Get Started

Most skilled trades pathways at CCWA start with NCCER Introductory Craft Skills, known as CORE. CORE is the required prerequisite for and leads to these NCCER Level 1 or Level 2 offerings, which prepare you for construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and heavy equipment careers.

CORE takes as little as 40 hours. You learn hand tools, power tools, construction drawings, construction math, jobsite safety and basic employability skills. You finish with a national credential and the prerequisite you need to move into a craft.

Three programs do not require CORE: Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician, Fiber Optics Installer, and Lead Abatement. You can register for those directly.

Select the program below for course hours, tuition, upcoming dates, and how to register.

CCWA’s skilled trade courses are stackable for more credentials.

Why Train Here icon

Why Train Here

Employment Opportunities

Steady Work

Trades hiring in this region doesn't swing with the market.

Quick training

Train in 2–3 months

Most programs run one semester or less.

Skills

Train on real equipment

Hands-on labs and heavy equipment simulators, not lectures alone.

Electrical Apprenticeship

CCWA partners with Independent Electrical Contractors Chesapeake (IECC) on a fully accredited Year 1 Electrical Apprenticeship, held in our renovated trades labs at Reynolds Community College's Downtown Campus.

The program leads toward a journey worker's electrician license. IECC helps place apprentices with eligible electrical contractors.

  • Four-year program, Year 1 delivered at CCWA
  • Hybrid: virtual Monday evenings, in-person Wednesday evenings
  • Application fees, assessments and interviews required
  • Application deadline: July 15 [CONFIRM year]

Apply through IECC

What funding options are available?

Most skilled trades programs qualify for tuition assistance. What you pay depends on the program and your eligibility.

FastForward
G3 Initiative

Additional scholarships for FANTIC, trades-specific, and other scholarships may apply. Contact us to find out which ones you qualify for.

Questions

Contact our staff at 804-523-2292 for registration assistance. Additional financial aid and grant funding may be available for eligible students.

Resources

Helpful Documents

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CCWA Registration Packet
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FANTIC G3 Application and Procedure
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Course Catalog
Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get more funding?
FastForward covers two-thirds of tuition for most programs. Scholarships from FANTIC, Re-Employ Virginia and trades funds may cover more. Call us and we'll tell you what applies to you.
Are classes taught in person or online?
Both. Most trades classes are hybrid. You'll be in the lab for hands-on work and online for coursework, so you need reliable internet.
Do I need experience?
No. CORE, Fiber Optics Installer and Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician all start from zero.
Do you place students in jobs?
We don't guarantee placement. We do prepare you for apprenticeship and job interviews, and we work with employers across the state. Our trades graduates have gone on to James River Air, Tribble Electric, eTEC Mechanical, ColonialWebb, Atlantic Constructors, Woodfin/EMC, ITAC and Rudy Hawkins Electrical.
What is NCCER?
The National Center for Construction Education and Research. It's the credentialing body most construction and industrial employers recognize. NCCER credentials are portable — they follow you to any employer, in any state.

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 McGarr

John McGarry
Coordinator, Trades & Construction

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