Polk State provides free manufacturing training in English and Spanish
Polk State Corporate College offers free training for those who are unemployed or underemployed and seeking valuable certifications that will land them rewarding jobs in the manufacturing field. The College is currently enrolling for free manufacturing training sessions that will run between September 8 and November 13.
Prospective students should note that training in English will take place online from September 8 through November 13. Students are required to complete an in-person academic assessment and attend face-to-face orientation prior to the first day of training. Orientation sessions are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on August 26, August 28, September 1, and September 3 at the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center, 310 Technology Drive in Bartow, where the College continues to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and protocols outlined in the Return to Campus Plan, including the requirement of cloth face coverings on campus.
Training in Spanish will take place face-to-face from October 5 through October 30 at the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center. Tentative orientations are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on September 23, September 25, September 29, and October 1.
The program includes instruction, books, registration, and assessments at no cost to students thanks to a TechHire grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
Individuals who are interested in one of these training opportunities should contact Justin Wilson at juwilson@polk.edu or 863.297.1010 ext. 4624 prior to the orientation session they plan to attend.
Students who complete the online session will be eligible for the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician (CPT) certification. Students who complete the face-to-face session will be eligible for MSSC CPT and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 certifications. Both sessions will offer up to 15 credit hours toward the Associate in Science in Engineering Technology degree. These certifications and training give participants a competitive edge when applying for jobs in the manufacturing field.
There are more than 500 manufacturers in Polk County and according to Economic Modeling Specialists International’s 2016 Occupations Report for Polk County, there will be more than 2,500 job openings in the occupations targeted by this program by 2021.