Craig Gordon stays busy as an OUC Apprentice Water Technician. He often starts his day gathering materials and tools at the warehouse before heading out into the field, where he’s learning to install meters and hydrants, repair broken water lines and perform other tasks.
Gordon, who has been on the job since December 2024, enjoys the work and is eager to gain new skills.
“Every day is a different challenge. I’m learning how intricate the water system is and the importance of keeping it maintained so it operates at an optimum level,” says Gordon.
Craig Gordon, now an Apprentice Water Technician, working with fellow participants during his time in the OUC-sponsored Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
Gordon is no stranger to hard work. Before OUC, he was working part-time at Home Depot, while also taking classes in the evenings as a student in the OUC-sponsored Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which provides training in trade skills like construction, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, building maintenance and more.
Gordon graduated from the program in July 2024. He says the skills he learned in the program, along with guidance from OUC guest speakers, helped him secure an interview and eventually land a job as an OUC Apprentice Water Technician.
He’s in good company. Vale Price Junior, who completed the program in 2021, works at Stanton Energy Center as a Warehouse Associate II. Price and Gordon could soon be joined by more Pre-Apprenticeship Program grads. The latest class, the fourth in the program’s history, will hold its graduation ceremony in August.
The program includes 420 hours of hands-on instruction, spread out over twice-weekly classes. The sponsorship covers tuition, supplies, and other program fees and costs for students. iBuild U.S.A., which is a nonprofit involved in workforce development, runs the classes.
Craig at the Pre-Apprenticeship Program graduation, followed by his son.
The Pre-Apprenticeship Program uses standardized training and credentialing curricula set by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). To earn the NCCER Core Construction certification, which is a gateway to an entry level job in a trade field, the students must pass eight competency exams and complete eight performance exams.
The curriculum also includes safety basics and workplace ethics, as well as communication and employability skills. In addition, participants receive mentoring and help with preparing for job interviews, among other important career skills.
Graduates also receive full-time job offers as apprentices with local employers; more than 400 companies are part of the program. Apprenticeships come with a commitment from their new bosses to continue their training in a relevant discipline, including classes at Orlando Technical College.
