The NCCER Core course provides individuals with an overview of various fields of basic safety, introduction to construction math, power tools, hand tools, basic rigging, basic communication skills, construction drawings, essential employability skills, and material handling. Students will develop knowledge and skills related to the Core curriculum and its application to work in the industrial trades. This course integrates both academic knowledge and technical skills. Students will learn, apply and transfer knowledge to various employment settings and integrate problem-solving skills. The national registry deems the graduate “NCCER Core Certified.” NCCER is the National Center for Construction Education and Research accrediting training sponsor and issues credentialing in the individual construction industry-based modules.

Major Course Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the construction industry.
2. Explain the benefits of safety, the cost of workplace incidents, and ways to reduce related hazards.
3. Name standard hand tools and state how to use them.
4. Identify and explain how to use various power drills and impact wrenches.
5. Describe the communication, listening, and speaking processes and their relationship to job performance.
6. The student's credentials are entered into the NCCER National Registry System after completing the program. These credentials are lifetime credentials that will follow the craftsman throughout his lifetime.

This class is 40 instructional hours, and depending on the campus can be completed in as little as 5 weeks (nights and weekends only!).

This program can lead to a successful start in the construction industry, which has a robust growth trajectory in Indiana.

• Construction Laborers are a four-flame occupation according to the DWD's INDemandJobs website, with an average salary of $38,630.

• Laborers can then become first-line supervisors of construction workers, which is also a four-flame occupation. Average salary? $63,630.

• Construction Managers are in the highest demand with a five-flame rating - making on average over $80k annually.

Find out more on INDemand Jobs.

This workforce certification is available for free to qualifying students through the Next Level Jobs program. You are eligible to earn this free certification from Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:

• You are an Indiana resident, and
• You have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency, and
• You have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelor's, master's, etc.) and
• You have not previously used Next Level Jobs/Workforce Ready Grant funding. 

Learn more about Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech