Construction Pre-Apprenticeship 

Program Description

The Construction Pre-apprenticeship Program is designed to provide participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to kickstart their career in the construction industry. This comprehensive program offers a hands-on approach, combining classroom instruction with practical experience, to prepare participants for a successful future as a construction professional. Upon successful completion, students may earn the OSHA 30, American Heart Association CPR and First Aid, eight NCCER credentials, college credits, and an OCC certificate of program completion.

OCC Credits (must obtain OSHA30):  CMN 1400 Construction Safety (3)

• Classroom location: Auburn Hills Campus
• Schedule: Full time, Monday thru Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
• Duration: 8 weeks 
• Format: In-person

Module Descriptions

OSHA 30-Hour General Industry – 30 hours
This course provides an expanded foundational knowledge of construction safety and health standards often required for construction industry career roles involving a higher level of supervisory safety responsibility. Earn your OSHA 30-Hour card quickly and easily and be on your way to a safe and successful career.

CPR/First Aid/AED – 4 hours
The AHA’s Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED course trains participants to provide first aid, CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely, and effective manner. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). 

Basic Safety – 8 hours
Work at construction and industrial job sites can be hazardous. Most job-site incidents are caused by at-risk behavior, poor planning, lack of training, or failure to recognize the hazards. To help prevent incidents, every company must have a proactive safety program. Safety must be incorporated into all phases of the job and involve employees at every level, including management. 

Build Your Future in Construction – 4 hours
Construction is an exciting, well-paying industry that offers an abundance of career opportunities. With a growing need for individuals who are ready to learn while getting paid, it provides a great fit for people of all backgrounds, skills, and strengths. Carpenter, pipefitter, welder, electrician, and crane operator are just a few of the construction professions in high demand. This module will help you understand the state of the industry, the job opportunities that currently exist, and the training options that will lead you on a path to your new construction career. 

Basic Communication Skills – 8 hours
The construction professional communicates constantly. The ability to communicate skillfully will help to make you a better worker and a more effective leader. This module provides guidance in listening to understand, and speaking with clarity. It explains how to use and understand written materials, and it also provides techniques and guidelines that will help you to improve your writing skills.

Introduction to Hand Tools  – 10 hours
Every profession has its tools. A surgeon uses a scalpel, an instructor uses a whiteboard, and an accountant uses a calculator. The construction crafts require a broad array of hand tools. Even if you are familiar with some of the tools, all craftworkers need to learn how to select, maintain, and use them safely. A quality hand tool may cost more up front, but if it is properly used and maintained, it will last for years. A true craft professional invests wisely in hand tools, and uses, maintains, and stores them with the same wisdom.

Introduction to Power Tools –15 hours
Power tools play an important role in the construction industry. Thousands of construction workers across the world use power tools every day to make holes, cut different types of materials, smooth rough surfaces, and shape a variety of products. Regardless of their specialization, all construction workers eventually use power tools on their job. This module provides an overview of the common types of power tools and how they function. It also describes the proper techniques required to ensure their safe and efficient operation.

Introduction to Construction Math – 16 hours

Introduces trainees to basic math skills needed in the construction environment. The module reviews whole numbers and fractions; working with decimals; the four primary math operations; reading rulers and tape measures; the inch-pound and metric units of measurement; basic geometric figures; and area and volume calculations for two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects.

Introduction to Construction Drawings – 10 hours
Various types of construction drawings are used to represent actual components of a building project. The drawings provide specific information about the locations of the parts of a structure, the types of materials to be used, and the correct layout of the building. Knowing the purposes of the different types of drawings and interpreting the drawings correctly are important skills for anyone who works in the construction trades. This module introduces common types of construction drawings, their basic components, standard drawing elements, and measurement tools that are typically used when working with construction drawings.

Material Handling – 16 hours
Lifting, stacking, transporting, and unloading materials such as brick, pipe, and various supplies are routine tasks on a job site. Whether performing these tasks manually or with the aid of specialized equipment, workers must follow basic safety guidelines to keep themselves and their co-workers safe. This module provides guidelines for using the appropriate PPE for the material being handled and using proper procedures and techniques to carry out the job.

Introduction to Basic Rigging – 8 hours
A common activity at nearly every construction site is the movement of material and equipment from one place to another using various types of lifting gear. The procedures involved in performing this task are known as rigging. Not every worker will participate in rigging operations, but nearly all will be exposed to it at one time or another. This module provides an overview of the various types of rigging equipment, common hitches used during a rigging operation, and the related Emergency Stop hand signal.

Introduction to Specialty Areas - Electrical – 8 hours
This course introduces electrical wiring materials, tools, and processes with an emphasis on residential wiring. General information is covered about parts and materials commonly used to install power circuits in a building including wires and conductors, service entrance components, safety devices for shock and fire prevention, as well as basic devices like switches and receptacles.

This course also covers information about hand and power tools commonly used in the electrical trade including: Tools for installing and removing fasteners, Tools to cut, strip, and attach wires, Tools to cut and bend conduit, Tools for modifying framing for routing cable, Tools for testing and measuring circuits, Tools used to modify a built structure for routing cable and cutting conduit.

Introduction to Specialty Areas- Carpentry – 8 hours
This course provides a solid foundation in carpentry, equipping students with essential knowledge and skills to work safely and effectively in the construction industry. Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience, students will learn the fundamentals of carpentry.

Introduction to Specialty Areas- Plumbing – 8 hours
This course covers plumbing materials and process used when installing pipes. Also included is information about hand and power tools commonly used for modifying a built structure for routing supply and waste lines and cutting, prepping, assembling and installing pipe, fittings, and fixtures. Detailed step by step instructions will be given for making connections of supply lines to fittings including cutting and dressing pipe, solvent welding, sweating, crimping and thread sealing.

Introduction to Specialty Areas- Framing (Wall, Floor, Roof) – 8 hours
This course will identify wall framing parts and describe the use of these components to include rough opening parts for windows and doors. Different methods of corner and T-wall connections will be explained. The concept of layout will be covered as well as details on sheathing and blocking. Activities are included in this course to complement these lessons for students to practice framing walls including plate layout.

Additional Program Content

Workplace Competencies - 16 hours
Students will improve competence in skills that are essential to success in the workplace.  Students will address communication skills and explore how to establish a stronger work ethic.

Career Readiness - 8 hours
Students will be provided with resources and tools to be successful in the labor market.  Personal branding, including resume and interview skills, will be addressed with the assistance of a career coach.  Students will learn how to utilize LinkedIn as part of the job search process.

Employer Engagement - Varies
Students will gain greater understanding of the Construction industry through employer interactions such as on-site guest speakers, tours and Interview Day. 

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