LAS VEGAS — The National Technical Institute (NTI), a trade school with campuses in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Houston, has launched its Regional Immersion Program to expand workforce training solutions for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors.
The program allows for individuals, regardless of skill level, to conveniently complete virtual instruction along with four days of intensive in-person training. The Regional Immersion Program presents an excellent opportunity for contractors to overcome recruitment hurdles and secure qualified entry-level workers, NTI said in a press release.
“We partner with contractors who are constantly searching for new employees and hiring our students before they even graduate. Let’s face it, people with skilled trade experience are hard to find and that has created a pressing need for a solution,” said David Lee, COO and co-owner of NTI. “Our program expands the pool of potential candidates, allowing contractors to identify promising workers who possess the right qualities — commitment, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn. With our assistance, these individuals can develop and excel in their roles.”
After completing a series of specialized online tutorials, students attend concentrated lab sessions to reinforce the video learning. These lab sessions take place during two weekend training sessions — the first after reaching the midway point of online learning, and the second at the conclusion of the virtual course.
The intensive, hands-on training classes are held Fridays and Saturdays, once a month, at NTI’s campuses in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Houston, limiting the time away from the job. The in-person training is included in the tuition and covers hotel and meals for the weekend lab sessions.
“The immersion program has proven to be an invaluable asset to us. It has significantly expanded our talent pool, enabling us to consider candidates, regardless of their experience … who we know could do a great job with some proper training. And since this program is largely online and limits time away from the job, they are completely immersed in our company and culture from the start,” said Chase Cottam, service team manager at Hobaica Services, an HVAC and electrical contractor in Phoenix. “The graduates who have completed this program have exceeded our expectations, and we've had remarkable productivity and revenue growth from those who participated in the immersion program.”
Through NTI’s immersion program, the school’s HVAC, plumbing and electrical courses are all available online and can be completed in as little as nine weeks, with video instruction that introduces students to the fundamentals of each respective trade. The video curriculum is broken down into modules, with mandatory tests at the end of each lesson, and the courses are taught by experienced industry professionals.
The on-campus portions of the program are taught in NTI’s practice labs. Graduates will have learned the essentials of their chosen trade and be capable of maintaining industry equipment to ensure proper function, inspecting and testing systems and their components, discussing system malfunctions with customers, repairing and replacing defective parts, and more.
“Contractors are already seeing a benefit, as 50 students have already been trained and become successful new employees for many companies throughout the country. … They can literally hire someone with little or no trade experience, put them through NTI’s Regional Immersion Program, and in no time have a fully functioning technician,” said Ryan Woodward, CEO and co-owner of NTI.
For more information about the Immersion Program visit www.ntitraining.com.
