IRSC Offers Trades and Culinary Apprenticeship Programs this Fall

August 27, 2019 Robert Lane

There is still time for interested applicants to take part in an apprenticeship program with Indian River State College (IRSC) this Fall. IRSC is offering apprenticeship programs in air conditioning, refrigeration and heating; plumbing; and electrical trades as well as culinary operations. Those interested should register by September 9.

IRSC apprenticeship programs help businesses develop highly-skilled employees, which reduces turnover rates, increases productivity and lowers the cost of recruitment. Apprentices in trades programs are paid to work and learn on the job during the day. Applicants must be employed by a licensed contractor willing to sponsor the student through the three-year program and pay tuition ($150 per apprentice per semester) through the Florida Construction Apprenticeship Training Corporation. Classes are held twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursday, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the fall and spring semesters. The summer is entirely on-the-job training with a student’s employer.

Those who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of completion from the State of Florida and IRSC and are eligible to take the journeyman license exam. Licensed journeymen electricians and plumbers receive increased pay and are more in demand employees.

For those working in the hospitality industry, IRSC also offers the Culinary Operations Apprenticeship program. Certified culinarians receive increased pay and are more in demand employees. Those who successfully complete the one-year program will receive a certificate of completion from the State of Florida and IRSC, and all apprentices are trained to be certified as ServSafe® Managers. To participate in the Culinary Operations Apprenticeship applicants must be employed by a qualified food-service establishment willing to sponsor the student. The apprentice or the apprentice sponsor pays the $400 IRSC program fee. Applicants must also be a member of the American Culinary Federation and registered as an apprentice. Classes meet twice a week, Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the IRSC Mueller Campus in Vero Beach.

For information on the air conditioning, refrigeration and heating; plumbing; and electrical apprenticeship programs, contact Johnna Wallace at 772-462-7892 or jwallace@irsc.edu. Those interested in the Culinary Operations Apprenticeship program can contact Bill Solomon at 772-226-2528 or Deborah Midkiff at 772-226-2698 or email culinary@irsc.edu.