Courses offered through the Workforce & Continuing Education Department are intended for students who want to learn a new skill for career training, upgrade or recertify existing skills, gain general knowledge, or develop personal interests. Upon completion, students receive a Victoria College Certificate of Completion. Students are not required to apply for admission to the college or take entrance exams for these non-credit courses.

For more information about any of the courses listed below, including specific course dates, times and admission requirements, please view the current Workforce and Continuing Education Schedule. Students can register and pay online though the Pirate Portal, in person in the Workforce and Continuing Education office, or via mail by filling out the registration form and submiting with payment.   

The Victoria College Continuing Education and Workforce Training Department, in partnership with Associated Builders and Contractors/ Texas Mid Coast Construction Education Foundation (CEF), offers nationally accredited craft training. Training consists of multiple levels for each craft area.

These courses are taught in progressive levels using the nationally recognized Contren™ curriculum, which was developed by the National Center for Construction and Research (NCCER). These courses provide competency-based, task driven modular training and are designed to maximize learning by combining illustrated instructional materials and structured classroom activities conducted by craft instructors.

Online courses

VC also offers Workforce & Continuing Education courses online. See the schedule here.

Core Skills for Construction Trades

Core Skills for Construction Trades is common to all NCCER Training Programs and is required for NCCER Certification for all Level 1 courses.  No prior experience necessary. Topics include:

• Introduction to basic safety
• Communication and basic employability skills
• Blue prints; construction math
• Hand and power tools  

Electrical Level 1

This course provides an introduction to the electrical trade. Topics include: 

• Introduction to electrical circuits, theory, and safety 
• Introduction to the National Electrical Code®
• Conductors and cable, device boxes, hand bending
• Residential electrical services

Electrical Level 2

A study in alternating current; motors: theory and application. Topics include:

• Circuit breakers and fuses
• Conductor installations, terminations and splices
• Conduit bending
• Grounding and bonding
• Pull and junction boxes 

Electrical Level 3

This course is a study of the principles of operation of single- and three-phase motors and transformers. Topics include:

• Ground fault
• Protective devices
• Short circuit; size overcurrent
• Transformer banking
• Wye and Delta connections  

Electrical Level 4

This course provides an advanced study in load calculations – feeders and services; health care facilities; standby and emergency systems. Topics include:

• Advanced controls, fire alarm systems; HVAC controls
• Heat tracing and freeze protection
• Motor operation and maintenance
• Medium-voltage terminations/splices
• Specialty transformers  

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Level 1

This introductory course covers heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) principles. Topics include:

• Introduction to cooling and heating; basic electricity 
• Air distributing systems
• Copper and plastic piping practices; soldering and brazing
• Trade mathematics
• Ferrous metal piping practices  

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Level 2

This is an intermediate HVAC course. Topics include:

• Basic installation and maintenance practices; basic electronics
• Introduction troubleshooting control circuit, and gas heating and cooling
• Commercial airside systems chimneys, vents, and flues
• Air quality equipment
• Leak detection, evacuation, recovery, and charging
• Fiberglass and flexible duct systems 

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Level 3

This is an intermediate HVAC course and is a continuation of HVAC Level 2. Topics include:

• A study of refrigerants and oils
• Compressors; metering devices
• Retail refrigeration systems; commercial hydronic systems
• Planned maintenance
• Troubleshooting electronic controls, oil heating, heating pumps and accessories

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Level 4

This course is an advanced study of HVAC. Topics include:

• Construction drawings and specifications
• System balancing
• Energy conservation equipment; building management systems
• System startup and shutdown
• Commercial and industrial refrigeration systems
• Alternative heating and cooling systems

Millwright Level 1

This course provides an introductory study of millwright. Topics include:

• Orientation to the Trade
• Millwright Hand Tools
• Fasteners and Anchors; Gaskets and O-Rings
• Basic Layout
• Oxyfuel Cutting

Millwright Level 2

This course provides an intermediate study of millwright. Topics include:

• Intermediate Trade Math
• Field Sketching
• Intermediate Blueprint Reading
• Millwright Power and Specialty tools
• Setting Base and Soleplates
• Introduction to Bearings

Pipefitting Level 1

This course provides a comprehensive overview of work performed by the pipefitter. Topics include:

• Pipefitter responsibilities and career opportunities
• Safety principles associated with the pipefitting trade
• Pipefitting hand tool and power tools
• Oxyfuel cutting
• Ladders and scaffolds, and motorized equipment 

Pipefitting Level 2

This intermediate course provides study in piping systems. Topics include:

• Drawings and detail sheets
• Identifying and installing valves; pipefitting trade math; threaded pipe fabrication 
• Socket weld pipe fabrication; butt weld pipe fabrication
• Excavations;  underground pipe installation

Welding 1

The course provides an introductory study of basic welding processes.   Students will demonstrate machine setup and complete welds and cutting operations. Topics include:

• Basic shop safety
• Identification of types of electrodes used in welding process
• Identifying various welding and cutting standards
• Oxy-Fuel Welding (OFW) and cutting
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
• Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)  

Welding 2

This course is an intermediate study of welding.  Students will perform air carbon arc washing and gouging activities; explain plasma arc cutting equipment and safe work area; demonstrate setup and use GMAW, FCAW and GTAW equipment. Topics include:

• Reading details drawings; welding symbols
• Stainless steel grove and pipe welds
• Air carbon arc cutting
• Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)
• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) 
• Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)