EVERETT — Tuition vouchers are available to train 136 unemployed people at Paine Field through its Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center.
Each voucher covers all costs associated with training for certificates to provide students with marketable skills as assembly mechanics.
Students can now register for courses starting on Sept 15. Students will begin online with the Aerospace Manufacturing Core Certificate, followed by onsite assessments of the course material. Upon completion, students will commence three weeks of online training and four weeks of hands-on training at the center for the Aerospace Assembly Mechanic Certificate. Each student will be required to sign up for both certificates. Completion of both certificates will take approximately 11 weeks.
To qualify for vouchers, students must be:
• 18 years or older.
• High school graduate or have completed their GEDs.
• Unemployed, either on unemployment, had their benefits expire, or been turned down for benefits.
• U.S. citizens or have their green cards.
Students must have access to a computer. They must also be able to convert fractions to decimals and to read, write, understand and communicate in English. Prospective students should call 425-640-1840 to see if they qualify and to register for training. Vouchers will also be available for use at upcoming training sessions whose dates have yet to be announced.
“This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to be employed in the aerospace industry,” WATR Center Director Larry Cluphf. “The training is industry focused. Businesses have edited and added to the curriculum so that it is relevant to their company needs. There are 650 aerospace firms in Washington state. The goal is to get unemployed workers into relevant jobs. This will assist in keeping the aerospace industry and its workers in Washington state. Employers are visiting with students prior to their graduations to discuss opportunities.”
The Aerospace Manufacturing Core Certificate is nine credits and includes 99 hours of training. Students will become familiar with aircraft and composites, and will be exposed to such topics as sealing and safety, manufacturing paperwork, engineering processes, hand and measuring tools, blueprints and picture sheets, and bonding and grounding.
The Aerospace Assembly Mechanic Certificate is 18.5 credits and includes 203.5 hours of training. For this certificate, students will learn power island equipment, basic drilling and riveting, 90-degree drilling, drilling titanium materials, drilling composite materials, reaming and permanent fasteners, wing structure, fuselage skin assembly, sealant applicant processes, electrical bond and ground, and fiber reinforced composites manufacturing.
Credits for both certificates can count toward a two-year Manufacturing and Materials Technology Associate of Technical Arts degree or a Materials Science Technology Associate of Applied Science (transfer) degree at Edmonds Community College.
