Northern’s Tech Trades Expanding Through Dual Credit

 

Northern New Mexico College offers great dual credit opportunities, especially in our Technical Trades programs. Students can work toward a certificate or associate degree in Electrical Technology, Plumbing or Pipefitting while they complete high school. Our Tech Trades program is geared toward making students career ready upon completion. Close associations with the local unions strengthen curriculum development and provide pathways to union membership. Tuition is waived for dual credit coursework.

Any student who receives a plumbing certificate from NNMC is accepted into the UA Local 412 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union through a direct placement program. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local union 611 provides consulting, advising and some training for the electrical program, and a pathway to apprenticeship in the union. Western States Regional Council of Carpenters just helped develop an Associate of Applied Science in Carpentry, which will provide a pre-apprentice status. Pre-apprenticeship allows graduates to enter directly into an apprenticeship program.

Española Valley High School students are taking classes in an upgraded welding lab on the Española campus and students from Mesa Vista High School in Ojo Caliente travel to the El Rito campus classes.

Northern’s Tech Trades also offers a satellite dual credit program at Española Valley High School and has applied to establish two more satellites at Jemez Pueblo, one at the Walatowa Charter High School and another at Jemez Valley High Schools. A dual credit program at Coronado High School in Gallina is growing so quickly that staff may apply for another satellite. Conversations are underway for a dual credit program at Escalante Middle/High School in Chama, which could also expand into a satellite. Once the sites are established the college can begin offering traditional courses and other career pathways.

To learn more about our Technical Trades Dual Credit opportunities, contact the NNMC Dual Credit office at 505-747-2159 or dualcredit@nnmc.edu.