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Pre-Apprenticeship for Construction Trades

Prepare for a Career in Construction Trades

NOTE: Currently accepting interest forms for Fall 2026. If you’d like to receive updates about this year or future cohorts, please fill out the interest form below to be added to the waiting list.

The PACT Program first launched in Fall 2024. Read below and follow the link to learn about how you can express interest in participating in an upcoming session! 

Working with local unions, the Lincoln County School District, Northwest Oregon Works, and other partners, Oregon Coast Community College has created the Pre-Apprenticeship for Construction Trades (PACT) program.

The goal of the PACT is to provide a pathway to lucrative, local careers in the various construction trades by preparing participants for the apprenticeship programs offered by local trade unions. 

sign up for the waiting list

Important Information

  • While schedules may change for future sessions, current cohorts are on Fridays from 8:30am until 4:30pm
  • Trainings take place in Newport at Oregon Coast Community College, 400 SE College Way, Newport, Oregon 97366.
  • Classes also take place offsite at Pacific Inside Electrical JATC, CPR at Siletz Fire Department, and more!
  • Trainings will consist of classroom instruction utilizing the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) that is recognized by union partners nation-wide. Hands-on projects using common tools of trades as well as Virtual Reality Headsets from TRANFR VR.
  • Participants will receive a stipend for participation.  Participants will also receive necessary Personal Protective Equipment and will be furnished with tools to use when the program ends.
  • Attendance is mandatory and registrants will want to examine their calendars and conflicts closely before committing to the PACT program.

What Makes This Program Different

Learn on the job site, and from trades professionals.

Thanks to partners and supporters from local unions and from area builders and contractors, the PACT program puts students on job sites in real-world environments.

Background & More

While the program is open to county residents of all ages, organizers hope to attract a number of high school students and recent graduates, as well as older students. 

“We were dismayed to learn that the average age of folks starting these apprentice programs is 28,” said Dr. Birgitte Ryslinge, former President of OCCC. “Our union partners are looking to the College to help address this decade-long gap between high school graduation and launching these careers. Given the earning potential in these fields, there’s a tremendous opportunity cost in putting off the decision to enter an apprentice program for so long.”

Ryslinge added that one of the reasons would-be apprentices delay starting the process is because they lack the necessary educational experience and skill in mathematics, reading, and other areas. The PACT program is designed to help participants of all ages fill those gaps, and will arm them with the confidence to pursue the apprenticeship of their choice.

PACT to deliver industry certifications

Through the PACT program, participants will earn the OSHA-10 certification – a vital piece that delivers robust content around workplace safety. They will also complete other certifications and trainings, ranging from CPR/lifesaving to forklift and scissor-lift operating. They will learn how to read and interpret blueprints, and will learn mathematics including right-angle trigonometry, mastering how to calculate area and volume, among other skills.

The PACT schedule was crafted to align with the Lincoln County School District’s semester, though the program is open to students of all ages and backgrounds.

NO COST to participants in first program, thanks to agency

Whichever cohort a person chooses, there will be no cost to participate.  During a recent planning meeting, discussion turned to tuition – the fee each student would pay for the program. That conversation came to a quick end when Northwest Oregon Works (NOW) announced that, together with resources provided by the Future Ready Oregon program, it would help fund the tuition for all participants of this inaugural program. “Our workgroup is deeply appreciative of this investment in our participants’ careers,” said Dan Lara, OCCC’s Director of Institutional Effectiveness. “We thank the NOW team and Executive Director Heather DeSart for this phenomenal support.”

Topics featured throughout the PACT program will be:

  •  Construction Industry/Construction Trades Orientation
  • Forklift Training
  • Construction Health and Safety
  • Heritage of the American Worker
  • Tools and Materials
  • Blueprint Reading
  • Basic Math for Construction
  • Financial Literacy
  • Measuring Devices
  • Welding
  • Diversity in the Construction Industry
  • Job Site Field Trips
  • Green Construction
  • Resumes and Interviews
  • The Apprenticeship Application
  • Work Keys Testing

Additional Information

Disabilities

Oregon Coast Community College is committed to providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities throughout the College community. Students with documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Our philosophy is to maximize your independence and self-reliance, providing a variety of support options to assist you in achieving your educational and/or vocational objectives. To receive services, you must submit documentation of your disabling condition(s) to the Vice President for Student Affairs. To initiate support services, please contact the Vice President for Student Affairs at 541-867-8511. Students are responsible for requesting, in a timely manner, accommodation and documenting the nature and extent of their disability.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

The College prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law in any area, activity or operation of the College. The College also prohibits retaliation against an individual for engaging in activity protected under this policy, and interfering with rights or privileges granted under anti-discrimination laws. In addition, the College complies with applicable provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), related Executive Orders 11246 and 11375, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (“USERRA’), and all local and state civil rights laws. Under this policy, equal opportunity for employment, admission, and participation in the College’s programs, services, and activities will be extended to all persons, and the College will promote equal opportunity and treatment through application of this policy and other College efforts designed for that purpose.

Persons having questions about equal opportunity and nondiscrimination should contact either: 

Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Kristina Holton
or
Director of Human Resources, Joy Gutknecht

Questions can also be mailed to their attention at 400 SE College Way, Newport, OR 97366.