ORANGE PARK – The Northeast Florida Builders Association Apprenticeship Program recently expanded its Electrical Apprenticeship program to a new campus on College Drive.

The program trains individuals to become journeymen electricians, and the new campus will only focus on electrical classes, offering four levels of electrical training. The new campus plans to open in August with several local Clay County electrical businesses sponsoring the program. It will be open to anyone who wants to attend the new campus instead of their main campus located on the Southside of Jacksonville.

Applications are now available on their website until June 13.

The apprenticeship program is a four-year registered program. It offers training while students work full time with their employer while attending school two nights a week to earn a trade license.

“It’s like college in reverse,” Director of Workforce Development Christina Thomas division said. “You work full time to learn your craft and then you supplement your education with the classes at night.”

Employers pay the students for work and their education with raises being offered every year.

“It’s 100% tuition-free,” Thomas said.

Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing and Sheet Metal are the five trades that are being offered to students who’ve earned a high school diploma.

“We highly encourage females to apply to our program and veterans,” Thomas said.

In addition, they reach out to the Clay County Schools District and sponsor its eight trade programs. She said they have an articulation agreement with Florida State College of Jacksonville where students receive college credit upon graduation that can be applied to an Associate in Science degree.

“It’s truly a great opportunity for the community and the people in it,” Thomas said.

Throughout the program, apprentices receive industrial credentials, and after graduation, they receive a certificate of completion from the Florida Department of Education in which makes them eligible for their journeyman certification.

It was originally started by Carmel Morris in 1973 when the labor market was in high demand for skilled craftsmen professionals. The organization will be celebrating 50 years of serving the north Florida area next year.

“It’s a great opportunity for somebody who wants to learn a skill and a trade that is going to mold them into leaders in the community,” Thomas said.

For more information about the NEFBA Apprenticeship Program, visit www.nefbaapprenticeship.org or call (904) 421-0296.