HCC home to first American Welding Society testing and certification site in Hillsborough County
TAMPA, FL – Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is now home to the first American Welding Society (AWS) testing and certification site in Hillsborough County. The AWS testing and certification site will be housed at the HCC Ybor City Campus Training Center located at 5610 East Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL 33619. AWS testing will begin July 1, 2017.
“By having this testing center in Hillsborough County, individuals will no longer have to travel to neighboring counties to test for their professional certifications. This effectively removes employment barriers for both current welding students and incumbent workers seeking advancement,” said HCC Vice President of Workforce Training, Dr. Ginger Clark. “By accelerating the post-training to employment process, we will be able to effectively close the skills gap for employers in this region at a faster rate.”
The HCC welding program began in 2013 and prepares individuals to become certified welding technicians through hands-on training and advanced coursework. All students in the program are eligible to earn industry-recognized credentials certified by the American Welding Society that lead directly into employment and are eligible to articulate towards an associate in science degree in Industrial Management.
HCC has received more than $1.2 million in funding from the United States Department of Commerce, the Florida Legislature, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and JPMorgan Chase to expand the welding program and provide additional space for other workforce programs at the college.
Hillsborough Community College serves over 44,000 students annually at its five campuses located throughout Tampa Bay. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.