On October 8th, four high school seniors took the first steps on their career path to become an HVAC Mechanic and Installer through the ApprenticeshipNH and ApprenticeshipNH-High School Program. The pre-apprenticeship to registered apprenticeship pathway model is possible through ApprenticeshipNH’s partnership with Concord Regional Technical Center, Pinkerton Academy and two leading HVAC companies in southern NH; AJ Leblanc Heating, A/C, Plumbing, and Electrical of Bedford and MSI Mechanical Systems Inc. of Salem. The first cohort of HVAC technician apprentices began October 8 and will continue through June 2022.
The pre-apprenticeship to registered apprenticeship pathway allows high students to explore careers through work-based learning experiences that lead to paid internships and end with a full-time registered apprentice opportunity. The model not only gives students the opportunity to take part in hand-on learning and experiences, but also provides companies with the ability to develop a talent pipeline.
Students of the program will begin by participating in a job shadow consisting of two full days with each company during October, November, and December while taking the HVAC 101 course at Manchester Community College. Each student will then apply for a paid internship at the company of their choice and then be guaranteed an interview to become a registered apprentice upon graduation.
