Aims is expanding its industry certificate program for high-demand careers in Technical Education CTE.
“Industrial technology skills are filling massively growing needs in virtually every industry. The job market is currently very employee-friendly, but competition for jobs is increasing,” said Dave Sordi, industrial technology department chairman for Aims.
“They need to be ready to differentiate themselves from competitors for jobs. This is one way that students can do that,” Sordi said. “In addition, these certificates provide additional validation of a student’s efforts in the classroom and lab.”
According to officials, the Aims Hansen Grant would fund Industrial Technology and Oil & Gas students to prepare them with additional training and resources needed for the Smart Automation Certificate Alliance exams set for this fall.
SACA certifications qualify students for industrial automation and robotics jobs. Working professionals interested in learning a new skill can take the certification classes, as well.
Sordi said the school is looking forward to moving in this direction.
“This is a significant step because it provides another mechanism for students to demonstrate their expertise beyond a diploma or certificate they receive from Aims,” Sordi said. “As the job market becomes more competitive, these types of certificates will provide students with additional firepower to rise above the competition for a job.”
Sordi said Ben Rager was the first student to receive the SACA Silver Certificate for Programmable Controllers. Rager prepared for the certificate exam by going above and beyond studying outside of class and working an additional 40 hours.
It’s a skill in high demand in industrial automation and control systems. Students could apply for jobs as PLC programmers, automation engineers, control systems engineers, industrial maintenance technicians, or manufacturing engineers.
“While Rager has just begun his Aims journey, he is already a standout student,” Sordi said. “Ben is one of the most driven young students we’ve had in our program.
“The enthusiasm he brings to the classroom is contagious. What I am most impressed with is his leadership capabilities. He is a natural leader. Because he is so enthusiastic, people readily accept his role as leader, and he does it extremely well.”
Sordi said Rager completed his first year at Aims this spring and is working towards an Industrial Technology Associate of Applied Science.
“He also attends Colorado Early Colleges for high school and will begin his senior year this fall. Rager comes to Aims with some experience in the electrical field, as he apprenticed with his father, a master electrician,” Sordi said.
Colorado Early Colleges is a program where high school students starting in 9th grade can take college credit classes so they can graduate with an associate degree or a technical education certificate or take 60 plus college credits within four years, according to officials.
Learn more about Industrial Technologies and Energy Studies programs at aims.co/industrial-tech.