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Certificate Programs

The colleges listed below are a cluster alliance of colleges offering certificates in energy industry programs, supported by industry partnerships.

Centralia College
Center of Excellence for Energy Technology

Centralia College is the Center of Excellence for Energy Technology and offers a Power Operations Certificate of Proficiency and Customer Operations Certificates of Completion. Centralia, WA is situated at the center of major power producers that include coal, gas and four hydro dams within a 30-mile radius of the city that collectively employs over 1000 people. These employers act as advisory to the program, providing subject matter expertise ensuring the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our students meet the ever changing demands of the energy industry. The Energy Technology ATA and Power Operations Certificate programs prepare students for entry level power generation positions such as assistant control operator, technician and other high voltage apprenticeships.
Contact: Cindy Mann
Phone: (360) 736-9391, ext 280
Email: cmann@centralia.edu

Clark College
Power Utilities Technology Program

Power Utilities Technology Certificate of Proficiency
The Clark College Power Utilities Technology Certificate Program prepares the student for various entry level positions in electric utilities, firms servicing the utilities and industrial firms using power level electrical equipment in their operations. Electric power system operation involves high power level generation, transmission and distribution facilities and related monitoring, control and protection equipment. Efficient and reliable operation of these systems require operations and maintenance staff members who understand the characteristics of the various systems and understand how to safely operate and maintain such complex and high power level equipment.
Primary Knowledge Presented in Power Utilities Technology:
  • The elements of Electric Power Systems
  • The technical characteristics of those elements
  • Operation of electric power systems
  • Monitoring and control systems
  • Safety procedures related to operation of high power equipment
  • Trouble Shooting Procedures
  • Organization of the electric power industry
Graduates with Clark's Power Utilities Technology Certificate of Proficiency will be competitive candidates for entry level positions such as:
  • Utility Lineman Apprentice
  • Utility Electrician Apprentice
  • Utility Meter/Relay Technician Apprentice
  • Utility Project Cost Estimator Trainee
  • Utility Substation Apprentice
  • Industrial Electrician Apprentice
With no previous experience, typical salaries start at between $30,000 to $45,000 per year. As experience and additional education is achieved salaries range from $60,000 to $70,000 per year. Advancement depends on success in utility and/or industrial training programs, success in developing required workplace skills, willingness to accept, in some cases, geographical relocations and, most important, the ability to work cooperatively in technical teams. Graduates of the Clark College Power Utilities Technology Program are now employed in utility apprenticeship programs with Bonneville Power Administration, Clark Public Utilities, and Chelan PUD.
Program Web Site: http://www.clark.edu/academics/programs/electronics/
Contact: Jim Malinowski
Phone: (360) 992-2974
Email: jmalinowski@clark.edu

Gonzaga University
School of Engineering

Transmission and Distribution Electrical Engineering Certificate
Gonzaga University School of Engineering and Applied Science will be offering a Certificate Program in Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Engineering, beginning Fall 2007. The certificate program consists of five 3-credit courses developed through collaboration with practicing utility engineers. The eight-week courses will be offered online and taught by industry leaders and Gonzaga engineering faculty. Registration for the Transmission and Distribution Certification program will begin in May for Fall 2007 courses.
Students will be able to register and take these courses online from anywhere in the country and have immediate access to high quality training from industry and academic experts. The program offers cutting-edge training in an affordable program that typically takes one year to complete. For more information, please see the program web site below.
Pre-Requisites: B.S. Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or other engineering field and employed in electric utility or related industry.
Program Web Site: http://www.eng.gonzaga.edu/tandd/
Contact: Jilliene McKinstry
Phone: (509) 323-5701
Email: mckinstry@gonzaga.edu

Shoreline Community College

Three certificates will be offered beginning Spring 2008 and Fall 2008:
Zero Energy Building Practices - Certificate of Proficiency (doc)
Zero Energy Building Practices - Career Planning Guide (doc)
Solar/Photovoltaic (PV) Designer Certificate (doc)
Program Web Site: http://www.shoreline.edu/
Renewable Energy Program Development Study
Contact: Berta Lloyd, Dean Workforce Education, Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (206) 546-4595
Email: blloyd@shoreline.edu

Wenatchee Valley College

Energy Technology Certificate
The WVC offers an Energy Technology Certificate Program. The energy technology program is designed for students who plan a career in the power generation industry, such as power plant operators, maintenance and repair workers, electrical power line repairers and installers, first-line supervisors and managers -- where a 50 percent decrease in the workforce is expected over the next five to eight years.
Program Web Site: http://www.wvc.edu/directory/departments/energy_tech/
Contact:
Phone:
Email:

Center of Excellence for Energy Technology logo

Center of Excellence

Center of Excellence
for Energy Technology
Centralia College
600 Centralia College Blvd
Centralia WA 98531
(360) 736-9391, ext. 280
coe@centralia.edu