By Staff
Southwestern Michigan College is offering the builders' pre-license course beginning July 6 at the Niles area campus.
As of June 2008, the 60-hour course is required by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (MDELEG) for anyone seeking a state Residential Builders and Maintenance and Alteration Contractor license.
The course is designed for those who have skills in the construction trades but are not licensed by the state.
SMC is a MDELEG-approved pre-licensure education site. Students who complete the pre-licensure training will be eligible to take the state exam.
The pre-license class meets for five weeks on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays evenings through Aug. 6.
Class times vary depending on the areas of training. Students will receive a certificate of completion after finishing each course module successfully.
The four-credit hour course covers: business management, estimating and job costing, design and building science, contracts, liabilities and risk management, marketing and sales, project management and scheduling, Michigan Residential Building Code, construction safety standards (MIOSHA) and energy efficient green building practices.
In addition to the pre-licensure course, SMC offers a 33-credit Construction Trades Technology certificate for people who have no knowledge of the building trades industry.
The certificate prepares students in construction practices and meets the national standards defined by the state Residential Builder and Maintenance and Alteration Contractor license, as well as local apprenticeship programs.
For more information about the pre-license course, and tuition and fees, contact Susan Wandel, coordinator of Enrichment Courses, at 800-456-8675, ext. 1283 or swandel@swmich.edu.
If you are not a current SMC student, you can apply online by going to http://www.swmich.edu/applynow/.