New Training Curricula for Construction Industry Mentors and Workforce Development Professionals

Words: Dan KamysSeptember 20, 2016 — In response to the growing demand for workforce development professionals and mentors, NCCER has released two new training programs developed by subject matter experts: Construction Workforce Development Professional and Mentoring for Craft Professionals. [caption id="attachment_13861" align="alignnone" width="350"]The new Construction Workforce Development Professional training guide from NCCER. The new Construction Workforce Development Professional training guide from NCCER.[/caption]   The Construction Workforce Development Professional program, the first of its kind in the construction industry, establishes a standard for the skills and knowledge a construction workforce development professional should possess. Topics in the curriculum include effective communication; managing craft training programs and registered apprenticeships; policies and ethics; workforce and instructor recruitment; financial management and budgeting; marketing, public relations and community outreach; and business plan development. Training module completions from the curriculum are recorded in NCCER's Registry System when the program is taught under an NCCER certified instructor at an accredited organization. The Construction Workforce Development Professional program also includes a certification for individuals who successfully complete a written assessment through an NCCER Accredited Assessment Center. To find an accredited training and/or assessment center, visit nccer.org/center-search.aspx. NCCER also released its Mentoring for Craft Professionals curriculum. The average age of today's craft professional lies between 48 and 52 years old, and 75 million baby boomers are approaching or already at retirement age. Thus, it is more important than ever for experienced craft professionals to pass along their knowledge to the younger generation. The Mentoring for Craft Professionals curriculum details the expectations and outcomes of a mentoring relationship, characteristics of effective mentors, phases of mentoring relationships, communication techniques, conflict resolution and elements of a formal mentoring program. After completing the training program, mentors will be able to determine the needs of trainees and how they learn best. For more information, visit www.nccer.org or contact NCCER customer service toll-free at (888) 622-3720.
The Importance of Staying Engaged
September 2026

There’s an old adage in Washington, D.C.: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” After moving to Washington, D.C., in January of 2001 for what I thought would be a fun two years working for a Member of Congress while I figured out what I really want

Stephen Borg
Government Affairs
Read More
Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

Justin Stengel
Masonry in the Media
Read More
The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
The Wall
September 2026

There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More