Greenville Technical College (GTC) cut ribbon today on a new, 16,220 square foot space for the HVAC and Industrial Electricity programs. The space opened in time for Fall Semester classes, with enrollment in both programs up more than 50 percent over last year.
The new labs and classrooms include high-tech tools for hands-on teaching such as smart home HVAC automation modules, energy recovery ventilation systems, and building management system trainers. Industrial electricity teaching tools include programmable logic controllers (PLCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), motor control trainers, and more, designed to simulate real-world commercial and industrial scenarios.
HVAC and Industrial Electricity have been cited as high-priority occupations for workforce development by the White House. Locally, demand is strong, with 165 openings for HVAC technicians in Greenville County and 1,465 across the state. In addition, there are 133 job openings in the county for industrial electricity technicians and 259 technicians projected to be needed in Upstate South Carolina over the next five years.
The opportunities are promising. HVAC experts in this area earn, on average, about $60,000. Industrial electricity graduates can earn over $62,000 on average.
“The exciting new space that we have officially opened today is a clear answer to workforce development needs,” said Dr. Candice Lewis, vice president for learning and workforce development at Greenville Technical College. “We are building a talent pipeline that can work on complex systems and meet rapidly changing demands while creating opportunity for students seeking a strong return on their educational dollar.”
Both the HVAC and the Industrial Electricity certificates require three semesters of full-time study. And because they are both high-demand fields, the cost of tuition, fees, and books is made more affordable with the Career Pathways Scholarship. Both certificates can also be used as stepping stones to an associate degree.
The space supports the college’s partnership with Greenville County Schools that allows students to graduate high school with a career path and an industry credential. The college, the school district, and OnTrack Greenville have come together to offer Accelerate U to students at Southside, Berea, and Carolina high schools, bringing students to the college for HVAC, Industrial Electricity, Aircraft, and Welding instruction with books, tools, and uniforms covered and transportation provided. In addition, students from almost all Greenville County Schools take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities to learn these skills while they’re still in high school.