1. CTM Welding
1345 North Dynamics St., Anaheim; 714-577-9353; ctmwelding.com
Welding takes more training that people might think and that’s what CTM Welding is here for. With courses and workshops for the beginner right up to the experienced welder who finally has a chance to get professional instruction, CTM has it all.
Refresher courses are available for welders intent on taking the City of Los Angeles LADBS Certified Welder Performance Test, with another workshop designed to aid in passing the written portion of the test. Workshops are also available for employers seeking to help their staff polish their skills and all courses and workshops are lead by experienced instructors.
“CTM is a fairly small and intimate trade school that works with each student on an individual basis,” says Johnathan Juarez, son of educator and co-owner of the school, John Juarez. “We primarily focus on training and certification to help our students obtain a job in their primary field of interest,”
The school also teaches shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), flux cored arc & gas metal arc welding (FCAW-GMAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) as well.
“With us being a small facility it allows us to have ample one-on-one time with our students,” Juarez says. “CTM does its best to assess each student’s individual needs and helps them progress through the program at a learning rate that suits their needs.”
2. Brownson Technical School
1110 Technology Circle, Suite D, Anaheim; 714-774-9443; brownson.edu
Brownson Technical School grads have a high success rate for employment because they typically get the most cutting edge training in HVAC/R trends.
For more than 30 years, the school’s training programs prepped students in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration repair, maintenance and design. And because Brownson has built relationships in the industry, it’s become a go-to school for employers. Many of the former students eventually become business owners themselves, and frequently hire Brownson graduates.
According to Brownson’s website, 87 percent of its graduates found work in the HVAC industry within one year. Grads enter the work force with 1,040 hours of hands-on training on a wide-range of real equipment in one of the biggest HVAC labs in Southern California. Training courses for beginners and advanced technicians are available in 10-month and 22-month plans.
3. South Coast College
2011 W Chapman Ave, Orange; 714-867-5009; southcoastcollege.edu
South Coast College is a community college that has specialized in career training for a people starting out, changing careers, or re-entering the workforce.
Founded in 1961, the college focuses on three fields, offering a Court Reporter Certificate Program, a Paralegal AA Degree Program and a Medical Assistant Certificate Program. The programs are decidedly student-friendly with flexible day or night class schedules, held in smaller classrooms that allow for more personalized learning experiences. Instructors are experienced in the field and the programs have respected reputations in the state of California.
With a small student body of between 200-400 students, alumni have a strong success record and often start their own businesses. Many return to campus as mentors to help support students and the programs that helped them. One South Coast grad is even the court reporter on the Emmy-award winning courtroom show “Judy Justice.”
