Engineering Technician Training

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Engineering Technician Training Program

A 10-week training institute, Building a Trained Workforce for the State of Illinois Infrastructure Industry and IDOT through Engineering Technician Training (ET2) Program, will provide basic understanding of design, construction, and maintenance aspects of Civil Engineering projects; careers in the transportation and construction industry at technician level; and knowledge and skills needed to be an effective member of design and construction teams as entry-level technician.

Program Design:

Funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO), the goals and objectives of the proposed training institute will be accomplished by implementing a series of activities which will build upon the current knowledge of the participants. Designed to fulfill the need of the construction industry by training the underutilized but motivated adults to become entry-level technicians. Training includes; classroom instruction, hands-on training in laboratory and field, and on-the-job training in the field.  A partial list of the training that will be implemented are presented below.A partial list of that will be implemented are presented below.

  • Interactive and hands-on classroom activities by faculty and staff
  • Guest lectures by professionals from IDOT and other agencies working in the infrastructure and construction industry
  • Guest lectures by contractors who perform construction in the transportation industry
  • Hands-on laboratory training
  • Field training on real projects

Who is Eligible?

  • Eligible to work in the US
  • Be 21 years of age or older
  • Have a high school diploma or GED (The General Educational Development Test) equivalent
  • Preference will be given to residents of underserved/disadvantaged counties in Southern Illinois
  • Valid Illinois driver’s license
  • Illinois resident not currently employed in the infrastructure industry
  • Have not completed similar training before.

Training Outline:

The 10-week training starts May 19 and will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am-4:30pm. The primary location of the training will be in East St. Louis, IL, however, a few weeks of the training will be Carbondale, IL. A tentative schedule including locations will be provided to attendees on the first day of training. Transportation and shared hotel accommodation will be provided at no extra cost when trainees are in Carbondale, IL.

The selected participants must commit to complete all parts of the training. As an incentive to complete the training, the participants will receive a stipend/per-diem of $300 per week (for approximately 20 hours per week). The first payment of $1,200 will be made only after successfully completing the first 4 weeks of the training; the second payment of $1,200 will made after successfully completing 8 weeks of the training, and the final payment of $600 will be made after successfully completing all 10 weeks of the training. All the participants who successfully complete the training and pass the final exam will also receive a graduation bonus of $500.

Primary Training Location:

SIUE, East St. Louis
Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus
601 J.R. Thompson Blvd
East St. Louis, IL, 62201

Application Requirements:

The application window has closed. We will no longer accepting applications for the program.

  • Application
  • Statement of Commitment
    A pledge to complete the training and how you will apply yourself to the training program.
  • Impact Statement
    A written statement of how the training program will impact your life ie; supporting your family, building a lifelong career, preventing you from being homeless, sustainable income, etc.
  • Two letters of recommendation

Application deadline was March 15, 2023.

All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee. Selected candidates will be notified by March 31, 2023 and will be asked to confirm their participation. If for some reason a selected candidate drops out, another candidate from a waiting list pool will be selected. Participants will be asked to sign an agreement for participation in all activities of the institute and an understanding of program expectations related to behavior, attendance, transportation to and from the institute site, and other program requirements.

Disclaimer:

Please note that the participants will receive sufficient training to work as entry-level technicians. However, some agencies may require additional education or training. Completion of this training does not guarantee employment. The participants will have to seek employment themselves and apply for available jobs.