Northern’s Technical Trades

NNMC Technical Trades offers certificate and associate degree programs in Plumbing, Pipefitting and Electrical Technology. Both programs are approved by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the New Mexico Higher Education Department, providing students with college credit while they learn highly marketable skills in these fields.

Collaborating with local unions

The plumbing program was developed in collaboration with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters local union 412. Northern’s Electrical Technology program has been offered for many years, but the curriculum has been enhanced in collaboration with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local union 611. Close associations with these local unions strengthen curriculum development and provide pathways to union apprenticeships and membership.

Trades classes taught in El Rito & Española

The curriculum is taught on both the El Rito and Española campuses as well as several satellite locations. The El Rito campus has an electrical lab geared toward both residential and commercial training and a well-equipped plumbing and pipefitting lab, and students from Mesa Vista High School in Ojo Caliente are taking dual credit courses on the campus.

Northern’s Continuing Education program participants and dual credit students from Española Valley High School are taking classes in an upgraded welding lab on the Española campus, and a former facilities shop on that campus is being transformed into a lab for electrical and HVAC classes. The college just received a grant from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to upgrade the electricity in the El Rito welding lab so they can operate their large equipment.