Includes Construction & Heavy Equipment Operator Simulation Training - SWOCC release - COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) is now enrolling students for its SWOCC Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, with the next class running April 20 through September 24, 2026.  Designed to help students quickly gain skills for in-demand trades careers, SWOCC Works provides hands-on training in construction fundamentals and heavy equipment operation at no cost to participants.  The program is open to anyone age 18 and older, with no prior experience required. To get started, visit the SWOCC Works webpage and follow the “Steps to Join”: www.socc.edu/programs-classes/workforce-training/swocc-works/.  Participants complete 180 hours of training over approximately 22½ weeks, combining classroom instruction with hands-on learning. Students build foundational skills in framing, electrical, plumbing, sheetrock installation, and exterior siding, while also completing heavy equipment operator simulation training.  Graduates earn multiple industry-recognized credentials, including OSHA 10, First Aid/CPR, Flagger, Forklift Operator, Green Construction, and the nationally recognized MC3 certificate. Some certification components may be scheduled outside regular class hours.  Students who complete the program are also eligible to receive eight pre-apprenticeship application points toward the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 701 and may qualify for direct entry into apprenticeship pathways.  In addition to technical training, students receive guidance from on-site advisors who help them prepare for employment or apprenticeship opportunities aligned with their goals.  The program is fully funded through grant support, making it available at no cost to participants.  Courses are offered at SWOCC’s Coos Campus in Coos Bay, Monday–Thursday, with both daytime and evening options available, including:  10:00 a.m. – Noon; 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  A future cohort is planned to start in Fall 2026, with tentative class dates running October 5, 2026 – March 25, 2027.  WHAT: SWOCC Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program; WHERE: SWOCC Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay; WHEN: April 20 – September 24, 2026 (Fall cohort planned October 5, 2026 – March 25, 2027); COST: FREE (grant-funded).  Learn more and get started:  www.socc.edu/programs-classes/workforce-training/swocc-works/