Opportunities with The Pennsylvania Petroleum Association Technical Education Center 

The PA CareerLink® partners with local training providers who have applied to be included on PA’s Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). Through this partnership, the PA CareerLink® is able to send approved participants to training programs that will lead to employment in high priority occupations. A newer addition to this list is the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association Technical Education Center (PPATEC). PPATEC offers leading hands-on training solutions for the HVAC and energy industry. The school is licensed by the PA Department of Education and is approved for the use of GI Bill® benefits. Their approved program is a 10-week HVAC & Energy Professional Program that covers electrical, air conditioning systems, heating systems, and propane distribution systems. Individuals who attend the program will receive basic foundational training along with industry specific certifications that will be value to employers.

PPATEC is the trade school of the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association which represents 450+ companies in the HVAC and energy throughout the Commonwealth. The program curriculum was design by PPA employer members who have interest in hiring the graduates. Graduates who are hired from this program will continue to be developed through on-the-job training with their employer. The specialized skills gained in this program gives the opportunity for competitive employment packages and long-term career growth.

On January 15, four students who met the requirements of programming at the PA CareerLink® began their 10-week course with PPATEC. These four students will spend time learning the skills required for employment in the HVAC and Energy industry. Upon successful completion of the program, they will have the opportunity to interview with interested employers and participate in a signing day with their classmates to become official employees of that company.

PA CareerLink® Youth Events

Over the past couple of months, we at the PA CareerLink® South Central Region have been connecting with schools in our counties to ensure students are aware of the PA CareerLink® and what services we have that can help them in the future. These youth days are to get students the resources they need for whatever their next steps may be after high school.

During our youth days, we have the students participate in a variety of activities to get them started on their career path.

  1. Setting up a PA CareerLink® Account on our Job Portal
    We have students setup a PA CareerLink® Account and give them a tour through the job search portal, upload their resume and learn more about our SkillUp Program.
  2. Virtual Reality Career Exploration
    Using our Virtual Reality headsets we have the students explore a variety of high demand fields in Virtual Reality. This gives them a quick, hands-on look at careers they may not have known or thought about.
  3. Resume Workshop
    Because many students have never written a resume before, we give them an introductory workshop to help them get started. The resume is later used in the PA CareerLink® Account.
  4. Mock Interviews with employers
    We have a variety of interviewers from local businesses come in and preform a practice interview with the students. Here they’re able to get real-time feedback and a rating with comments at the end.

We find that these PA CareerLink® Youth Day events help empower the students by providing the knowledge they need for their next steps. Whether it’s school, an entry level job, or training, we want to ensure that these students know we’re here for them when they need us.