The Durham Tech Construction Trades Certificate provides students with training for entry-level positions in construction. Five classes are required: Carpentry I, Carpentry II, Blueprint Reading, Estimating, and Masonry. The sequence of courses takes the student from basic tools and equipment through the entire house-building process. Carpentry I and Blueprint Reading are offered in the Fall. Carpentry II and Estimating are offered in the Spring, and Masonry is offered in the Summer. Students may enter the program at any time.

This course covers basic masonry materials and installation. Students will be mixing mortar and installing bricks and cinder blocks. Procedures for building corner leads, hogging out, and laying to the line are covered. 108 hours.

This course covers advanced hand and power tool use and safety. In order to teach the course content, each student constructs an individual furniture/cabinetry project. Students are responsible for obtaining their own materials after consulting with the instructor. Suggested prerequisite: Beginning Woodworking. 64 hours.

This course covers basic hand and power tool use and safety. In order to teach the course content, each student constructs an individual furniture/cabinetry project. Students are responsible for obtaining their own materials after consulting with the instructor. 64 hours.

This course teaches the fundamentals of small commercial gasoline engine repair, including troubleshooting, maintenance, and rebuilding. 60 hours.

Learn the concepts and capabilities of computer numerical control (CNC) lathes and mills using GibbsCAM. Topics include programming, set-up, and basic operations. Emphasis is on programming and producing typical production parts in a machine shop environment. Upon completion, students should be able to explain operator safety, machine protection, data input, program preparation, and program storage. Textbook required. 42 hours. 

Learn the concepts and capabilities of computer numerical control (CNC) lathes and mills using MasterCAM. Topics include programming, set-up, and basic operations. Emphasis is on programming and producing typical production parts in a machine shop environment. Upon completion, students should be able to explain operator safety, machine protection, data input, program preparation, and program storage. Textbook required. 42 hours.

Steady demand continues for a qualified maintenance technician. Combine hard work and basic skills in key areas to improve your employment opportunities with local employers by completing this Continuing Education six-course Industrial Maintenance Certificate. This program consists of courses in Electricity, Industrial Controls, Machining, HVAC, Pneumatics/Hydraulics, and Welding.

This course provides an integrated approach to technology and the skills required to manipulate, display, and interpret mathematical functions and formulas used in problem solving. DC and AC electricity are introduced with emphasis on circuit operation, measurements, and operation of test equipment. Topics include DC and AC principles, OHM’S Law, circuit analysis practical application, components, test equipment operation, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret circuit schematics; design, construct, verify, and analyze DC/AC circuits; and properly use test equipment. Textbook required. 84 hours.

This course teaches trouble-shooting and repair of air conditioning systems. The course includes classroom instruction and hands-on practice. Emphasis is on how to properly leak test, evacuate and refrigerant charge residential and light commercial systems. 30 hours.

This course introduces the programmable logic controller (PLC) and its associated applications, magnetic circuits, transformers, DC/AC generators, and a review of the three-phase circuit fundamentals, including power factor. Topics include ladder logic diagrams, input/output modules, power supplies, surge protection, selection and installation of controllers, interfacing of controllers with equipment, magnetic terms and calculations, transformer calculations based on primary or secondary equivalent circuits, and generator regulation and efficiency calculations. Upon completion, students should be able to install PLCs, create simple programs, and perform regulation and efficiency calculations for DC/AC single-phase and three-phase transformer and generator circuits. Textbook required. 84 hours.

This course introduces machining operations as they relate to the metalworking industry. Topics include machine shop safety, measuring tools, lathes, saws, milling machines, pedestal grinders, surface grinders, and layout instruments. Upon completion, students should be able to safely perform the basic operations of measuring, layout, drilling, milling, sawing, turning, and grinding. 84 hours.

This course is an introduction to Oxy-Acetylene torch processes, shielded metal arc welding “STICK,” gas metal arc welding “MIG,” and gas tungsten arc welding “TIG.”  Students receive instruction through lecture, demonstration, and practical application. 30 hours.

The Building Level I course is designed for the education and training of the Building Level I code enforcement official who is responsible for inspecting small commercial construction up to 20,000 square feet in size. Textbooks with amendments are required and can be purchased at the N.C. Department of Insurance in Raleigh. Allow at least three weeks for delivery. The textbooks are Building Code, Accessibility Code, Residential Code, and Manufacturing Housing Code. For more information, visit http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Engineering/COQB/Documents/CurrentCourses.pdf  48 hours. Suggested Chapel Hill and Hillsborough Hotels.

Study the basics of residential construction, including building science, methods of construction, insulation, heating and air conditioning, ventilation, electrical, plumbing, building codes, footings and foundations, floors, and wall framing. This course is designed for anyone involved in residential real estate, including builders and supervisors. This is the prerequisite course for Professional Home Inspection Training. 
24 hours.Suggested Chapel Hill and Hillsborough Hotels.

This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the governmental and legal system with which every code enforcement official works. In addition, with the successful completion of the course and others specified by the N.C. Code Officials Qualification Board, course participants are eligible to take the state examination for inspector certification. The required textbooks are available online from the N.C. Department of Insurance at http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Engineering/COQB/Documents/CurrentCourses.pdf  Allow at least three weeks for delivery. 16 hours.Suggested Chapel Hill and Hillsborough Hotels.

This course assists students in preparing for the N.C. heating and air conditioning (H–3) license examination. The required textbooks are N.C. Building Code (Administration and Enforcement, Fuel Gas, Mechanical Code, and Energy Conservation) with current amendments, which are all available from the N.C. Department of Insurance (919-661-5880, ext. 240). In addition, Manual J – Load Calculation for Residential Summer and Winter Air Conditioning, Manual N – Load Calculation for Commercial Summer and Winter Air Conditioning (Using Unitary Equipment), Manual D – Duct Design for Residential Winter and Summer, which are all available from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (703-575-4477). Also, the Laws and Rules as well as the Business and Project Management for Contractors books are required; both are available from the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors (919-875-3612). Allow at least three weeks for textbook delivery. A study guide is provided to registered students. 40 hours.Suggested Chapel Hill and Hillsborough Hotels.

Students learn sufficient information and knowledge to perform home inspections once passing the N.C. home inspector pre-licensing exam. Topics covered include licensing law, standards of practice and code of ethics, N.C. State Building Code for residential construction, along with electrical, heating, plumbing, and air-conditioning systems. Actual field inspections of houses with their written reports are examined in order to take the N.C. Home Inspection Examination. Specific work and experience-related criteria must be met. Please refer to the NCDOI for those specifics. Textbook and reference manual required. The House as a System course is a prerequisite. 112 hours.

This course assists students in preparing for the residential building contractor's license exam. The N.C. Residential Code and N.C. Enforcement and Administration Requirement Code are reviewed. Building construction, associated trades, blueprint reading, and quantity take-off are covered. Students should have a minimum of two years experience in a related field. Additional costs include license application fees and books. 45 hours.

Back to Noncredit Course Offerings