The Trades Program at Boys Home of Virginia
Not Every Young Man Has to Go to College
Some learn best by building, fixing, creating. The Trades Program gives students hands-on training in six trade areas plus a nationally recognized certification they can use the day they graduate.
Nationally Recognized
Certification Before You Graduate
Students earn their NCCER Core Curriculum certification—a nationally recognized construction credential that gives them immediate credibility on job applications. This credential proves they know safety protocols, construction math, tool usage, blueprint reading, and professional communication.
NCCER (National Center for Construction Education & Research) is the industry standard. Employers across the country recognize this certification as proof of entry-level competency. Your son can walk into a job interview with concrete credentials, not just a diploma.
What the certification covers:
- Safety and health protocols
- Construction math and measurements
- Hand and power tool operation
- Blueprint reading and interpretation
- Materials handling and rigging
- Professional communication skills
Real Skills in Six Trade Areas
Six Trade Areas
Carpentry Blueprint reading, framing, finish work
Electrical Household wiring, safety protocols, code compliance
Plumbing Copper fitting, PEX, drainage systems
HVAC Basic systems, maintenance, troubleshooting
Masonry Concrete work, block laying, finishing
Landscaping Design, drainage, professional installation
Structured Like a Real Job
The Trades Program isn’t just classroom learning—it’s hands-on work that mirrors what students will experience on actual job sites.
Daily Safety Meetings Just like professional job sites
Rotating Leadership Students take turns as project foreman
Professional Tools Same equipment they’ll use in the field
What They're Building Right Now
Campus Projects
- Shop tables from blueprints
- Tool room construction
- Landscape installation with drainage
- Finishing tiny house (plumbing, electrical, drywall)
Multiple Paths to Success
For young men who’ve struggled in traditional academics, trades offer something different: immediate connection between classroom concepts and real-world application. When you can see how geometry applies to pipe fitting, or how math works in estimating a job, school starts making sense.
No Expensive College Required Start earning immediately after graduation
Industries Actively Hiring Skilled trades are in high demand nationwide
Strong Earning Potential Many trades pay $40k-$60k+ for entry-level positions
Multiple Skillsets = Backup Plans If Plan A doesn’t work, students know Plans B, C, and D
Foundation for Entrepreneurship Skills to start their own business down the road
Immediate Confidence Building Pride in tangible results: “I built that”
Building Toward Real-World Connections
The Trades Program is expanding to create direct pathways from campus to career:
Coming Soon
- Local contractor mentorships
- Internship opportunities with area businesses
- Guest speakers from construction companies
- On-campus employment program (students handle Boys Home maintenance work)
The Goal: Students graduate with not just skills and certification, but actual work experience on their resume. They’ll have handled real work orders, estimated jobs, managed materials, completed projects—all while still in school.
Dual Enrollment with Mountain Gateway Community College
Boys Home partners with Mountain Gateway Community College to give students access to college-level coursework while still in high school—and continuing education opportunities after graduation.
Current students are already enrolled. Two of our students are currently dual-enrolled in MGCC’s welding program and thriving in college-level work while completing their high school education.
NCCER-certified programs available through MGCC:
- NCCER Carpentry
- NCCER Core/Introductory Craft Skills
- NCCER HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration)
- NCCER Industrial Maintenance
- NCCER Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Levels 1-4
- NCCER Pipefitting
- NCCER Plumbing
Students can begin earning college credits and additional NCCER certifications before graduating high school, giving them a significant head start on their career path.
More Than Job Training
This isn’t just about teaching carpentry or electrical work. It’s about young men discovering they’re capable of more than they thought.
Students who struggled in traditional academics find confidence when they see math apply to pipe fitting, when they build something with their own hands, when they solve real problems. They rotate as project foreman and learn to lead. They start class by putting on their work uniform and end it by reading Jeremiah 29:11 together:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
That’s what the Trades Program is really about—helping young men see that their past doesn’t determine their future, and that they have the skills and the character to build something meaningful.
Ready to Learn More About the Trades Program?
Talk with our admissions team about whether Boys Home is the right fit for your son.