North Central Missouri College is helping skilled trades instructors across North America turn their professional training and experience into college credentials through a new partnership with the Carpenters International Training Fund and the University of Central Missouri.
Through the five-year agreement, NCMC will provide an Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology pathway for instructors affiliated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. After earning their associate degree, participants will have the opportunity to continue their education at UCM through the NCMC–UCM Direct Connect partnership.
The collaboration connects industry training, community college coursework and university degree completion, creating a more accessible educational pathway for working professionals. Approximately 500 instructors are expected to receive training and certification each year through the partnership.
“North Central Missouri College is proud to be part of a partnership that meets students where they are and helps them move forward,” said NCMC President Dr. Lenny Klaver. “Many of these participants bring years of professional experience and leadership in the skilled trades. Our role is to help translate that experience into a meaningful academic pathway while helping students navigate transcripts, prior coursework and the first steps of returning to college. The pathway can continue through UCM and support their long-term professional growth.”
NCMC will work directly with participants as they begin or return to college, providing assistance with admissions, transcript reviews, previous coursework and the recognition of applicable training and professional experience.
Faculty and staff from NCMC, UCM and the Carpenters International Training Fund are working together to align industry training with college-level learning requirements. This collaborative process is intended to reduce unnecessary duplication and help participants progress efficiently toward certificates and degrees.
In some cases, training completed through the Carpenters International Training Fund and coursework completed through UCM may apply toward NCMC’s associate degree requirements. This allows students to build upon their existing education and professional experience rather than beginning their college journey from the start.
Through NCMC’s Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology program, participants can earn a college credential that recognizes their technical expertise while developing additional skills needed for advancement in education, training and leadership roles.
After completing the associate degree, students can continue through NCMC’s Direct Connect partnership with UCM and pursue a Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies and Training. Additional credentials in areas such as industry education, career and technical education and safety science may also be available as participants continue their education.
“This partnership reflects UCM’s commitment to workforce development and educational opportunities that support skilled trades professionals across North America,” said Roger Best, president of UCM. “By working with NCMC and UBC, we are helping create a pathway that recognizes applied learning, supports career advancement and connects industry training to meaningful academic credentials.”
The Carpenters International Training Fund is the training division of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, which represents more than 530,000 members across the United States and Canada. The fund supports union members and contractors through curriculum development, instructor education, and technical and leadership training.
Training is conducted at the Carpenters International Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The facility serves approximately 15,000 members annually and includes more than 70 classrooms, conference spaces, technical laboratories and additional training facilities.
“Our members and contractors depend on world-class training, and that starts with world-class instructors,” said Bob Jacobson, executive director of the Carpenters International Training Fund. “This partnership gives our instructors new opportunities to earn academic credentials while enhancing their ability to deliver the industry-leading training that has become the hallmark of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.”
The partnership moved quickly from initial discussions in June 2025 to its first course offering in November 2025. Six instructor certification courses began during the spring 2026 semester, and courses connected to NCMC’s Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology are expected to begin during the summer and fall 2026 terms.
As the partnership grows, NCMC, UCM and the Carpenters International Training Fund will continue identifying opportunities to recognize prior learning, align coursework and create additional educational pathways for apprenticeship instructors nationwide.