A new seven-week intensive training program is turning incarceration into an opportunity for career-readiness in the skilled trades. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors— National Association (PHCC) Indiana Chapter in conjunction with the PHCC Educational Foundation has launched a specialized HVAC and plumbing re-entry program designed for prisoners who want to pursue a life in the trades after serving their time.  

Adapted from PHCC Academy’s online curriculum, the HVAC and plumbing pre-apprenticeship courses could help address the state’s technician shortage where possible by equipping inmates with the necessary skills before they return to the community.  

The in-person course is being held weekly, in two-hour sessions at the Hamilton County Jail Indiana in Noblesville, IN, where participants learn from the instructor to be able to meet the course requirements. The first set of eight inmates – individuals with non-violent, minor offenses – were enrolled in the program in March. To be eligible, prisoners must express interest in the trades and get approved for the course – and there is currently a waiting list to participate in the future.  

The first cohort is learning the HVAC Pre-apprentice curriculum, which delivers a robust foundation in HVAC safety and applied mathematics, while providing hands-on instruction in the tools, materials, and methods used, including the refrigeration cycles that are essential to modern HVAC systems. Chuck Gillespie, the state executive director, is running the pre-apprenticeship program inside the jail and will issue training certificates to the prisoners who complete the course.  

“This is an extraordinary program and an opportunity for inmates to get a second chance in life,” said Gillespie. “By offering these individuals the life skills and professional training, we’re helping to prepare them for future employment in the trades.” 

To support them in their transition back into the workforce, Gillespie is working with local PHCC member organizations to provide the inmates interview opportunities upon successful course completion. “While we cannot promise they will get hired, we can do our best to set them up for success,” added Gillespie. 

The p-h-c industry is experiencing a long-term shortage of skilled workforce locally, in Indiana, as well as on a national level. By 2027, the shortage could reach 225,000 HVAC technicians, alone, across the country due to an aging workforce, a decline in vocational training and a societal push toward traditional college degrees, as well as a surging demand for services. 

This initiative comes as part of a wider “TOWER” program (Transitioning Opportunities for Work, Education and Reality), a career-help initiative organized by the Hamilton County Indiana Jail, providing hope and equipping prisoners with skills to integrate into daily life more easily. On top of setting participants up for a career in the skilled trades, the prison holds career fairs and organizes wider professional activities such as resume-writing to get them ready for life after prison.  

The PHCC of Indiana Chapter is determined to make this a successful program, and should inmates get released before they finish the HVAC training, the Foundation will enroll them in the online pre-apprentice course free-of-charge, maximizing their chance at completion.   

“When we first introduced our pre-apprentice courses, we opted for the online mode to offer participants flexibility,” said Dan Quinonez, the Executive Director of the PHCC Educational Foundation. “We’ve now identified a group of hardworking men looking to course correct and find a good job; we’re happy to meet them in a way that best supports them. Our educational catalog is comprehensive and designed to inspire individuals to find their way in the trades, so this initiative is a perfect fit for our overall goal.”