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4 | Transportation Today Wisconsin™ Online Edition: www.transportationtodaywi.com

Wisconsin DOT’s Highway Construction Skills Training

Program Offers Path To Career In Road Construction Industry

Prospective applicants are encouraged
to visit wisconsindot.gov/HCST to review
testimonials and find more information on
upcoming sessions. Employers, as well, are
encouraged to get to know the program and
benefits of hiring skilled HCST workers.
HCST classes are held in Milwaukee,
Racine, Madison, Green Bay, Crandon and
Hayward. HCST sessions at any of the six
locations are open to qualified applicants. Core
service partners include: WRTP Big Step,
Forward Services Corp., WisDOT’s Tribal
Labor Advisory Committee, Sokaogon Chip-
pewa Community College and Lac Courte
Oreilles Ojibwe University.

ighway and bridge construction jobs
are in demand, and these jobs are a DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
Hgreat way to earn a living. You might A chance to chart a
wonder, “where would I even start?” A good stronger financial future
answer is to check out the Highway Con- as many opportunities 1 PHYSICAL ENDURANCE
struction Skills Training (HCST) program, start at $20-plus per You can tackle the elements, like working with your hands, and
managed by the Wisconsin Department of can work 40 hours a week.
Transportation (WisDOT). hour with room to grow.
No prior construction experience is PASSION FOR CONSTRUCTION
required. You may even be surprised how Completion of the HCST program is 2
quickly you develop new skills. HCST is a You want the satisfaction of building the road you travel on and
certified pre-apprenticeship program taught reliant upon passing a Commercial Driver seeing the results of your work.
by knowledgeable and passionate instructors. License (CDL) written exam, passing an
They will help you learn everything from apprenticeship test from one of the skilled 3 A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE
the terminology to the tools, methods, math, trades, receiving flagger certification, and A valid driver’s license is needed to travel to training and
safety regulations — even other skills like completing OSHA 10 safety training. While it worksites. We can also help you obtain CDL certification.
putting yourself out there, interviewing and may sound like a daunting list, WisDOT staff
landing your new job. and the service providers work very hard to 4 MATH AND READING SKILLS
coordinate an effective program with expe- You should be able to read and do math at a 6th grade level.
rienced professionals. Instructors work with Coursework involves construction math and terminology.
Most graduates line students every step of the way. To date, more
than 1,000 HCST graduates have been placed CAN PASS A DRUG TEST
up good-paying jobs 5
with employers as laborers or apprentices. Safety is a priority on any construction site. You will be trained
as laborers, flaggers, Take action on your new career path in to save lives in this program, and you must be clean to join.
ironworkers and highway and bridge construction:
equipment operators • Visit wisconsindot.gov/HCST to find * Participants must be 18 years or older.
application materials, an interactive tool
upon completion of
to find a class near you and links to testi-
training. monials.
• Keep your eye out too! WisDOT Labor
Development Specialists also work to
The training is a six- to eight-week com- promote the HCST training program at
mitment in a hands-on environment. It includes many career fairs and other outreach
on-site visits with construction contractors and engagements across the state.
trade unions as well as classroom instruction
by WisDOT and other industry partners.
The HCST program has many connec-
tions to the construction marketplace, most
graduates line up good-paying jobs as labor-
ers, flaggers, ironworkers and equipment
operators upon completion of training. Many
graduates frequently talk about the experience
as life-changing, and reference a sense of pride
and accomplishment in their newfound work.
It’s also a chance to chart a stronger financial
future as many opportunities start at $20-plus
per hour with room to grow.