The Building Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Program (BTPA) was developed to address a growing need in Santa Cruz county to aid in the development and growth of employees in the trades industry. The goal is to educate, expose, and train students in the wide range of trades and vocational opportunities in our county; including plumbing, carpentry, electrical, large machine operations, and city and county jobs.
The first cohort, launched in Spring 2022 with 11 students under the guidance of CTE instructor Sean Patrick, was an amazing success. Students completed a 10 week intensive program which involved certification in union recognized MC3 curriculum, OSHA 10 
training, and AHA CPR/First Aid. Students toured local industries like Santa Cruz City Water Treatment Center, Granite Rock, and George W. Wilson. All 11 students completed the program and can now be found employed locally at Rosenthal Plumbing, Aptos Plumbing, Precision Title, Beaulieu Construction, Colligan Electric, A Tool Shed, and Sandbar Solar.
CALS is excited to have 3 cohorts taking place during the 2022-2023 school year that will also include the new Career Skill certification in partnership with Cabrillo College. This is a growing program that is an amazing opportunity for adults looking to gain the necessary skills in this industry sector.