About Us

Vocational Schools Midland MI, Saginaw MI, Lansing MI

The Greater Michigan Construction Academy (GMCA) facilitates opportunities for career growth in the construction industry through continuing education programs targeting craft workers, foremen, supervisors, project managers, superintendents and company management.

Providing such programs is important to the construction industry to achieve knowledgeable employees and a safe work environment. 

GMCA is an accredited member of the NCCER

This accreditation means GMCA meets and exceeds all requirements of the nationally standardized program. As a result, each student is entered into a national teaching program that can be easily transferred among accredited sponsors and throughout the industry. In other words, a GMCA student can take their transcripts to any other participating NCCER member and continue training, having a recognized document to reflect past classroom experiences. 

More than 325 training facilities in 50 states and eight countries are proud to be NCCER Accredited Training Sponsors. Millions of craft professionals and construction managers have received quality construction education through NCCER’s network of Accredited Training Sponsors and the thousands of Training Units associated with the Sponsors. Every year the number of NCCER Accredited Training Sponsors increases significantly.

What is a construction career?

Our History

With the high demand for craft skill workers, Greater Michigan Construction Academy began its apprenticeship training program in 1983. The classes utilized the Wheels of Learning curriculum developed by ABC National. The first classes offered were electrical and pipefitter. Three years later, in 1986, the programs’ first graduating class was awarded certifications. At that time 300 students were enrolled and seven trades were offered! 

Through the accomplishments of the programs, the chapter received national recognition for its efforts in education in 1986. James Hovey, Hovey Electric, and Don Yeager, Coleman Electric, accepted the “Award of Excellence in Education” at the national convention in Anaheim, California. The chapter’s training program has continued to excel year after year, and received a second “Award of Excellence in Education” in 1992. 

In 1992, with the classroom training in place, GMCA became certified with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and Training, to develop the chapter’s BAT Apprenticeship program. This program meets all federal and state requirements for formal apprenticeship training with classroom instruction.  

In 1995, the Wheels of Learning apprenticeship program combined with the training programs of other associations and employers throughout the industry created what would become the best standardized and portable training process in the country. This would create the best-trained workforce and give both employers and employees the national registration program necessary for today’s competitive and ever moving workforce. These “partnerships” created the NCCER, in Gainesville, Florida. In 1997, the chapter became an Accredited Training Program through the NCCER. 

To this day, GMCA and NCCER work closely to be the world’s leader in apprenticeship and craft training in the merit shop construction industry.  In developing and revising the apprentice program the “Wheels of Learning” has now become known as the “NCCER Curricula.”

Skilled Trades training has benefited me by opening up opportunities at different companies that wouldn’t even take a second look if I hadn’t had a formal, post-secondary education. It gives me a leg up on anyone who just has a high school diploma.
Adam Emery, Pipefitter & Millwright, GMCA Alumni

Primary Communities Served

Auburn
Bay City
Carrollton
Chesaning
Coleman

Edenville
Essexville
Frankenmuth
Freeland

Hemlock
Kawkawlin
Lansing
Linwood

Merrill
Midland
Millington
Oil City

Richville
Saginaw
Saginaw Twp.
Shields

St. Charles
University Center
Vassar
Zilwaukee