North Georgia Technical College has added a continuing education program for waste management, the first of its kind in the state.
The program, which will feature on-site training at NGTC’s Clarkesville’ Campus, focuses on the components of septic system installation.
Leslie McFarlin, Vice President of Economic Development for NGTC said on WDUN’s Morning’s on Maine Street Wednesday that her department focuses on continuing education, licensure certification and industry training.The programs are non-credit, meaning students do not go through an application process for the training.
McFarlin said the newest program was created in collaboration with industry experts.
“We have partnered with on-site waste consultant, Mr. Harold Kilgore, who has been a septic system installer for many, many years, and is very well respected in this area, to design [the] continuing education program,” McFarlin said.
School officials also partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health in the designing of the continuing education workshops and training grounds.
The program has been in the making for nearly two years. It differentiates itself by allowing students to study the systems above ground, providing a hands-on learning experience. McFarlin said the most similar program is located in Griffin, Ga. However, NGTC’s program aims to serve the North Georgia region as growth continues.
“We're really experiencing historic growth north of Atlanta, in our area,” she said. “And there's really not been many continuing education opportunities for certifications for installers, pumpers, soil classifiers, portable sanitation providers, in Northeast Georgia.”
NGTC will unveil the training grounds with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 15, with the first workshop scheduled for Sept. 29.
