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Your roadmap

From High School to a Career in Three Steps

Louisiana's Jump Start program lets students earn real industry credentials before leaving high school through both the Architecture & Construction and Manufacturing pathways. Both pathways lead directly into industrial craft careers.

1

9th & 10th Grade

Start the Foundation

Talk to your school counselor about the Jump Start Architecture & Construction and Manufacturing pathways. If your school offers it, begin NCCER Core Curriculum, the foundation credential that opens the door to all craft training.

NCCER Core
Learn about NCCER Core →
2

11th & 12th Grade

Choose Your Craft & Train

Choose a trade based on the kind of work that interests you. Many parishes offer Jump Start Fast Forward, where students earn dual-enrollment college credit at a training campus while still in high school.

NCCER Level 1+ Dual Enrollment Fast Forward
3

Graduation

Launch Your Career

Graduate with your Jump Start Career Diploma and NCCER credential in hand. You will be qualified to enter Louisiana's industrial workforce with real, employer-recognized skills and a clear path to keep advancing.

Jump Start Career Diploma NCCER Credential

In-demand careers

Pick the Work That Fits You

Each of these trades offers strong wages, long-term job security, and real opportunities to grow into supervisory and leadership roles. Click any career to learn more about what the work actually looks like day-to-day.

Electrician
Install and maintain electrical systems in industrial facilities
Pipefitter
Assemble and maintain high-pressure piping systems
Welder
Join metals using specialized techniques across many industries
Millwright
Install, align, and maintain industrial machinery and equipment
Instrumentation
Install and maintain the control systems that run industrial plants
More careers
Explore all craft paths at BYF.org

Career information provided by BYF.org (Build Your Future)

Why this matters

Louisiana Needs Skilled Craft Workers Now

Louisiana's industrial sector is in the middle of a sustained surge in construction and maintenance projects. The chart below shows the gap between how many skilled workers are needed and how many are available through normal labor supply channels.

Industrial Craft Disciplines — Louisiana

Skilled Labor Supply vs. Demand (Industrial Only)  ·  Data as of: March 15, 2026

Source: Construction Industry Resources (CIR), CLMA Report. BLS supply data. Displayed through Q3 2028.

Training programs

Find a Campus Near You

Search by school name, city, or semester to find the training program that fits your location and schedule. All campuses below offer NCCER-credentialed craft training through the Jump Start pathway.

School & Location Semester Dates & Info
ABC New Orleans Bayou Training Center101 Riverbend Dr, St Rose, LA 70087
(504) 468-3188		 Fall 2026 Registration opens April 6, 2026More info →
Delgado Community CollegeRiver City Site: 709 Churchill Pkwy, Avondale, LA 70094
(504) 342-3400		 Summer 2026 Semester begins June 3More info →
Nunez Community College3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA 70043
(504) 278-6420		 Fall 2026 Semester begins August 18More info →
River Parishes Community CollegeReserve Campus: 181 Regala Park Road, Reserve, LA 70084
(985) 536-4418		 Fall 2026 Semester begins August 17More info →
River Parishes Community CollegeSt. Charles Campus: 13145 HWY 90, Boutte, LA 70039
(985) 785-5080		 Fall 2026 Semester begins August 17More info →