CraftPro gives contractors a flexible way to train new employees and experienced workers through self-paced courses on mobile devices.
Construction companies looking for more flexible ways to train their workers have a new option from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.
NCCER launched CraftPro in August as a mobile-focused training platform designed to help construction workers learn new skills, refresh existing knowledge and follow training programs that are tailored to their jobs.
The platform offers self-paced courses with instructional videos led by industry professionals. Training is available in both English and Spanish, allowing workers to access lessons from jobsites or wherever they have time to learn.
Training that fits the job
NCCER developed CraftPro around a common challenge for contractors: finding enough time and resources to train employees while keeping projects moving.
Lisa Strite, NCCER’s chief learning officer, said the platform was created to address both workforce development and the need for companies to make better use of the workers they already have.
Rather than requiring every employee to follow the same training schedule, companies can create learning paths based on the skills a worker needs for a particular position.
That can allow workers to learn a skill shortly before they are expected to use it on the job, instead of completing training months in advance and potentially losing some of that knowledge before it becomes relevant.
Designed for contractors of different sizes
CraftPro is available through a subscription model based on the size of the company.
The platform gives contractors access to courses covering a range of construction trades. That could be particularly useful for smaller companies that may not have dedicated training staff, classrooms or the resources to run large formal programs.
Strite said the platform is not designed to replace apprenticeships, classroom instruction or hands-on jobsite training.
Instead, it is intended to add another layer to those programs by giving workers access to instruction through their phones.
The platform can also be used by employers to create company-specific learning paths and credentials tied to particular roles.
English and Spanish training
Language accessibility is another major part of CraftPro.
The platform’s training content is available in English and Spanish, which NCCER considers important for giving workers broader access to career development.
Strite said language should not prevent workers from gaining skills or moving forward in their careers.
For contractors, providing training in a worker’s preferred language can also make it easier to deliver consistent instruction across a diverse workforce.
Early customers are using CraftPro in different ways
NCCER says early customers have already found several uses for the platform.
One company has reportedly logged about 1,000 hours of learning on CraftPro and plans to put roughly 2,000 craft workers through the program. The company is using the platform alongside its existing apprenticeship program, creating a hybrid approach that combines digital instruction with other forms of training.
Another contractor is using CraftPro to keep workers progressing while they wait for space in an oversubscribed formal training program.
The platform can also work alongside NCCER’s existing assessment tools. Contractors can use assessments to identify what an experienced worker already knows and where additional training may be needed.
That can help companies avoid treating every worker as if they are starting from the same level.
Filling gaps in workforce development
Although NCCER initially expected CraftPro to attract companies that were struggling to provide training, early feedback has pointed to another use.
Some contractors that already have established training programs are using the platform to fill gaps in their existing systems.
Strite said that feedback has shown CraftPro can serve as an additional training resource rather than simply an alternative for companies without formal programs.
As construction companies continue to deal with skilled labor shortages and the need to develop workers internally, NCCER is positioning CraftPro as another tool contractors can use to keep employees learning without taking them away from their regular work for extended periods.
