• College Certificate (CERT-LRT)
• Short-Term Certificate (SCERT-RRS)
About the Program
The Light Rail Engineering Technology College Certificate is designed to prepare students for employment in the expanding light rail industry. This program will also prepare the student to work within the expanding passenger and freight railroad industry. Railroads employ a substantial workforce to service, maintain, operate and manage their transportation networks. While railroads are required by federal law to train their own employees, the basic safety concerns, rules, orders and regulations are all standard in the industry. Students in this program will be exposed to these issues and become equipped to pass the standardized rail examinations required by each rail industry employer. Students will find employment with freight railroads, and passenger or light rail operations in railcar or track maintenance, dispatch, signaling, and many other related positions.
This Program Offers:
- Light Rail Engineering Technology College Certificate (CERT-LRT): 42 credit hours
- Railroad Rules and Safety Short-Term College Certificate (SCERT-RRS): 16 credit hours
Certificate Goals
• The program will allow for a basic understanding of the career opportunities within the railroad and light rail industry
• The program will prepare a student to have an understanding of railroad rules, regulations, operating procedures and safety provisions within the railroad and light rail industry
• The program will allow a student to obtain an understanding of the operation of railcar systems and or signaling/communication systems at use in the railroad industry nationwide
• The program will prepare a student to take the standardized application exam on basic railroad knowledge and skills for employment in the railroad/light rail industry
Certificate Outcomes
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the operation of a rail line and railcar signaling/communication systems
• Be able to diagnose and conduct troubleshooting and repairs on signaling and communications systems along rail lines and on railcars
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the career opportunities within the railroad and light rail industry
• Demonstrate and have an understanding of railroad rules, regulations, operating procedures and safety provisions
• Be prepared to take and pass standard railroad rules and safety examinations
• Be prepared to take an application exam on signaling and communication skills for employment in the railroad industry
Admission Requirements
Students are required to do the following:
• Fulfill all WCCCD admission requirements
• Declare intent to enter the program on WCCCD Admission Application or in the Student Services Office
• Complete an Educational Development Plan (Plan of Work), outlining the student’s plan for program completion
• Fulfill course placement requirements based on the ACCUPLACER® assessments
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