Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Keystone Chapter (ABC Keystone) have formalized a partnership that will create new opportunities for Thaddeus Stevens College graduates to advance in high-demand construction careers.
The articulation agreement, celebrated at a recent signing ceremony, allows graduates from several TSCT programs to enter ABC Keystone apprenticeship programs with advanced standing—cutting months or years from their path to industry credentials.
“Our mission is to transform lives through education that leads directly to a strong career with in-demand jobs,” said Pedro A. Rivera II, Ed.D., president of Thaddeus Stevens College. “Partnering with ABC Keystone will enable our students to jump forward in their skills and qualifications – an opportunity that will impact entire families and our communities.”
The agreement benefits graduates from ten technical programs, including Carpentry Technology, Residential Remodeling, Electrical Technology, Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Masonry Construction Technology, Plumbing Technology, Metals Fabrication & Welding Technology, Facility Maintenance Technology, and Electro-Mechanical Technology.
Depending on their program, qualifying graduates will receive credit for six months, one year, or two years of Related Technical Instruction in ABC Keystone’s Apprenticeship program. This advanced standing recognizes the hands-on, industry-aligned education Thaddeus Stevens College students receive and allows them to build upon that foundation.
Stephanie Larkin, Chief Operating Officer of ABC Keystone Chapter, emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership, “This articulation agreement will help a great number of Thaddeus Stevens College graduates continue their education through a registered apprenticeship, providing them with greater access to careers in the commercial construction industry while providing ABC members with motivated, skilled talent. It’s a win-win.”
The agreement includes both associate degree graduates and those who complete six-month trainings through the College’s Workforce and Economic Development Center. To qualify, students must maintain an 80 percent average in construction-related courses, demonstrate 95 percent attendance, provide a letter of reference from their program instructor, and be within 2,000 on-the-job training hours for their target apprenticeship level.
This partnership reinforces Thaddeus Stevens College’s commitment to creating pathways to family-sustaining careers and meeting industry demand for skilled professionals. By combining the College’s hands-on technical education with ABC Keystone’s industry connections and apprenticeship programs, graduates gain additional opportunities to advance in the construction field.