Programs like the Fast Track to Fluid Power are made possible in part by the generous support of industry volunteers as well as NFPA Education and Technology Foundation and Pascal Society donors. Support these efforts by making a donation.
One of NFPA’s strategic priorities is to increase the number of fluid power educated technicians and engineers. Our Fast Track to Fluid Power program is one of the workforce development initiatives that we conduct to fill that need. The program aims to foster a productive partnership between technical colleges, NFPA’s industry partners, parents, and students in local middle and high schools. Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) was established as the first fast-track hub. Located in Wisconsin, WCTC offers two-year fluid power related degree programs: Automation Systems Technology and Industrial Maintenance Technician.
At WCTC, students can earn an Associate Degree, Technical Diploma, Apprenticeship, or Certificate in fluid power from industry-recognized programs.
WCTC’s School of Applied Technologies offers a wide range of fluid power courses, including:
- Industrial Pneumatic Systems,
- Industrial Hydraulic Systems
- IMT Pump and Piping Systems
- Fluid Power Systems
These fluid power courses represent just a few that WCTC offers, and our industry members have verified these competencies are what the industry is looking for in students entering the fluid power sector.
About Waukesha County Technical College
Founded in 1923, Waukesha County Technical College serves the residents of southeastern Wisconsin. WCTC enrolled over 17,000 students in the 2022-23 academic year, including over 8,000 students in the Associate of Applied Science program. The College offers more than 110 academic programs, 69 certificates, and workforce development services in addition to its associate degrees, technical diplomas, apprenticeships, and short-term certificate programs. Students at WCTC can choose from a wide variety of academic programs that provide them with real-world, career-relevant training
Upcoming Events
Workforce Engagement Group Kick-off Meeting:
November 10, 2022 (11 am – 1:00 pm) | Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC)
WCTC and the National Fluid Power Association will host a Kick-Off Meeting for Wisconsin’s Workforce Engagement Group on November 10, 2022. After the meeting, join us for a networking lunch and meet with WCTC faculty and students. NFPA members in Wisconsin are strongly encouraged to attend this kickoff event. Keep an eye out for the meeting agenda in the coming days.
To RSVP for the event: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H7JV2DV
Fluid Power Action Challenge:
Price Engineering and WCTC are hosting the Fluid Power Action Challenge for middle school students this spring. Workshop Day will be held on February 3, 2023, and Challenge Day will be held on March 10, 2023. NFPA members are welcome to attend the event and/or serve as judges.
If you would like to get involved in NFPA’s Fast Track to Fluid Power program, contact NFPA Workforce Program Manager Eric Pannell at epannell@nfpa.com or 414-778-3364.
Like this post? Share it!
Recent Posts
Update to Regional Demand Estimates Report Now Available
The U.S. Fluid Power Regional Demand Estimates Report has been updated with 2023 estimates and is now available for download. This Excel-based report is prepared for NFPA by Oxford Economics and profiles the geographic distribution of fluid power products to end-use industries by state, including fluid power sales dollars, fluid power sales percentage, and number of…
Hear from an NCAT Student Engaged in NFPA Workforce Programs
We’re excited to share a new testimonial video from David Castro Lastor, a junior mechanical engineering student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and president of the university’s Fluid Power Club. In his video, David shares how participating in NFPA programs has shaped his academic and personal growth. Through his leadership in the…
New Episode of Fluid Power Forum: Advanced Modeling Techniques and Performance Comparisons of Electrohydraulic Systems
Today, our guest is Bruno Dupuis. Bruno is a Corporate Accounts Manager at Famic Technologies Inc., the company behind the development of Automation Studio™, a circuit design and simulation software for fluid power, electrical, robotics, process control and automation projects. He presented at NFPA’s Hydraulics Conference co-located at the 2024 iVT EXPO back in August.…