TDCJ Workforce/Career Technical Education (CTE)
Workforce/CTE Programs
Workforce education is any form of education, training, or retraining designed to prepare persons to enter or continue in gainful employment. In Texas, the primary responsibility for providing CTE (also known as vocational or workforce education) at the post-secondary level has been given to community colleges. Trinity Valley Community College has accepted the responsibility for providing high-quality workforce programs that are specifically tailored to meet people's needs in the geographic area served by the college.
As noted below, Trinity Valley Community College provides several CTE certificate programs within each of the TDCJ units. Students will enroll in three eight-week cycles in the workforce certificate programs. Upon completing the 24-week program with a GPA of 2.0 or above, students are eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion.
After completing the certificate program, students may elect to meet the requirements of the Associate of Applied Science degree. The courses completed in the certificate program will be used as CTE credit for the A.A.S. Degree requirements.
CTE Eligibility Requirements
G.E.D. or High School Diploma, or three hours of college credit and minimum E.A. (TABE) test scores. Offenders who have completed 12 hours of verified college academic credit are exempt from TABE testing requirements.
Offenders identified to participate in the Sexual Offender Treatment Program (S.O.T.P) by TDCJ are not allowed to participate in computer-related programs. Participation in other vocational courses if within 10 years of the projected release date will require approval.
Offenders who have a voted parole action indicating a “serve all” with a calculated date the same as their maximum expiration date must pay for college from their trust fund account or qualify for grant funding. (TPEG or Hazlewood)
Minimum E.A. (TABE) test scores for vocations
| Score | Subject |
|---|---|
| Level D or A | |
| 5.5 | Automotive Technology, Construction Carpentry and Cabinet Making1 |
| 6.5 | Masonry (Continuing Ed.)1 |
| 7.5 | Auto Body Repair, Electrical Technology, Horticulture, Welding and BCIS (Continuing Ed)1 |
| 8.0 | Air Conditioning and Refrigeration |
| 8.5 | Electronics |
| Level A | |
| 9.0 | Drafting/CAD, Computer Science/Data Processing |
*Please see the Continuing Education Workforce section for more information.
- No conflict with other scheduled programs, religious activities, etc.
- Line Class I status or better.
- Custody level must be G3 or better to be considered.
- No major case for six months before enrollment.
- Appropriate medical classification.
- If you have a detainer, you must pay for classes from your trust fund account.
- TDCJ requires student placement in vocational-technical (vo-tech) programs to be prioritized by the release date.
- Must have a minimum of six months remaining in custody to complete the program.
- 1
G3 may require approval by the unit warden.
Off Unit Trades and Four-Year Programs
Contact your unit’s counselor for transfer to programs not offered on your unit to gather information, make requests, or participate in four-year degree programs within the TDCJ.
Workforce/CTE Programs by the Time and Location
| Program | Location | Time (M-F)* |
|---|---|---|
| Air Cond/Refrig(HVAC) | Michael | 4:30 a.m.-11 a.m. |
| Auto Body | Powledge | 11:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. |
| Electronic Technology | Beto | 6 a.m. -12:30 p.m. |
| Drafting Technology | Beto | 6 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
| Drafting Technology | Coffield | 11:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Electrical and Power Transmission (Electrician) | Beto | 4:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m. |
| Horticulture | Coffield | 5:30 a.m.-12 p.m. |
| Horticulture | Michael | 4:30 a.m.-11 a.m. |
| Computer Information Tech | Coffield | 4:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m. |
| Welding | Powledge | 11:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. |
| Welding | Coffield | (M-Th) 6 a.m.-3 p.m. |
- *
Times are subject to change.
TDCJ Unit Program coordinators
| Unit | Coordinator |
|---|---|
| Coffield Unit | Will Hustead |
| Michael Unit | Vance Fincher |
Workforce Instructors by Programs
| Subject | Instructor |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioning/Refrigeration | Vance Fincher |
| Auto Body Repair | Thomas Teetz |
| Auto Technology C.E. | George Baldree |
| BCIS C.E. | Marc McCloud, Mike Hart |
| Cabinet Making C.E. | Tracy Salmon |
| Computer Information Technology | Vacant |
| Construction Carpentry C.E. | Trey Smith |
| Drafting Technology | Paige McLain, Richard Crosby |
| Electrical and Power Transmission (Electrician) | Daron Page |
| Electronic Technology | Ronn Herod |
| Horticulture | Will Hustead, Mark Blackmon |
| Masonry C.E. | Jimmy Henderson |
| Welding | Sam Ellis, Jarrett Barnett |
For students who may have a criminal background, please be advised that the background could keep you from being licensed by the State of Texas in some occupations. If you have a question about your background and licensure, please speak with your faculty member or TVCC Counselor. You also have the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the applicable licensing agency.