Grand Canyon University and McCarthy Building Companies have expanded GCU’s successful Center for Workforce Development to include four new trades — civil construction, mechanical/plumbing, HVAC and concrete — opening the door to more career opportunities for students and creating a pipeline of skilled talent for the construction industry.
The Pre-Apprentice Construction General Pathway is launching this fall with civil construction and mechanical/plumbing, followed by HVAC and concrete in fall 2026. This pre-apprenticeship builds on GCU’s proven model that has graduated over 490 electrical pre-apprenticeship and manufacturing CNC machinist students since 2022. Many participants are first-generation college students or career changers seeking stability and growth in the trades. Graduates complete two semesters of training that combine exposure to technical instruction, general education courses and essential life skills such as financial literacy and workplace readiness.
GCU’s first class of the expanded trades began on Sept. 2, 2025. Participants receive training similar to the electrical program but will also benefit from hands-on courses that focus on each of the new trade skills. This introduction to the various trades will help students discover their preferred niche, which will inform their decision on committing to a specific trade’s apprenticeship certification program.
McCarthy, which is supporting the development of these new pre-apprenticeship pathways in the construction trades, is encouraging other construction and trade firms to get involved and help to meet the industry’s growing workforce needs.
“This program is a win-win,” said Eric Fields, regional self-perform leader for McCarthy’s Southwest region. “Students are introduced to well-paying career paths in the construction trades, and employers get candidates who are informed and committed to developing their careers in the construction industry. But for these programs to thrive and grow, we need more industry partners to engage and hire GCU’s graduates, so the class sizes remain strong.”
Students benefit from hands-on exposure to industry workplaces and formal interviews with employers that prepare them to enter an apprenticeship program — including partnerships with the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) for continued NCCER-certified training.
“GCU is proud to work with McCarthy to create meaningful opportunities for students who might not otherwise have thought about or known how to pursue a career in construction,” said Shelly Seitz, director of GCU’s Center for Workforce Development. “With the right industry support, we can scale this model and prepare more skilled workers for in-demand trades while assisting young people with finding a lucrative long-term career.”
Applications for the next cohort begin this fall, with classes starting in September 2026.
