What is West Sound Technical Skills Center?
West Sound Technical Skills Center is a six school district educational cooperative serving students in the Bremerton, Central Kitsap, North Kitsap, North Mason, Peninsula, and South Kitsap School Districts as an off-campus training site extension of the sending high schools.

The Skills Center provides an opportunity for students between the ages of 16 and 21 or in grades 11 or 12 to receive job training as part of the public educational system at no cost to the student. This provides students with the opportunity to get a jump-start on a post secondary education.

Our students learn the technical knowledge and skills to either gain them advanced placement in apprenticeships, technical schools, two and four colleges and universities, or go directly to entry-level employment in a vocation.

The current programs related to engineering/manufacturing offered at West Sound Technical Skills Center are:

Automotive Technology
Skilled automotive service technicians will always be in demand. You'll gain a solid background in basic automotive technology in fuel, exhaust, and cooling systems, brakes, suspension, steering and ignition and charging systems. You will also learn about: 4-Cycle engine operation, shop safety, valve trains and tune-ups, tires/wheels and alignment, wheel bearings, industry expectations and dealership operations.

Computer Engineering Technology
From T-Squares to computers the drafting and design industry has been automated. You will earn CADD (Computer Aided Drafting and Design) operations on a high-level, industry standard CADD program. You will create two and three dimensional drawings of buildings, products and machinery using a variety of AutoCAD programs. Unique additions to the CADD curriculum include 3D animation, digital imaging, and complete drawing rendering.

Welding
Learn to cut and join metal using gas torch, arc, and wire-feed welding equipment. Repair broken metal parts on all types of machinery, equipment, boats, and structures. You can be prepared to meet industry certification requirements as a certified welder upon successful completion of the program. Skills training includes resume development, leadership training and competition as well as the opportunity to work on real jobs after proper training.

Construction Trades
The construction trades program works with today's technology in a real work setting completing projects in the community. Students learn: estimating materials, blueprint reading/building codes, flooring and ceiling construction, walls/partitions, roof construction, exterior coverings/trims, and stair construction. Students who successfully complete this class are eligible for placement in the Carpenter's Apprenticeship program, advance placement at Olympic College or Seattle Central Community College.

Natural Resources Technology
Out-of-doors, hands-on and class training to meet the growing demand for technical people to work measuring, monitoring, sampling, surveying, and mapping streams, trees, plants, wildlife, and soils. Skills training also includes tree planting, pruning, and thinning, wildfire fighting, Christmas tree growing, brush picking, and mapping with computers.

Professional Business Services & Computer Applications
Prepare to become part of a professional team in the over changing business world. Learn all aspects of business communications, machine transcription, telephone etiquette, and interpersonal skills. Students who successfully pass industry standard office skills assessments will receive certification in Word Perfect, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access. Individualized components are available in legal and medical terminology.

Collision Repair Services
Skilled collision repair technicians will always be in demand. This program provides a hands-on approach to learning about basic unibody frame repair, parts replacement, sanding, stripping, masking painted surfaces, spraying automotive and other finishes, glass replacement and auto detailing.

MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
The Manufacturing Engineering Technology program teaches you how to operate machine tools used in the manufacturing process to make just about anything. You will develop skills in metal working specialties, from mold making (forming molds to shape plasmatic, glass and other nonmetallic parts) to die making (cutting steel) to precision machining.

Special Program Features:

• Follow blueprints and sketches
• Repair machines, tools or other products
• Produce dies, molds and machine tools

BUILD SKILLS FOR EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A:

• Tool and Die Maker
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Manufacturing Process Technician
• Machinist
• Manufacturing Sales Representative
• Manufacturing Assembler

WELDING TECHNOLOGY
You will learn to cut and join metal using oxyacetylene and arc gas torch semi automatic welding equipment. Repair broken metal parts on all types of machinery, equipment, boats and structures. Metal art and customer work are also a part of the class. You may be prepared to meet industry certification requirements as a certified welder upon successful completion of the program.

SPECIAL PROGRAM FEATURES:

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SWAM)
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
• Flex-Core Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Air Carbon Arc Cutting (ACAC)
• Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)
• Oxyfuel Gas Cutting and Welding

BUILD SKILLS FOR EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A:

• Welder or fabricator
• Welding Supply Salesperson
• Tacker or Burner
• Welding Technician
• Welding Supply Delivery
• Underwater Welder