Officials of the San Diego chapter of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association said in mid-January it is establishing an accredited, four-year apprentice program with first-year classes scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2008.   
    The new program will be the first PHCC plumbing training available in the San Diego for more than half a decade. Currently there is some basic training available via the state Regional Occupation Program.
    Executive director Jessica Trimble said the San Diego PHCC will also be moving its offices to a larger facility at its current location to accommodate the school, which is scheduled to begin classes in September. 
    "There's no hands-on with the R.O.P. training," Trimble said. "And they're phasing out that program and moving the training [downtown].  That's really what got us talking about it--we've been planning on it for about a year but finding out everything that was going to be happening with R.O.P. really pushed us to jump on it."
    San Diego PHCC president Harley Perry, of Perry's Plumbing Inc., said the first step was visiting other programs in the state--Sacramento, Oakland and Los Angeles--to see what comprises those programs. He added the chapter's first committee meeting on the subject is set for the 26th of this month.    
    “These aren’t easy programs to put on but I thought my biggest problem was going to be finding a teacher," Perry said. "That’s not a problem. I’ve talked to four or five guys who want to teach.”   
    Watch Reeves Journal to learn more about the new San Diego PHCC apprentice program. Or contact the San Diego PHCC at (858) 571-5003 or phccsd@sbcglobal.net.