Lighting Controls Association partners with California Community College System for controls curriculum

The Lighting Controls Association (LCA), a council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), has announced a new partnership with the California Community College System (CCCS) to educate tomorrow’s electrical workforce about energy-saving lighting controls throughout California.

CCCS is the largest system of higher education in the nation, with 2.1 million students attending 113 colleges. This partnership aims to upskill an electrical workforce in support of California’s goal to dramatically reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, notably in the area of lighting automation. The South Orange County Community College District’s Irvine Valley College established this partnership and led an initiative that provides access to industry-valued curriculum across all California community colleges.

LCA is a lighting industry sponsored activity dedicated to promoting lighting controls through education. LCA’s distance-education system, Education Express, offers more than 50 hours of free online instruction in lighting control technology, design, application and commissioning. Education Express courses are registered with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System, National Council on Quality in the Lighting Professions (NCQLP), and the California Advanced Lighting Controls Training Program (CALCTP).

Under the agreement, CCCS will facilitate educator and student access to the Education Express curriculum via participating colleges. Initially implementing a pilot program, CCCS estimates students from as many as 60 colleges will ultimately enroll in Education Express. Students who complete the Education Express program gain a broad and deep understanding of lighting controls and qualify for CALCTP and CALCTP-AT training and certification.

“We are excited about this strategic partnership which enhances our technical career education mission for both new students and the incumbent workforce,” said Corine Doughty, dean, Irvine Valley College.

“For nearly 20 years, the Lighting Controls Association has educated the public about controlled lighting,” said LCA chair Gary Meshberg, director of sales for Encelium. “We’re very excited about this new partnership with CCCS to educate tomorrow’s electrical workforce in California.”