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Valencia College - Accelerated Skills Training

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Valencia College - Accelerated Skills Training

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Valencia College’s Accelerated Skills Training programs focus on intensive, hands-on training desi

Prepare for high-demand, higher wage careers in a short amount of time. You’ll have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials, train in essential workplace skills and receive job placement support. Our programs offer intensive hands-on learning based on employers’ specific needs in industry fields such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, construction and maintenance, transportation logistics, and information technology. These programs are offered monthly at multiple locations throughout Orange and Osceola counties and students are able to receive job placement services with a dedicated team specializing in these high-demand industry trades.

10/29/2026

Elijah Halford has answered his calling, twice. Both callings are related having worked in the electronic board assembly field and now instructing the electronic manufacturing assembly program with .

What excites Halford is teaching his students processes that are necessary to create circuit boards that are up to the high standards of space travel. It's particularly vital given our Central Florida location in proximity to the Space Coast. Halford takes his role in getting students industry ready seriously and loves doing it!

10/23/2026

Before joining Valencia College Accelerated Skills Training as a welding instructor, Junia Hendrickson spent decades working in an industry that is the very heartbeat of Orlando and parts of Central Florida, the theme parks.

Having been a lead welder tasked with making sure new hires got certified, Hendrickson worked on rides like Jaws, Earthquake and Thunder Mountain for Universal and Disney.

But well before working in theme parks, Hendrickson began welding back in 1976. He got his start as an apprentice working on ferries in the Caribbean Islands where he learned to build above water boat transmissions from scratch to sell.

Things slowed down, though, so he joined his aunt if Florida where he took classes at Valencia College and trade schools in Ocoee. Having experience in diesel mechanics, welding and working with mechanical engineers, he went back to work as a welder working for numerous steel companies before joining the theme parks.

Now, Hendrickson is happy to impart his wisdom on the next generations of welders.

“One of my biggest joys is taking a project from scratch and see it up and running when it’s finished,” Hendrickson said. “I want to be able to pass that on to other people.”

10/16/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to our Automated Production Specialist (CNC) – Evening Cohort graduates! 🎓 🎉

This week they crossed the finish line and are celebrating a major achievement: successfully completing their program and earning nationally recognized certifications in machining! 🛠️⚙️

We are 🐾 of these graduates as they take the next step toward exciting careers in manufacturing with employers like Mitsubishi Power, Collins Manufacturing Corp., and Daniels Manufacturing Corporation!

A special shoutout to CNC Instructor Charles Horton, who joined Valencia in fall, 2023 and is celebrating his FIFTH evening cohort of CNC graduates! 🎉🙌

Graduates, your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have paid off. Your future is full of possibilities, and we can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll accomplish!

Congratulations!

Are you ready to start training and start your CNC Machining career? Apply now, The next day-time class starts on February 22, 2027.

10/15/2026

Leonardo Califa joined Valencia College Accelerated Skills Training as an instructor of the Robotics and Semiconductor Technician program after seven years teaching at Lake Mary High School. Califa keeps busy as he also teaches part-time at Polytechnic University where he helped build their mechatronics labs.

His experience stretches far beyond the classroom, though, having spent decades as a mechanical engineer for oil companies, air conditioning companies and manufacturing. And his experience in the field is where he first got his chops for teaching.

"Even when I was a mechanical engineer I would train other engineers and technicians," Califa said.

Now, he is thrilled to be imparting his decades of knowledge onto students and it's a passion to see them learn.

"I try to transfer my experience to them and say you have to be professional, you have to be responsible, you have to be clean and you have to be organized," Califa said. "I tell my students you can be ordinary with an ordinary job, or you can become extraordinary. What do you prefer? I feel proud when the students graduate."

10/12/2026

Last Friday Osceola County and unveiled the latest bike rack in the annual partnership between the Valencia College Welding Technology program and Zenith Accelerated Learning Academy!

In collaboration with the Hope Partnership, the reveal of the bike rack was the result of Ilisia Arce’s winning bike rack design and project fabrication by the Valencia Welding Technology program.

This project represents the true spirit of community in Osceola County!

10/09/2026

Osceola County and unveiled this year’s Zenith Accelerated Learning Academy’s winning bike rack design courtesy of Ilisa Arce!

Valencia’s Welding Technology program once again did a tremendous job fabricating the bike rack and we are appreciative of this incredible collaborative project that has placed creative and functional bike racks throughout Osceola County.

09/30/2026

Recent Boone High School grad Vaneyska Reyes is excitedly training in the Valencia College Accelerated Skills Training Welding Technology program and what many would consider a challenge, being deaf, Reyes sees an opportunity to prove what she is capable of.

With her sights set on a future in pipe welding, she is grateful for the opportunity at Valencia to learn and hone her craft, and work of fun fabrication projects with her classmates.

“I appreciate the staff here, ensuring all students have equal opportunity, doesn’t matter if you’re disabled or deaf,” Reyes said. “I feel so comfortable, the interpreters have been really great, they’ve brought me a lot of help.”

09/24/2026

Congrats to HVAC Teachnician graduate Holden Noel on landing a maintenance position with Willow Bridge.

Formerly a Home Depot associate, the 20-year-old credits his instructor and career placement manager with propelling him to his new career after landing an employment offer at the hiring fair.

“I feel great about it,” Noel said. “I prayed a lot for this opportunity and it finally showed up, so I’m grateful for that.”

09/17/2026

Valencia College Accelerated Skills Training hosted a career fair for its electrician, carpentry, plumbing and facilities maintenance programs yesterday and what a success it was!

Thank you to all of the employers who came out to Valencia's West Campus to connect with students who are looking to utilize the skills they developed in AST programs in the workforce. These partnerships are essential to shrinking the labor gap and strengthening industries vital to the economy.

09/09/2026

Full circle moment! Elijah Halford, who was once an Electronic Board Assembly student, recently saw his first cohort graduate as an instructor of the program!

Address

8600 Valencia College Lane
Orlando, FL
32825

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14075826688

Website

https://valenciacollege.edu/academics/accelerated-skills-training/

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