The Heavy Equipment Operator program was developed to meet the growing employment demands for equipment operators. Students will learn the following: orientation to the trade, heavy equipment safety, identification of heavy equipment, basic operational techniques, utility tractors, introduction to earthmoving, interpreting civil drawings, and using simulator exercises for equipment basic controls, loading and unloading, excavating, and trenching. Students receive hands-on training using simulators, which replicates real-life operating scenarios through rotation-motion platforms and high-resolution 3-D displays for excavator and wheel loader equipment.

FastForward programs: Courses offered under these programs are designed to be completed on a short-term basis (weeks or months as opposed to one-two years of study). These courses are tied to industry credentials. Students in FastForward programs also benefit from significant cost reductions. Subject to the availability of funds, Virginia students pay only one-third of the normal cost of training. Many students also qualify for financial assistance (FANTIC) to help cover the remaining cost.