Quick Facts

• Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
• Address: 4421 W 61st St, Little Rock, AR 72209
• School Type: Nonprofit Construction Training & Registered Apprenticeship Provider
• Programs Offered: Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Carpentry, Concrete, Diesel Mechanic, Heavy Equipment, Ironworking, Masonry, Millwright, Sprinkler Fitting, Welding and other construction trades
• Training Style: Registered apprenticeship, paid on-the-job training, evening classroom instruction and hands-on labs
• Tuition Range: Varies by trade/program; selected current pre-apprenticeships are listed at $2,500
• Program Length: Electrical and Plumbing apprenticeships — 4 years; other programs vary
• Online Programs Available: Yes, selected classes
• Hybrid Learning: Yes — ACEF offers in-person, virtual and selected online options
• Financial Aid: Not a FAFSA/Title IV school; apprenticeship/workforce funding may be available
• Class Options: Evening, in-person and selected virtual/online classes
• Certification: NCCER-accredited training; U.S. Department of Labor-recognized apprenticeship pathways
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.9 (11 Reviews)
• Website: Official Arkansas Construction Education Foundation website

Overview

Arkansas Construction Education Foundation is one of the best fits you’ve found for TradeSchoolScout in Arkansas because it represents the traditional apprenticeship route into the skilled trades rather than the college route.

ACEF is a private nonprofit construction-training organization offering apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, continuing education and safety training. Its trade lineup extends far beyond Electrical and Plumbing to include HVAC, Carpentry, Heavy Equipment, Ironworking, Masonry, Millwright, Welding and other construction occupations.

The biggest difference from a conventional trade school is that apprentices can work full-time while completing related classroom instruction. In other words, students can earn wages while accumulating the thousands of on-the-job hours required for advancement in licensed trades.

Programs Offered

ACEF currently lists training areas including:

• Electrical
• Plumbing
• HVAC
• Carpentry
• Concrete
• Diesel Mechanic
• Heavy Equipment Operation
• Ironworking
• Masonry
• Millwright
• Sprinkler Fitting
• Welding

Electrical Apprenticeship

ACEF’s Electrical Apprenticeship is a:

• 4-year program
• Approximately 576 classroom hours
• 8,000 hours of on-the-job training
• Classroom instruction one night per week
• Full-time employment with an electrical employer

Training covers areas such as:

• Electrical systems
• Code compliance
• Wiring
• Conduit bending
• Blueprint reading
• Troubleshooting
• Tools and equipment
• Residential, commercial and industrial applications

After completing the program, apprentices receive a release to test and may apply for the Arkansas journeyman electrician examination.

ACEF also offers a Spanish-language Electrical program with online and in-person options.

Plumbing Apprenticeship

The Plumbing Apprenticeship is also four years.

It includes:

• 640 hours of related classroom instruction
• 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training
• Approximately 168 classroom hours annually
• One four-hour evening class per week

Students work full time with plumbing employers while attending ACEF.

After completing the apprenticeship, participants receive a release to test and can apply for the Arkansas journeyman plumber examination.

HVAC Training

ACEF currently offers HVAC training and pre-apprenticeship opportunities. Its approved HVAC Pre-Apprenticeship is listed through Arkansas workforce records at a $2,500 total program cost.

Other Construction Trades

ACEF is expanding beyond its historically strong Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC programs.

Its current education schedule lists:

• Carpentry
• Concrete
• Diesel Mechanic
• Heavy Equipment
• Ironworking
• Masonry
• Millwright
• Welding

Some of the 2026–27 programs still show schedules as to be determined, so prospective students should verify that their desired course is currently enrolling.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition varies substantially by apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program.

Current Arkansas workforce listings show examples such as:

• HVAC Pre-Apprenticeship — $2,500
• Masonry Pre-Apprenticeship — $2,500
• Operating Engineer/Heavy Equipment Pre-Apprenticeship — $2,500
• Industrial Machinery Mechanic Pre-Apprenticeship — $4,990

ACEF is not a conventional Title IV college, and Arkansas’s workforce provider records specifically state that it does not offer traditional financial aid. Do not list Pell Grants or federal student loans.

However, apprenticeship students may have access to workforce funding, employer sponsorship or other scholarship programs. Students should check current eligibility directly with ACEF.

Apprenticeship & Credentials

ACEF’s model is particularly strong because apprentices don’t simply complete classroom training and then start looking for experience.

Electrical and Plumbing apprentices accumulate 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience while completing the program.

ACEF also describes its training as NCCER accredited, with apprenticeship credentials recognized through the Department of Labor pathway.

Why Students Choose This School

• Earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship
• Electrical apprenticeship
• Plumbing apprenticeship
• HVAC training
• Welding and construction trades
• 8,000 hours of OJT in major apprenticeships
• Evening classes
• Hands-on laboratories
• NCCER curriculum/credentials
• Employer network
• Journeyman-exam pathway
• Selected online/virtual instruction

Career Opportunities

Depending on the pathway, participants may progress toward careers such as:

• Electrician Apprentice → Journeyman Electrician
• Plumbing Apprentice → Journeyman Plumber
• HVAC Technician
• Carpenter
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Ironworker
• Mason
• Millwright
• Welder
• Diesel Mechanic
• Sprinkler Fitter

Licensing requirements vary by occupation.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied Google data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.9 (11 Reviews)

The rating is excellent, but 11 reviews is still a small sample compared with larger colleges.

Enrollment Tips

Students considering Electrical or Plumbing should understand that this isn’t merely a classroom course.

The full apprenticeship involves working for an employer while attending classes, and the four-year timeline is tied to both classroom instruction and extensive on-the-job experience.

For someone whose ultimate goal is becoming a journeyman electrician or plumber, that structure can be more directly aligned with licensing than completing a standalone trade-school diploma.

ACEF also has an extensive employer network; its Electrical program cites more than 400 contractors statewide.

Bottom Line

Arkansas Construction Education Foundation should be a featured listing on your Arkansas page. In fact, I’d rank it among the most useful listings you’ve added because it gives visitors a true alternative to college: paid apprenticeship plus classroom training. Its four-year Electrical and Plumbing pathways combine hundreds of classroom hours with 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience, creating a direct route toward Arkansas journeyman testing.