Quick Facts

• Location: Woodside, Delaware
• Address: 823 Walnut Shade Rd, Woodside, DE 19980
• School Type: Public Adult Career Training & Apprenticeship Education Provider
• Programs Offered: Electrical, HVAC-R, Plumbing, Welding & Metal Fabrication, Electronic Systems, Electro-Mechanical Technology, Industrial Maintenance and other workforce programs
• Training Style: Hands-on career training, apprenticeship-related classroom instruction and workforce education
• Tuition Range: Varies by program; current examples range from several hundred dollars for individual courses to $4,000 for the full Welding & Metal Fabrication related-training program
• Program Length: Short-term courses through four-year apprenticeship-related programs
• Online Programs Available: Limited; skilled-trades training is primarily hands-on
• Hybrid Learning: Varies by program/course
• Financial Aid: Tuition assistance and grant-funded opportunities are available for qualifying programs/students; not a conventional FAFSA-based college
• Class Options: Day and evening schedules vary by program
• Apprenticeship: Related Technical Instruction for Delaware Registered Apprenticeships
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.4 (65 Reviews)
• Website: Official POLYTECH Adult Education website

Overview

POLYTECH Adult Education provides adult career, technical and apprenticeship training in central Delaware. Its programs cover construction, maintenance, logistics, healthcare and other workforce fields, with a strong concentration of options for adults interested in the skilled trades.

A major part of POLYTECH’s training model is apprenticeship education. The school provides the classroom instruction portion of registered apprenticeships while participating employers provide paid on-the-job training. Apprentices must generally be at least 16 and sponsored by an employer located in, or paying taxes to, Delaware.

Programs Offered

Skilled-trades and technical options include:

• Electrical
• HVAC-R
• Plumbing
• Welding & Metal Fabrication
• Electronic Systems Technician
• Electro-Mechanical Technician
• Industrial Maintenance-related training
• Building Construction Core
• MIG/TIG Welding
• Maintenance Fundamentals
• Water and Wastewater System Operations

Electrical

The Electrical program provides the related technical instruction required for Delaware’s Electrical Apprenticeship.

The full program currently lists:

• 4 years
• 628 hours
• $1,800 tuition
• $750 additional registration and book fees

Training progresses from construction fundamentals and electrical safety through residential, commercial and industrial electrical systems, motors, controls, grounding, wiring and National Electrical Code requirements.

Students who complete the program and required on-the-job learning can become eligible for a Delaware Department of Labor Journeyperson credential. Non-registered apprentices may also complete the classroom curriculum as a certificate program.

HVAC-R

The HVAC-R apprenticeship program prepares students to work with residential and light-commercial heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Current program details are:

• 4 years of related training
• 628 classroom hours
• 8,000 hours of on-the-job training for the apprenticeship pathway
• $1,800 tuition
• $750 registration and book fees

Training includes refrigeration principles, heating, air conditioning, heat pumps, motors, compressors, controls, hydronic and steam heating systems, duct design, troubleshooting, safety, codes and EPA regulations.

Plumbing

The Plumbing program provides the related instruction required for Delaware’s Plumbing Apprenticeship.

Current program details are:

• 4 years
• 628 classroom hours
• $1,800 tuition
• $750 registration and book fees

The curriculum progresses through plumbing fundamentals, piping systems, codes, installation, troubleshooting and advanced hydronic and steam-heating systems. Students completing the program and required OJT can pursue the Delaware Journeyperson credential pathway.

Welding & Metal Fabrication

POLYTECH’s Welding & Metal Fabrication program consists of eight 72-hour courses, for a total of 576 hours.

Current published costs are:

• Tuition: $4,000
• Registration/books: $1,200

Training covers common welding processes, metal fabrication, fitting, CNC operation and a capstone project.

Students completing all eight courses satisfy Delaware’s approved related-training requirement for the Welding/Metal Fabrication Apprenticeship. Apprentices who also complete the associated 8,000 hours of on-the-job training can become eligible for Journeyperson papers in welding.

Electro-Mechanical Technician

The Electro-Mechanical Technician program is a shorter workforce option consisting of:

• 368 hours
• $3,750 tuition

Students study electrical theory, test equipment, precision measurement, print reading, hydraulics, pneumatics, transformers, generators, bearings, drives, alignment and other industrial-maintenance topics. An 80-hour work experience is included, and graduates can qualify for advanced placement into the Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Apprenticeship program.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition varies substantially by program. Current published examples include:

• Electrical — $1,800 + $750 books/registration
• HVAC-R — $1,800 + $750 books/registration
• Plumbing — $1,800 + $750 books/registration
• Welding & Metal Fabrication — $4,000 + $1,200 books/registration
• Electro-Mechanical Technician — $3,750, plus applicable screening costs

POLYTECH advertises tuition-assistance options for multiple programs, and some workforce programs offer grant funding to qualified applicants. Applicants should confirm eligibility before enrollment.

Why Students Choose This School

• Electrical apprenticeship training
• HVAC-R apprenticeship training
• Plumbing apprenticeship training
• Welding & Metal Fabrication
• Industrial and maintenance training
• Earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship pathways
• Evening apprenticeship classes
• Short-term workforce programs
• Tuition-assistance opportunities
• Hands-on technical instruction

Career Opportunities

Training can prepare students for entry-level employment or apprenticeship advancement in occupations such as:

• Electrician
• HVAC-R Technician
• Plumber
• Welder/Fabricator
• Industrial Maintenance Technician
• Electro-Mechanical Technician
• Electronic Systems Technician
• Manufacturing Maintenance Technician

Licensing, apprenticeship and on-the-job experience requirements vary by occupation.

Student Reviews

Based on the supplied Google listing data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.4 (65 Reviews)

Prospective students may want to read recent reviews alongside program-specific information when evaluating the school.

Enrollment Tips

Students interested in a registered apprenticeship should understand that POLYTECH provides the classroom training, while the employer provides the on-the-job component. Registered apprentices need an employer sponsor that meets Delaware requirements.

Non-apprentices should ask whether their chosen program can be completed as a certificate and whether workforce grants or tuition assistance are currently available.

Bottom Line

POLYTECH Adult Education offers extensive skilled-trades training for adults in central Delaware, including Electrical, HVAC-R, Plumbing, Welding & Metal Fabrication and industrial-maintenance pathways. Students can choose from shorter workforce programs or multi-year apprenticeship-related training, making POLYTECH suitable for both career changers and employed apprentices working toward Delaware Journeyperson credentials.