Flathead Valley Community College has received approval from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry to offer a non-credit First-class Boiler Engineer licensing preparation course beginning April 9.

Aimed at people seeking jobs as high-pressure boiler operators, the course  will prepare students to pass the Montana first-class boiler operator/engineer’s license exam. To enroll, a student must have at least a Montana third-class boiler operator/engineer’s licenses one year of experience after licensing.

 F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber helped the college develop the course to train first-class engineers to operate Stoltze’s biomass steam boiler and 2.5 megawatt turbine now under construction. This project benefited from a tax incentive from the Flathead County commissioners.

Other Montana businesses also use first-class boiler engineers and have training needs for their current and future work force to continue operations. Oil and gas development projects require boiler operators as well and offer high-paying jobs in Montana and across the region.

“This is a great example of collaboration with one of Montana’s educational institutions in which the final product also directly benefits Montana business and citizens,” said David W. Cook, Building Codes Bureau chief for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry’s Business Standards Division. “The department applauds Flathead Valley Community College for its development of this program.”

Jodi Smith, work-force training director at the college, said she appreciated the collaboration of both Stoltze and Plum Creek Timber Co.

Instructed by Bill Hutchens, the course involves both class and field training and costs $1,500 plus an estimated $300 for textbooks. Starting April 9, classes will meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and every other Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at various locations throughout the Flathead Valley.

 People must apply by March 29. For application packets and more information, visit www.fvcc.edu/boilercourse.html or contact the Continuing Education Center at 756-3832 or at [email protected].