As e-commerce continues to grow, the demand for supply chain and logistics professionals is only going to increase.
Cerritos College is leading a pilot program to meet that demand by preparing students to become Certified Logistics Technicians, then connecting them with employers.
The four-week Supply Chain Employee Training Program introduces the fundamental knowledge, skills, and competencies to accomplish the critical workplace activities that are common to all logistics facilities across a global supply chain.
Students who complete the course are eligible to take the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council foundational-level Certified Logistics Associate and Certified Logistics Technician certifications, which also includes OSHA 10 and Forklift certification. These certifications demonstrate higher-level skills in warehouses, distribution centers, and other supply chain facilities. They lead to increased placement rates and higher wages.
Cerritos College is leading a training program pilot, with support from Courage Forward, Rio Hondo America’s Job Center, and the National Career Advancement Institute. The first student cohort completed the program July 18, and the second cohort will finish August 29.
The college also hosted two employer forum information sessions that brought supply chain and logistics companies together to discuss hiring challenges and connect with students completing the logistics certificate program.
“What makes our pilot unique is that we are getting input from employers directly at the beginning of both cohorts, and then scheduling a graduation that includes those same employers again—many of whom are prepared to hire,” said Katie Mishler, ATL Regional Director for the Los Angeles Region. “Our goal is to give these students tangible skills they can take directly into the job market.”
