CFCC Launches New Heavy Equipment Operator Course to Meet Growing Industry Needs

Wilmington, NC (April 16, 2025) – Cape Fear Community College is proud to announce the launch of a new Heavy Equipment Operator course designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in the construction and infrastructure industries. The program is now open for enrollment and begins on May 13, 2025.

This new 300-hour course was created in partnership with Thomson, Corder, and Company and Honeycutt Construction Services. Classes will be held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at CFCC’s North Campus and a construction site facility in Rocky Point. This course provides valuable hands-on training on various equipment, including bulldozers, excavators, backhoes, and skid steers.

“The construction industry in Wilmington and across North Carolina is booming, and there’s a strong demand for skilled equipment operators,” said Jim Morton, CFCC President. “This course was developed in response to direct feedback from our local industry partnerships, eager to hire skilled equipment operators. Course participants will earn practical experience and industry-relevant knowledge that will open doors to well-paying careers.”

The course will prepare students for entry-level jobs in heavy equipment construction projects like mining and road construction. Students will learn to:

• Operate equipment safely, including mini excavators, bulldozers, and articulated dump trucks
• Practice employee safety and receive confined space training
• Interpret civil drawings
• Use excavation math
• Analyze soils and grades
• Provide basic maintenance
• Meet industry leaders and experts

For more information or to register for the Heavy Equipment Operator course, visit cfcc.edu/job-training/heavy-equipment-operator/ .