SLWTC — Sign & Lighting Workforce Training Center
Train to be a sign technician

Light up
your future
in 16 weeks.

A hands-on pathway into the sign & lighting trade — built for people starting with no experience. Earn four industry certifications, train on real equipment, and finish connected to employers across the trade.

Join the next cohort See how it works
SLWTC trainees in safety gear practicing CPR and reviewing the aerial lift safety manual
16
weeks from beginner to job-ready
4
industry certifications earned
45+
years of trade expertise on staff
4
week externship with real employers
About the center

A real pathway into a trade that's hiring

We open a direct route into the sign and lighting industry — regardless of background or experience.

The Sign & Lighting Workforce Training Center was co-founded in San Diego, California by Andrea and Andy Jones — a woman-owned, Native-owned program built on Andy's 45+ years in the sign and lighting trade. Over 16 weeks, we combine structured classroom instruction with hands-on training using real sign and lighting materials, tools, and equipment — the same gear trainees will use on the job.

Andy leads the curriculum as Program Director, bringing that experience into every cohort. Nothing here is theoretical filler. Trainees learn the work by doing the work.

The final four weeks place each trainee in an externship with one of our confirmed partners — established sign and lighting companies that get the first opportunity to make an offer to the trainees they work with. It's a chance to work alongside a real crew, show what you can do, and put yourself in a strong position to be hired. Trainees finish credentialed, equipped with their own work-ready tool bag, and connected to employers across the trade.

An SLWTC instructor guiding trainees as they wire LED modules into channel letters
Program Director Andy Jones working channel-letter LEDs with a cohort.
What you'll earn

Four certifications that travel with you

Recognized credentials that mean something on any job site — and that employers look for first.

CPR / First Aid Respond confidently to on-site emergencies.
OSHA 10 — Construction The baseline safety card employers expect.
Aerial Lift (MEWP) Operator Work safely from bucket trucks and lifts.
Cal/OSHA Qualified Rigger, Level 1 Rig and hoist signs to code, the right way.
How the 16 weeks work

From your first day to your first job site

The program moves in three stages — building safety, then skill, then a direct handoff to an employer.

Trainees practicing CPR and safety procedures Weeks 1–4 · Foundation

Safety & certifications

Start with the credentials every employer looks for, and the habits that keep crews safe.

  • CPR / First Aid and OSHA 10
  • Aerial lift and rigging fundamentals
  • Industry terms, tools, and materials
Trainees building illuminated channel letters with an instructor Weeks 5–12 · Hands-on

Build the skill

Train on real sign and lighting equipment, practicing the tasks crews do every day.

  • Channel letters, cabinets, and wiring basics
  • Mounting, installation, and lift operation
  • Reading layouts and working a job to spec
An SLWTC trainee installing an illuminated storefront sign from an aerial lift Weeks 13–16 · Externship

Step onto the job

Spend four weeks on real job sites with confirmed employer partners, who get the first opportunity to make you an offer.

  • Work alongside experienced crews
  • Apply your certifications in the field
  • Make your case to a real employer
What we offer

Everything you need to enter the trade

A full pathway — from foundational safety certifications to hands-on skill-building and industry externships.

Safety certifications

Earn CPR/First Aid, OSHA 10 Construction, Aerial Lift (MEWP) Operator, and Cal/OSHA Qualified Rigger Level 1 — recognized credentials that open doors.

Hands-on skills training

Practice with real sign materials and professional tools to build genuine, job-ready skills you'll use from day one in the field.

Externships & connections

Four weeks on real job sites with confirmed employer partners, who get the first opportunity to make an offer to the externs they work with.

Who it's for

Built for the people training programs overlook

No experience required. If you're ready to learn a skilled trade, there's a place for you here.

Veterans People in recovery Justice-impacted individuals Native community members Career changers First-time job seekers

A few things this work asks of you

It's a physical, hands-on trade. To do the job safely, you'll need to be able to lift around 50 pounds and be comfortable working at heights, since much of the work happens on lifts and ladders. The program is open to anyone 16 and older.

If that sounds like you, this could be just the career for you — and the earlier you start, the more years of skilled, well-paid work you'll have ahead of you.

A woman trainee wiring LED modules inside a large illuminated sign on a rooftop
Women in the trade

Sign & lighting isn't just for men

The trade has long been seen as a man's world — but skill, precision, and pride in the work don't have a gender. Women belong on the bench, in the bucket, and on the crew, and they're building real careers in sign and lighting every day.

As a woman-owned program, we know what it means to make room where there wasn't any. If you've ever been told this kind of work isn't for you, consider this your invitation.

Our story

We see the need. We have the skills.

We're Andrea and Andy Jones. Andy is a third-generation tradesman with 45+ years in the sign and lighting industry — a family craft that's been slipping away for lack of a formal pipeline to pass it on.

Andrea, a Native American woman with 20+ years of administrative expertise, works with men and women in recovery and sees the need for a real pathway firsthand.

We built SLWTC to put those two things together — deep trade knowledge and a door held open for the people most often overlooked — and to strengthen our community in the process.

— Andrea & Andy Jones, Founders
A trade you can build a life on shouldn't depend on knowing the right person. We're here to be that person.
SLWTC founders Andrea and Andy Jones outside their San Diego facility
Contact admissions

Ready to start?

Tell us a little about yourself and we'll be in touch about the next cohort. Questions from employers and community partners are welcome too.

LocationSan Diego, California
Andy Jones — Program Director(619) 721-1411
Andrea Jones — Program Administrator(760) 847-1285
Request information
We'll reply within a few business days.

We'll never share your information.