Wisconsin Students Get Online Construction Training
Students who want skilled construction work can complete 120 online hours and 60 hands-on hours through union partners.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Distance Learning
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Wisconsin Virtual Academies has launched a Construction Academy that pairs 120 hours of online coursework with 60 hours of hands-on training delivered through partnerships with trade unions across Wisconsin. The program is designed for students preparing to enter the skilled construction trades.
Why it matters
Construction employers face a growing need for workers, and the academy aims to build a pipeline of students ready to enter the trades after graduation. For Wisconsin families, it offers a route into skilled work that combines distance learning with in-person training.
The program requires 120 hours of online coursework and 60 hours of hands-on training. By 2032, 11% of the construction industry is expected to retire.
The players
Wisconsin Virtual Academies
A Wisconsin online school program that launched the Construction Academy combining distance coursework with trade training.
Carpenters Union
A trade union whose facility hosts hands-on project work that students complete for certification in the academy.
The details
Students complete the coursework online and then attend in-person training at partner trade union facilities across Wisconsin. Certification requires students to demonstrate their skills through a hands-on project, such as the one completed at the Carpenters Union. The structure is meant to let students learn theory at their own pace while gaining practical experience alongside working tradespeople.
Timeline
By 2032: 11% of the construction industry is expected to retire.
November 9, 2026: The Construction Academy launch was reported.
Education Landscape
The academy's hybrid model sits within a wider shift toward combining online coursework with employer- or union-based training for skilled trades. It also responds to a construction workforce whose retirement projection of 11% by 2032 puts pressure on training pipelines.
If you are considering a skilled trade, this program shows that some training can be completed partly online before in-person hands-on work. Ask a school's admissions office what online and in-person hours a program requires and how it is certified.
The takeaway
Hybrid programs that pair online coursework with union-based training are one route into construction work as the industry faces retirements. Before enrolling in any trade program, confirm the in-person hour requirements and how completion is certified with the school's admissions office.
Further reading
For more on how online programs are structured, explore Distance Learning coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wbay.
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