Overview
Brick masons are those entrusted with the assemblage of clay bricks and concrete blocks for both residential and commercial structures. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics claims masonry to be “the fastest growing career in America”, that “employment of brick masons and block masons is projected to grow 10 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.” According to the bureau, Virginia is ranked in the top 4 “states with the highest concentration of jobs”. The bureau reports the 2019 annual mean wage for brick masons in Virginia as being $46,310, 30% above the average earnings. Review this data and more information online here.
The Valley Career and Technical Center Masonry Program is a one-year program preparing students with entry-level skills for becoming brick masons. Using a “hands-on” approach, students spend nearly their entire time in both Masonry I and Masonry II to develop trowel-handling skills and masonry wall construction. Masonry I is offered first semester and Masonry II is offered second semester. Click on the Masonry I Course Syllabus and Masonry II Course Syllabus for more details of each.
Valley Tech’s Masonry Program is accredited by the Associated General Contractors of America, meeting or exceeding their construction industry training standards. Student certification is administered through the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI). NOCTI certification confirms students meet training requirements developed by the construction industry. Students complete a 10-Hour Occupational Safety and Health Training Course in Construction Safety and Health and receive an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry course completion card.
The area’s building contractors support Valley Tech’s Masonry Program and attest to the fact that Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, and especially locally are in dire need of skilled brick masons. Valley Tech’s Masonry Program instructor assists students with job placement and the area’s contractors are eager to hire students successfully completing the masonry program.
Click here for recruitment power point presentation to learn more about residential and commercial masonry construction tasks and opportunities.
Course Content
· Basic bricklaying and block laying for line work and constructing leads
· Constructing masonry piers and columns
· Cleaning new masonry work
· Constructing anchored brick veneer walls
· Constructing masonry pilasters, masonry wall chases, brick arches and CMU walls
· Constructing masonry composite walls and cavity walls
· Constructing brick paving, stairs and stoops
· Understand building codes
· Estimating masonry material quantities/costs and labor costs
Course Details
Masonry I (Semester 1)
Masonry II (Semester 2)
GRADE 10,11, 12
Course Length: 1 year
Industry Credentials Offered
OSHA 10
· NOCTI certification
Options After HS
Workforce
Masonry restoration technician, Cement mason, Tile and marble setter, Bricklayer, Stone mason, Building inspector
Local Employers: Builders First Source, Davis Construction and Masonry, M.H. Masonry & Associates, Inc., Marshall Contracting and Masonry, Inc., Mathers Construction, Nielsen Builders, Inc., R & B Construction, LLC , Shields Construction Company
Career Certificate/ Associate Degree (2 yr) program
BRCC—Computer Aided Drafting
Bachelor’s /Post Baccalaureate Degree (4 yr+) majors
Architecture, Construction Engineering, Construction Management, Historical Architecture and Renovations
Instructor Contact Information
Name: Robert Ham
Email: [email protected]
School: 540-245-5002
Fax: 540-885-0407
