Quality Training Center in Las Vegas has introduced a contractor-driven skilled trades program, aiming to address the ongoing labor shortage in Nevada’s HVAC, electrical, and refrigeration sectors. Enrollment is now open for 2026.
A new contractor-centric skilled trades program has launched in Las Vegas, targeting the persistent labor shortage in Nevada’s HVAC, electrical, and refrigeration industries. The initiative is the result of a partnership between Chris Roth, a longtime trades professional and educator, and Lonny Snowden, owner of Quality Training Center, Southern Nevada’s longest-running trade school.
Roth, who began his career in the trades at age 15, has acquired a stake in Quality Training Center and is working to reshape how skilled labor is trained and placed in the region. The new program, announced in April, is designed to directly connect students with contractors and focus on the practical skills most needed in the field.
Program Prioritizes Contractor Needs
Unlike traditional trade schools that emphasize accreditation and graduation rates, the new model at Quality Training Center is structured around the needs of local contractors. According to Roth, the program’s primary goal is to improve placement and retention rates by teaching skills that employers are actively seeking. “We’ve sat down with all the primary contractors and found out what the gap is, and we’re building a student pipeline to meet that gap,” Roth said.
Students in the program will receive hands-on training tailored to the requirements of Nevada’s HVAC, electrical, and refrigeration businesses. The curriculum is designed to accelerate entry into the workforce, allowing students to begin earning income in months rather than years, and without the debt often associated with four-year college degrees.
Addressing Nevada’s Skilled Labor Shortage
Nevada’s skilled trades sector faces a growing labor gap as experienced technicians retire faster than new workers enter the field. The average age of electricians and HVAC technicians in the state is now in the mid-to-late 50s, according to Roth. The decline of shop classes in high schools and a decades-long emphasis on college degrees have contributed to the shortage.
Roth believes the new program offers a viable and rewarding career path for young people considering alternatives to traditional college. “For the first time, there’s a shift from more of a headwind to more of a potential tailwind for these folks considering a trade,” he said. “The trades aren’t a plan B for a lot of people. They’re the best plan A option that really nobody told them about.”
Legacy and Future Plans
Quality Training Center was founded in 1994 by Roth’s former high school teacher after he lost his position at the College of Southern Nevada and the Clark County School District. For Roth, investing in the school is a way to continue that legacy and modernize skilled trades education for today’s workforce needs.
The program’s leaders hope their contractor-driven approach will become a model for other trade schools in Nevada and beyond. “There’s a massive gap in what the employer needs today and what is being taught and trained,” Roth said. “Not only do we want to be the leading force in career education, but ideally, we hope that we set a trend, and that programs get a little more condensed and get a little more employer relatable.”
Enrollment and Next Steps
Enrollment for the new contractor-focused program at Quality Training Center is now open. The school is located in Las Vegas and serves students from across Southern Nevada. For more information on program details, schedules, and application requirements, prospective students and contractors can contact Quality Training Center directly.
