Michigan Opens College Credit Pathway to Iron Workers -- Occupational Health & Safety

An iron worker crouching low while welding metal, with protective gear and face shield on as sparks fly around the work area.

Michigan Opens College Credit Pathway to Iron Workers

Twelve skilled building trades unions have joined the program for curriculum evaluations.

By Danielle Naidu
Sep 10, 2026

Members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers who complete registered apprenticeships can now apply their training toward college credentials at participating Michigan community colleges.

At the time of the announcement, 28 of Michigan’s public and tribal community colleges had agreed to accept credits through the Michigan College Credit for Apprenticeships Program. Sixteen had completed the final step needed to make credits available to Iron Workers members.

Credit totals are determined through evaluations of registered apprenticeship curricula. Participating colleges then map the approved credits to their academic programs.

According to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, apprenticeship completers may need only one semester of community college courses to finish an associate degree in some cases.

More information is available through the Michigan College Credit for Apprenticeships Program.

About the Author

Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.

Product Showcase

Featured

Keep the Load Close: What Does It Really Mean in Practice?

Safe lifting involves more than technique. Workplace design, load positioning and ergonomic solutions can help workers keep loads closer and reduce physical strain. Read Now
National Traffic Awareness Month: Why Traffic Safety Doesn’t Stop at the Factory Gate

Expanding National Traffic Awareness Month to industrial sites addresses rising worker pedestrian deaths through AI edge vision retrofits. Read Now
When Color Becomes a Guardrail

High-visibility safety orange powder coating extends detection distance, leverages peripheral vision, and prevents early drive-offs around industrial loading racks. Read Now
Improve Worker Safety, Boost Productivity, and Lower Operating Costs with Spot Cooling

Targeted spot cooling protects workers and critical machinery from localized heat stress while avoiding the excessive costs of facility-wide HVAC overhauls. Read Now
Lockout/Tagout's Evidence Gap: What 4,771 OSHA Violations Reveal

OSHA data shows missing paperwork, not missing locks, drives over 70% of lockout/tagout violations. Read Now
Friday New Product Roundup: August 28

New safety solutions and facility updates focused on height protection, workplace organization and site accessibility. Read Now

Artificial Intelligence

Skilled Trade Workers Turn to AI Amid Surge in Labor Demand
Trade professionals increasingly rely on automation, digital tools and continuous training to combat workforce shortages.
How Connected Safety Helps Lean Safety Teams Do More
Deploying IoT wearables and AI video analytics provides short-staffed EHS teams with continuous visibility, closing operational blind spots and stopping SIFs before they occur.
The Hidden Safety Risk of AI: Losing the Ability to Recover
AI may improve hazard detection and injury prevention, but organizations that rely too heavily on automation could inadvertently weaken the human skills and organizational resilience needed to manage unexpected events.
The Next Frontier in Fall Protection Is Prediction
By combining AI, video analytics, and real-time environmental monitoring, predictive safety systems are giving EHS leaders new tools to identify fall risks before workers are exposed to danger.
How AI-Powered Preventive Maintenance Is Improving Workplace Safety
Combining predictive AI analytics with inspection history shifts equipment maintenance from reactive emergency repairs to planned, low-risk safety controls.