Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Adult Education and Workforce Development is offering four upcoming classes for anyone looking to begin a new career or learn a useful trade.

¯ Residential Plumbing: Learn the basic skills necessary to get started in the plumbing field. Students will learn how to handle tools of the trade and practice the best safety procedures; gain technical skills in pipe-fitting while learning to repair and replace materials and fixtures in residential structures; study the scientific principles of drainage traps and their uses; and acquire knowledge of various water supply piping layouts. Class costs $500 and will be held 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays from Feb. 5 to March 11 in the Dunkirk/Angola area. For class location information, call Jody Arnold at 805-3138 or email joarnold@e2ccb.org.

¯ Blueprint Reading: Understand basic blueprints and gain hands-on experience in applying measurements by learning the concepts of scale and interpreting and visualizing symbols. Learn how to navigate between numerous types of drawings and gain an understanding of the relationship between blueprints and specifications used. Class costs $350 and will be held 5-9 p.m. Thursdays from Feb. 6-27 at Chautauqua Works, 4 E. Third St. in Jamestown.

¯ Heavy Equipment Operation: Learn how to operate an excavator, back-hoe, bulldozer, tractor and skid steer. Class time will include safe operation of equipment and participants will earn their Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-Hour Certification. Class costs $550 and will be held 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays from April 7 to May 14 at the LoGuidice Educational Center, 9520 Fredonia-Stockton Road in Fredonia.

¯ Welding: Learn the basics of Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW). This course covers basic and advanced machine setup, various types of alloys, shielding gases and current variations. Learn how to perform GMAW welds on 1/8″-1/4″ carbon steel plates in the flat, horizontal, vertical-up and vertical-down positions while using all of the five basic welding joints. Class costs $550 (including textbooks) and will be held 5-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from March 2 to April 8 at the LoGuidice Educational Center, 9520 Fredonia-Stockton Road in Fredonia.