Southeast Michigan Construction Academy

What Southeast Michigan Construction Academy does

Southeast Michigan Construction Academy (SEMCA), founded approximately in 1994 and headquartered in Sterling Heights, Michigan, is a vocational trade school that delivers hands-on, NCCER-accredited training in five skilled-trades programs: Electrical (4-year), HVACR (2-4 year), Carpentry (1-year), Welding (1-semester), and Introduction to the Construction Trades (1-semester). Instruction is delivered by master craftsmen with industry experience, blending classroom theory with shop-based practice designed to mirror real-world jobsites. SEMCA runs on an earn-while-you-learn model, with evening classes (6:30-9 p.m.) that allow students to work in their trade during the day while pursuing credentials, addressing chronic skilled-worker shortages in the regional construction industry.

SEMCA generates revenue through per-semester tuition ranging from $2,100 to $2,700 depending on program and year, with ABC Member discounts available for students sponsored by Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan (ABC SEMI) member companies. Curricula prepare students for state licensing exams, include OSHA 10 certification, and yield average reported post-completion hourly earnings of approximately $34.50 (Electrical), $29.17 (Carpentry), $33.20 (Welding), and $32.04 (HVACR). Career placement assistance is offered, and the school distributes a Student Talent Roster connecting graduates with ABC SEMI member employers.

The academy operates two physical campuses — the Sterling Heights flagship and a Westland location opened in 2023 that was the first SEMCA facility funded with state monies — serving Southeast Michigan. It has been in operation for over 30 years, with an eight-person named leadership team led by President/CEO Keith Ledbetter and CFO Dave Staudt. Marketing leverages a direct-to-consumer enrollment funnel via semcaschool.org supplemented by social channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), regional earned media, and community outreach events such as "Constructing Careers." SEMCA is accredited by NCCER and operates as the training arm of ABC SEMI, the parent-affiliated trade association.

Name

Southeast Michigan Construction Academy

Legal name

Southeast Michigan Construction Academy

Website

https://semcaschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Southeast Michigan Construction Academy is a Sterling Heights, Michigan-based vocational trade school delivering NCCER-accredited, hands-on evening training in electrical, carpentry, welding, HVACR, and introductory construction trades to working adult learners through an earn-while-you-learn model, affiliated with ABC SEMI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Trade School / Skilled Trades Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

Keywords

• Skilled trades training
• Vocational education
• Construction apprenticeship
• Trade school programs
• HVACR training

Headquarters

HQ city

Sterling Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: SEMCA generates revenue through tuition fees charged per semester for its trade programs. Programs include Electrical (4-year), Carpentry (1-year), Welding (1-semester), HVACR (2-4 year), and Intro to Construction (1-semester). Students pay tuition per semester with pricing varying by year and program. ABC Member discounts may apply for students sponsored by ABC SEMI member companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Southeast Michigan Construction Academy (SEMCA) is a private vocational trade school providing hands-on training programs in five construction trades: Electrical (4-year apprenticeship), Carpentry (1-year), Welding (1-semester), HVACR (2-4 year), and Introduction to the Construction Trades (1-semester). Programs are delivered in the evening (6:30-9 p.m.) to allow working adults to attend classes while employed in their trade during the day under an earn-while-you-learn model. Curriculum is taught by master craftsmen at two Southeast Michigan campuses in Sterling Heights and Westland, with NCCER accreditation ensuring nationally recognized credentials.

Product overview

Southeast Michigan Construction Academy (SEMCA) is a vocational trade school offering a portfolio of skilled trades training programs delivered through evening classes using an earn-while-you-learn model. The core product portfolio consists of five distinct training programs: Electrical (4-year), HVACR (2-4 year), Carpentry (1-year), Welding (1-semester), and Introduction to Construction Trades (1-semester). Programs are taught by master craftsmen through hands-on shop instruction complemented by classroom theory. SEMCA operates two campuses in Sterling Heights and Westland, Michigan, with evening class schedules to accommodate working students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electrical Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Average income of $34.50/HOUR upon completion of Electrical training
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEMCA is accredited by NCCER, meaning its programs align with national construction education standards. This accreditation ensures students receive standardized, industry-recognized training and credentials.
• ABC SEMI (Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABC SEMI appears to be the parent organization behind SEMCA. The school uses ABC SEMI email domains for staff, offers ABC member discounts on tuition, and connects students with ABC member companies for employment opportunities through the Student Talent Roster.
• Eric Davidson & the Rink FamilyminorOthersDonor of The Promise Scholarship in Memory of RJ Rink, supporting SEMCA students financially.
• Paula Mrozek & the Huntington Construction CompanyminorOthersDonor of the Ron Mrozek Excellence in Construction Scholarship supporting SEMCA students.
• Mandell and Madeleine Berman FoundationminorOthersDonor of Construction Scholarship supporting SEMCA students.
• Pulte Family FoundationminorOthersDonor of the William J. Pulte Scholarship supporting SEMCA students.
• Frank and Kathy MamatminorOthersDonors of a scholarship in memory of Jonathan Mamat supporting SEMCA students.
• American Polish Century Club - Century Charities, Inc.minorOthersOffers the Century Charities Vocational Scholarship ($1,500 awards to three recipients) for students pursuing vocational education at SEMCA.
• Bring Back the Trades Inc.minorOthersOffers monthly $1,000 scholarships to SEMCA students pursuing careers in the trades.
• Mike Rowe WORKS FoundationminorOthersProvides Work Ethic Scholarships to individuals pursuing training in high-demand skilled trades, rewarding those who demonstrate strong work ethic and commitment to hands-on careers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): Larger national post-secondary technical education provider with welding, HVAC, and electrical programs across multiple states; a broader portfolio incumbent but overlapping core trade offerings.
• ECPI University: Multi-state for-profit institution offering skilled trades, HVAC, and welding programs with a broader academic portfolio; comparable on apprenticeship-style delivery but operates at national scale.

Direct peers

• Lincoln Tech: National for-profit trade school chain offering HVAC, electrical, welding, and carpentry programs with NCCER alignment; directly comparable on curriculum mix, target student, and apprenticeship-style delivery.
• IBEW / NECA Electrical Training Alliance: National joint apprenticeship program for the electrical industry, offering 4-year apprenticeships and state-licensure preparation in Michigan that directly compete with SEMCA's 4-year Electrical program for the same student and employer base.
• Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 98 UA Training Center: Local union apprenticeship program delivering NCCER-aligned HVACR, welding, and pipefitting training in Michigan; competes for the same earn-while-you-learn student demographic and the same employer hiring pipeline.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Training: National ABC federation operates its own chapter training academies (e.g., ABC of Michigan, ABC Florida, ABC Carolinas) that deliver NCCER-accredited apprenticeship programs in electrical, carpentry, welding, and HVAC, using the same industry-funded model that SEMCA was built on.

Regional players

• Henry Ford College: Dearborn-based community college with skilled trades and apprenticeship programs (including NCCER-aligned curricula) serving the same Southeast Michigan student population as SEMCA.
• Macomb Community College: Community college located in Warren, MI, just minutes from SEMCA's Sterling Heights campus, offering low-cost skilled trades certificates and apprenticeship pathways that compete on price in the same Southeast Michigan catchment area.
• Washtenaw Community College: Ann Arbor-based community college operating NCCER-aligned skilled trades and apprenticeship programs that compete for the same Michigan construction-trade student segment.
• Wayne County Community College District: Community college district in the same Detroit-metro region, providing subsidized vocational and apprenticeship-track programs directly competitive with SEMCA's Westland (Wayne County) campus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/semcaschool
• Instagraminstagram.com/semcaschool
• TikToktiktok.com/@semcaschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/semcaschool

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southeast Michigan Construction Academy