Professional Ammonia Refrigeration Operator Education for Seafood Processors (Pro-AROE)
Fall 2023: LEVEL 1 - AMMONIA REFRIGERATION ASSISTANT OPERATOR 1
Fall 2023: LEVEL 1 - AMMONIA REFRIGERATION ASSISTANT OPERATOR 1
Beginning in fall 2023, the Alaska Research Consortium (ARC) is partnering with iWorkWise and Alaska Sea Grant to launch a new program in Alaska - Professional Ammonia Refrigeration Operator Education for Seafood Processors (Pro-AROE). Our goal is to take experienced, mechanically skilled employees and develop them into qualified refrigeration operators.
This fall, we will begin offering the first of three levels - Assistant Operator 1.
What levels of education will the program consist of?
Three levels of certification including online and in-person elements are planned:
Level 1 - Assistant Operator I
Level 2 - Assistant Operator II
Level 3 - Operator
Level 1 – Assistant Operator I is available in fall 2023. Level 2 will be available in fall 2024 and Level 3 will be available in fall 2025.
How do I participate and what will I learn?
The Level 1 - Assistant Operator I course consists of:
The six Level 1 - Assistant Operator I computer modules cover:
The Assistant Operator 1 in-person course covers:
Following successful completion, the Assistant Operator 1 will be able to:
A certificate reflecting an individual’s successful completion of the program and skills will be issued at the end of the class and kept on file with the program.
How do I register?
Registration for Pro-AROE Assistant Operator 1 will begin on August 1. A link to the registration site will be posted on alaskaresearchconsortium.org.
Note: Each in-person class is limited to 15 participants. We will offer two classes in October (October 2-6; October 9-13). To the extent possible, we will try to fully accommodate demand. Anyone not accommodated in October will be able to complete the CBT modules and will be put on a waiting list for the next in-person class scheduled for March 2024.
What does it cost?
When will the computer classes be available and where will the in-person class take place?
Why should I become a member of the Alaska Research Consortium (ARC)?
The Alaska Research Consortium (ARC) is a statewide non-profit. Our mission is to:
“Advocate for sustainable fisheries, marine resources, and the blue economy in support of coastal communities into the next generation. ARC focuses on workforce and technology development, training, and research that sustains and increases the value of Alaska's marine resources.”
Development of the Pro-AROE program is supported by a Congressionally designated fund proposed by the ARC. For more information about ARC, see alaskaresearchconsortium.org
Member benefits include:
ARC annual membership levels:
Is there a way for experienced operators to “test-out” so they don’t have to take the courses?
Not currently. Much like universities have prerequisites for advanced education, for this certification to be most meaningful we need to assure all graduates are not missing pieces of required knowledge. Because much of the training in the industry has been achieved by informal methods, we need to ensure certification provides consistent knowledge and skills, and employers will “know what they are getting” when employing certified operators. We know that experience of current operators is invaluable, however we currently do not have a process to ensure consistency to match this educational program.
Will the certification courses be offered in Spanish, and perhaps other languages?
That is a goal of the program and we do anticipate the courses will be available in other languages in the future. We do not have the funding to do this at this time.
For more information or if you have questions, please contact Paula Cullenberg, ARC Executive Director at (907) 440-6704 or email alaskaresearchconsortium@gmail.com.
This fall, we will begin offering the first of three levels - Assistant Operator 1.
What levels of education will the program consist of?
Three levels of certification including online and in-person elements are planned:
Level 1 - Assistant Operator I
Level 2 - Assistant Operator II
Level 3 - Operator
Level 1 – Assistant Operator I is available in fall 2023. Level 2 will be available in fall 2024 and Level 3 will be available in fall 2025.
How do I participate and what will I learn?
The Level 1 - Assistant Operator I course consists of:
- Beginning in September 2023 - 6 computer-based training modules, approximately 1 hour each, with an exam for each module. Individuals can re-take the computer course and exams as needed. Participants must successfully complete all six modules before beginning the in-person class in October.
- A 5-day, 36-hour, in-person class based at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center (UAF) and one or more seafood plants in Kodiak.
- Assessment and certification of skills completed in-person by iWorkWise.
The six Level 1 - Assistant Operator I computer modules cover:
- Fundamentals
- Heat Transfer Principles
- Ammonia Safety
- Introduction to Refrigeration Systems & Equipment
- Operator Safe Work Practices
- Documentation, Logs and Recordkeeping
The Assistant Operator 1 in-person course covers:
- Compressors
- Vessels, Pots & Pumps
- Evaporators
- Detectors & Calibration
- Condensers & Purgers
Following successful completion, the Assistant Operator 1 will be able to:
- Describe the refrigeration cycle,
- Identify all major refrigeration equipment and explain its purpose,
- List the fundamentals of working safely around ammonia,
- Start and stop compressors,
- Drain oil from the system,
- Change plate freezer hoses,
- Test and calibrate fixed and portable ammonia detectors, and
- Take rounds and properly log operations.
A certificate reflecting an individual’s successful completion of the program and skills will be issued at the end of the class and kept on file with the program.
How do I register?
Registration for Pro-AROE Assistant Operator 1 will begin on August 1. A link to the registration site will be posted on alaskaresearchconsortium.org.
Note: Each in-person class is limited to 15 participants. We will offer two classes in October (October 2-6; October 9-13). To the extent possible, we will try to fully accommodate demand. Anyone not accommodated in October will be able to complete the CBT modules and will be put on a waiting list for the next in-person class scheduled for March 2024.
What does it cost?
- Level 1 - Assistant Operator 1, computer-based and in-person program - $2,500 for ARC members; $2,800 for non-members.
When will the computer classes be available and where will the in-person class take place?
- The six computer-based classes will be available by September 1, 2023.
- The in-person, 5-day classes will be based at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center either October 2-6 or October 9-13.
- Lunch will be provided during all in-person class days.
- All other travel and per diem is the responsibility of the participant.
- We have arranged for a block of rooms at the Best Western Kodiak Inn for approximately $147/night (two beds) or $138/night (one queen) for first two weeks of October. The hotel provides breakfast.
Why should I become a member of the Alaska Research Consortium (ARC)?
The Alaska Research Consortium (ARC) is a statewide non-profit. Our mission is to:
“Advocate for sustainable fisheries, marine resources, and the blue economy in support of coastal communities into the next generation. ARC focuses on workforce and technology development, training, and research that sustains and increases the value of Alaska's marine resources.”
Development of the Pro-AROE program is supported by a Congressionally designated fund proposed by the ARC. For more information about ARC, see alaskaresearchconsortium.org
Member benefits include:
- A discount on Pro-AROE ($2,500 for ARC members, $2,800 for non-members).
- Access to training history and certificates for participating employees and employers.
- Information about upcoming seafood processing workforce training and applied research offered through the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center.
- Your membership helps to expand continued seafood workforce training programs and seafood applied research in Alaska. Input provided by members identify priorities for future efforts of the ARC.
ARC annual membership levels:
- Corporate with over 200 employees – annual membership is $1,000
- Corporate with 50-200 employees – annual membership $500
- Corporate with under 50 employees – annual membership $300
- Non-profits, Tribes, government, educational institutions – annual membership $300
- Individual members - $300
Is there a way for experienced operators to “test-out” so they don’t have to take the courses?
Not currently. Much like universities have prerequisites for advanced education, for this certification to be most meaningful we need to assure all graduates are not missing pieces of required knowledge. Because much of the training in the industry has been achieved by informal methods, we need to ensure certification provides consistent knowledge and skills, and employers will “know what they are getting” when employing certified operators. We know that experience of current operators is invaluable, however we currently do not have a process to ensure consistency to match this educational program.
Will the certification courses be offered in Spanish, and perhaps other languages?
That is a goal of the program and we do anticipate the courses will be available in other languages in the future. We do not have the funding to do this at this time.
For more information or if you have questions, please contact Paula Cullenberg, ARC Executive Director at (907) 440-6704 or email alaskaresearchconsortium@gmail.com.