Northeast Heavy Construction Academy HCA Looks great, all the bells and whistles, but.... a waste of time and money! Brentwood New Hampshire
Apart from having good, experienced instructors, the expectations you have as a student and the promises made by the school are totally unrealistic. Of the 24 students in my class, ONLY ONE was able to secure a job running heavy equipment as of now, 7 months after graduation. And he had experience prior to coming to the school. We graduated 6 months ago and most can't even get an interview.
I have interviewed with several companies and all have said that I lack the speed, experience and finesse to be put to work on an active job site. I was fortunate to get hired by a company, but not as an operator. There are foreman, superintendants, operators and even laborers with my company who are easily as good as the instructors at the school. So, I have a job doing other things and get little or no seat time.
The employment counselors are nice people but terrible at what they do and certainly not proactive. The students did most of the work and we were constantly in their office trying to get them to send out resume's, contact clients and actually sell them on employing us.
The level one instructor (Dave) and level two instructor (Eric) were excellent, experienced operators with a wealth of knowledge to impart to the students. However, with 20+ students there was little or no time for personal instruction and attention. Plus, while I got 6 days in an excavator, I only got 2 days in a dozer because of the way the schedule was set up.
Also, the owners of the school are more concerned with maintenance of their machines as opposed to seat time for the students. We were forced to spend $350 on a battery operated hydraulic grease gun and spent between an hour and an hour and a half EVERY MORNING cleaning grease fittings and greasing their machines. Not one company I have interviewed with cares about this and the gun has been in my closet ever since.
But....... the biggest problem was the students. I went to this school thinking that I would be surrounded by a group of veterans who were our nations finest. However, with the exception of 5 or 6 students who stuck together, the rest were criminals (DV complaints, drug arrests, assault arrests) and overall malcontents. The school has certain "attendance criteria" to pass, but they were never enforced. Several students more than doubled the time missed and graduated with the same certification as the rest of us. Drugs were rampant among my class and the class before us. We overlapped them by three weeks.
There were constant confrontations with students in our class who werre drunk, on drugs or just violent. Several students brought their girlfriends to the hotel and there were many incidents of domestic abuse. After the second week, the police were at the hotel almost every night either because of drug or alcohol issues, domestic violence, loud music or fights. This became an extreme distraction for most of us and even when other hotel guests were complaining, the school claimed that it wasn't their responsibility or problem and put the full weight on the hotel to deal with.
Last but not least, there is no transportation from the hotel in Manchester to the school in Brentwood, which is 24.6 miles away. The school puts the responsibility on the students like myself who drove to the school to transport the other students back and forth. We had 5 vehicles and 24 students, do the math. My truck was filled every day and with the exception of two students, no one even offered to give gas money.
In summation, too expensive, way too much aggravtion and not nearly enough practical training to do any good. All about money and not at about the students.
You state that out of 24 students who were in your class only one was able to get a job and that was 7 months after graduation. Seeing as the students are from all over the United States I find your claim to be not only very unlikely but a lie. HCA has a proven 76% job placement assistance rating. This is verified.
My name is ralph delvecchio. I am the founder and owner of heavy construction academy. I would like to thank you for taking the time to review heavy construction academy, and what we have to offer you in heavy equipment operator training. Please browse our website and call our team to find out why we are the leading provider of heavy equipment operator training and how we can help you get to work in this industry.
At heavy construction academy we pride ourselves in using the highest quality service.
We have on site career services personnel to help our students write good resumes, and get lined up with companies looking to hire entry level heavy equipment operators. We also coach students on presenting themselves professionally, and knowing what a good interview sounds like. Our job lists go out weekly to all graduates and contain hundreds of partnerships we are currently working with to get our students hired. Career services is available to graduates and continues for life. Hca is dedicated to working with our students and graduates in being trained properly and marketable.
As stated above, heavy construction academy is committed to 100% customer satisfaction and has made every possible effort to ensure that all customers have a positive experience while at their business.
I attended HCA in November & I was skeptical after reading these but they have a very good program the instructors have 20 plus years experience and have a lot to teach but finding the job afterwards is where problems start to occur. Before attending look up Equipment Operator jobs near you because where I live in Ohio its not that good. Anyways it's a good program to attend and if youre not in the military or you're just out of high school here's a warning it's all 30 year old veterans I was the youngest one but I lucked out and had a good class but be aware of that. Overall it's a great program for entry level operators.
Was told I'd be a "certified" operator when I graduated, and that I'd be "trained" while I was there...
NEITHER are true! - And I was a "top" student. I'm not a young kid... I've been around construction my whole life! I know the same now after 9 weeks as when I started - except now I owe $12,995 I had to borrow drom my grandmother and NEITHER of us could afford to spend!
I wish I'd have listened to people I know that tried to tell me it was a wothless papermill... Now I'm paying the price. I have NOTHING to show for 9 weeks and a lot of cash.
Northeast heavy construction academy nhca lied, decieved, and ripped me off for $12,995. Please don't make the same mistake!! brentwood, new hampshire
Please read this if you are considering attending the northeast heavy construction academy or hca as they call themselves... My advice, - don't make the same mistake i and my son did! ignore their calls, and don't waste your time or money!
Bottom line:
1. My son did not receive a 'credential' from heavy construction academy to operate equipment. He received a "certificate of graduation" - a worthless piece of paper - That i later found out they print on an office printer there) and which has not been recognized by any companies out of over 50 i've called so far.
2. My son got very limited experience on equipment. Hour here or there "digging holes" as he explained to me, - which is a far cry from what it say's in their brochure, much less what the hca sales rep told me on the phone!
3. Heavy construction academy is a very good sales company, they are not a heavy equipment operator school. I could have rented a few machines for 2 weeks and brought a $99 home study course and my son would have learned more about heavy equipment operation.
Here's what happened:
A few months back my adult son was unemployed due to the economy and i was online looking at areers for him to go into. I thought about heavy equipment,or heavy equipment operation, - perhaps even crane operator for him. He always loved heavy equipment and cranes, and it seemed like a good paying career that he'd actually like. Somehow i arrived on the site of the heavy construction academy. The hca site looked nice and had some good info, so i requested abrochure in my sons name.
The next day a sales guy from hca called the house the first time. Don't remember name) he asked me some questions and i told him that we were justlooking at options for our son... Looking back i can see just how smooth their sales pitch is!! it totally fooled me! somehow from requesting a brochure i
Ended up on the phone with the main sales rep 'steve franks' I believe) and next thing you know we were driving up for one of their sales pitch days!!
When at hca, all of my questions and concerns got turned around on me, and all i was told was how heavy construction academy had the best everything, and would give my son the training to get the job, and they ask if he was 'up to the task', because if he was he would succeed.. Bla bla bla.
Next came some really confusing story about financing... 'it's through a separate lender, but we take the application, but it's separate, but the school owner has to approve it, but there is no info on this other "lender" ' ... - it all sounded far to fishey to me, so i decided to pay cash for my son. - cash i couldn't afford to lose. And i did.
My son tells me all the other guys at school had similar stories, as several were going to get together and contact the state board of education, - but there was a rumor that the owner Some boston italian guy) is some kind of wise guy or was in the mafia or something, and that complaints about hca weren't
'handled' well. So no one has had the courage to. I'm posting this anonymously for that very reason!
I'll say it again, - the sales reps over at heavy construction academy are very, very good. I have my own business and i'd like to think im pretty sharp .. - heavy construction academy fooled me, and then stole my money! take my advice, - please run from hca. There are better ways to become a heavy equipment or crane operator than wasting thousands. Start as a laborer on a crew and work your way in... Which is what my son was told at the hca graduation that he'd have to do, - after i spent 13k for 'heavy equipment operator training and certification' at the heavy construction "academy") what a joke!
Heavy Construction Academy HCA Veterans Beware brentwood New Hampshire
Fellow veterans, this school will tell you that it is only going to take 6 weeks off of your 36 months for the 6 week training program. However it really takes 10 months off your post 9/11 GI Bill. They will also tell you that VA takes the 10 months, but after completion you will recive it back it is a lie. So basiclly you use up 10 months of your Gi Bill for a 6 week program, that you only spend about 3 weeks operating equipment. They also say the have a 75 percent success rate of getting people jobs, however they dont have any information on if it is operating equipment, they could be working at Mcdonalds. Also they give people a gift card if they contact the school and tell them that they got a job, so the 75 percent sucess rate isnt to trustworthy if they are paying people to tell them if the got a job.
The school never makes any such declaration of six weeks. The VA allots $56.20 per day towards tuition towards non accredited vocational schools. The VA takes 11 months of benefits towards HCA tuition. As far as the 75% rate, well its actually 76 and every job is verified from the employer. I am sorry that you have grievances with HCA but it would be very nice if the actual facts were told. If you have an honest grievance please contact HCA directly and they will see if they can assist you to eliminate your grievance
15k plus lodging for six weeks of MOSTLY sitting in a classroom. What a racket. I was totally mislead as to what the school was like and what I got for my money. I could list at least 5 bold face lies that the sales rep Steve told me, but theres not enough time... Just trust me, this place is a true ripoff. And I havent even got a call back about a job after hundreds of applications out. What a mistake
Heavy Construction Academy Reviews
Northeast Heavy Construction Academy HCA Looks great, all the bells and whistles, but.... a waste of time and money! Brentwood New Hampshire
Apart from having good, experienced instructors, the expectations you have as a student and the promises made by the school are totally unrealistic. Of the 24 students in my class, ONLY ONE was able to secure a job running heavy equipment as of now, 7 months after graduation. And he had experience prior to coming to the school. We graduated 6 months ago and most can't even get an interview.
I have interviewed with several companies and all have said that I lack the speed, experience and finesse to be put to work on an active job site. I was fortunate to get hired by a company, but not as an operator. There are foreman, superintendants, operators and even laborers with my company who are easily as good as the instructors at the school. So, I have a job doing other things and get little or no seat time.
The employment counselors are nice people but terrible at what they do and certainly not proactive. The students did most of the work and we were constantly in their office trying to get them to send out resume's, contact clients and actually sell them on employing us.
The level one instructor (Dave) and level two instructor (Eric) were excellent, experienced operators with a wealth of knowledge to impart to the students. However, with 20+ students there was little or no time for personal instruction and attention. Plus, while I got 6 days in an excavator, I only got 2 days in a dozer because of the way the schedule was set up.
Also, the owners of the school are more concerned with maintenance of their machines as opposed to seat time for the students. We were forced to spend $350 on a battery operated hydraulic grease gun and spent between an hour and an hour and a half EVERY MORNING cleaning grease fittings and greasing their machines. Not one company I have interviewed with cares about this and the gun has been in my closet ever since.
But....... the biggest problem was the students. I went to this school thinking that I would be surrounded by a group of veterans who were our nations finest. However, with the exception of 5 or 6 students who stuck together, the rest were criminals (DV complaints, drug arrests, assault arrests) and overall malcontents. The school has certain "attendance criteria" to pass, but they were never enforced. Several students more than doubled the time missed and graduated with the same certification as the rest of us. Drugs were rampant among my class and the class before us. We overlapped them by three weeks.
There were constant confrontations with students in our class who werre drunk, on drugs or just violent. Several students brought their girlfriends to the hotel and there were many incidents of domestic abuse. After the second week, the police were at the hotel almost every night either because of drug or alcohol issues, domestic violence, loud music or fights. This became an extreme distraction for most of us and even when other hotel guests were complaining, the school claimed that it wasn't their responsibility or problem and put the full weight on the hotel to deal with.
Last but not least, there is no transportation from the hotel in Manchester to the school in Brentwood, which is 24.6 miles away. The school puts the responsibility on the students like myself who drove to the school to transport the other students back and forth. We had 5 vehicles and 24 students, do the math. My truck was filled every day and with the exception of two students, no one even offered to give gas money.
In summation, too expensive, way too much aggravtion and not nearly enough practical training to do any good. All about money and not at about the students.
Only One?
You state that out of 24 students who were in your class only one was able to get a job and that was 7 months after graduation. Seeing as the students are from all over the United States I find your claim to be not only very unlikely but a lie. HCA has a proven 76% job placement assistance rating. This is verified.
My name is ralph delvecchio. I am the founder and owner of heavy construction academy. I would like to thank you for taking the time to review heavy construction academy, and what we have to offer you in heavy equipment operator training. Please browse our website and call our team to find out why we are the leading provider of heavy equipment operator training and how we can help you get to work in this industry.
At heavy construction academy we pride ourselves in using the highest quality service.
We have on site career services personnel to help our students write good resumes, and get lined up with companies looking to hire entry level heavy equipment operators. We also coach students on presenting themselves professionally, and knowing what a good interview sounds like. Our job lists go out weekly to all graduates and contain hundreds of partnerships we are currently working with to get our students hired. Career services is available to graduates and continues for life. Hca is dedicated to working with our students and graduates in being trained properly and marketable.
As stated above, heavy construction academy is committed to 100% customer satisfaction and has made every possible effort to ensure that all customers have a positive experience while at their business.
Good program
I attended HCA in November & I was skeptical after reading these but they have a very good program the instructors have 20 plus years experience and have a lot to teach but finding the job afterwards is where problems start to occur. Before attending look up Equipment Operator jobs near you because where I live in Ohio its not that good. Anyways it's a good program to attend and if youre not in the military or you're just out of high school here's a warning it's all 30 year old veterans I was the youngest one but I lucked out and had a good class but be aware of that. Overall it's a great program for entry level operators.
TOTAL Waste of Money...
Was told I'd be a "certified" operator when I graduated, and that I'd be "trained" while I was there...
NEITHER are true! - And I was a "top" student. I'm not a young kid... I've been around construction my whole life! I know the same now after 9 weeks as when I started - except now I owe $12,995 I had to borrow drom my grandmother and NEITHER of us could afford to spend!
I wish I'd have listened to people I know that tried to tell me it was a wothless papermill... Now I'm paying the price. I have NOTHING to show for 9 weeks and a lot of cash.
I got sold. Plain and simple.
Northeast heavy construction academy nhca lied, decieved, and ripped me off for $12,995. Please don't make the same mistake!! brentwood, new hampshire
Please read this if you are considering attending the northeast heavy construction academy or hca as they call themselves... My advice, - don't make the same mistake i and my son did! ignore their calls, and don't waste your time or money!
Bottom line:
1. My son did not receive a 'credential' from heavy construction academy to operate equipment. He received a "certificate of graduation" - a worthless piece of paper - That i later found out they print on an office printer there) and which has not been recognized by any companies out of over 50 i've called so far.
2. My son got very limited experience on equipment. Hour here or there "digging holes" as he explained to me, - which is a far cry from what it say's in their brochure, much less what the hca sales rep told me on the phone!
3. Heavy construction academy is a very good sales company, they are not a heavy equipment operator school. I could have rented a few machines for 2 weeks and brought a $99 home study course and my son would have learned more about heavy equipment operation.
Here's what happened:
A few months back my adult son was unemployed due to the economy and i was online looking at areers for him to go into. I thought about heavy equipment,or heavy equipment operation, - perhaps even crane operator for him. He always loved heavy equipment and cranes, and it seemed like a good paying career that he'd actually like. Somehow i arrived on the site of the heavy construction academy. The hca site looked nice and had some good info, so i requested abrochure in my sons name.
The next day a sales guy from hca called the house the first time. Don't remember name) he asked me some questions and i told him that we were justlooking at options for our son... Looking back i can see just how smooth their sales pitch is!! it totally fooled me! somehow from requesting a brochure i
Ended up on the phone with the main sales rep 'steve franks' I believe) and next thing you know we were driving up for one of their sales pitch days!!
When at hca, all of my questions and concerns got turned around on me, and all i was told was how heavy construction academy had the best everything, and would give my son the training to get the job, and they ask if he was 'up to the task', because if he was he would succeed.. Bla bla bla.
Next came some really confusing story about financing... 'it's through a separate lender, but we take the application, but it's separate, but the school owner has to approve it, but there is no info on this other "lender" ' ... - it all sounded far to fishey to me, so i decided to pay cash for my son. - cash i couldn't afford to lose. And i did.
My son tells me all the other guys at school had similar stories, as several were going to get together and contact the state board of education, - but there was a rumor that the owner Some boston italian guy) is some kind of wise guy or was in the mafia or something, and that complaints about hca weren't
'handled' well. So no one has had the courage to. I'm posting this anonymously for that very reason!
I'll say it again, - the sales reps over at heavy construction academy are very, very good. I have my own business and i'd like to think im pretty sharp .. - heavy construction academy fooled me, and then stole my money! take my advice, - please run from hca. There are better ways to become a heavy equipment or crane operator than wasting thousands. Start as a laborer on a crew and work your way in... Which is what my son was told at the hca graduation that he'd have to do, - after i spent 13k for 'heavy equipment operator training and certification' at the heavy construction "academy") what a joke!
Heavy Construction Academy HCA Veterans Beware brentwood New Hampshire
Fellow veterans, this school will tell you that it is only going to take 6 weeks off of your 36 months for the 6 week training program. However it really takes 10 months off your post 9/11 GI Bill. They will also tell you that VA takes the 10 months, but after completion you will recive it back it is a lie. So basiclly you use up 10 months of your Gi Bill for a 6 week program, that you only spend about 3 weeks operating equipment. They also say the have a 75 percent success rate of getting people jobs, however they dont have any information on if it is operating equipment, they could be working at Mcdonalds. Also they give people a gift card if they contact the school and tell them that they got a job, so the 75 percent sucess rate isnt to trustworthy if they are paying people to tell them if the got a job.
10 Months?
The school never makes any such declaration of six weeks. The VA allots $56.20 per day towards tuition towards non accredited vocational schools. The VA takes 11 months of benefits towards HCA tuition. As far as the 75% rate, well its actually 76 and every job is verified from the employer. I am sorry that you have grievances with HCA but it would be very nice if the actual facts were told. If you have an honest grievance please contact HCA directly and they will see if they can assist you to eliminate your grievance
15k plus lodging for six weeks of MOSTLY sitting in a classroom. What a racket. I was totally mislead as to what the school was like and what I got for my money. I could list at least 5 bold face lies that the sales rep Steve told me, but theres not enough time... Just trust me, this place is a true ripoff. And I havent even got a call back about a job after hundreds of applications out. What a mistake