As South Carolina continues to grow and diversify its economy, one truth stands out clearly: Our state needs a strong, skilled and adaptable workforce to fuel that growth. At Trident Technical College, we are proud to serve as a vital engine for workforce development across the Lowcountry.
At Trident Tech, workforce development is our focus every single day. It is central to our mission. We are grateful for our faculty, staff and area commission members who dedicate themselves to preparing students for success.
We also appreciate our legislators, donors, community leaders and industry partners whose investments — financial support, equipment donations and collaborative initiatives — expand opportunities and strengthen the pipeline of professionals ready to meet South Carolina’s needs.
With five campuses serving Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, Trident Tech ensures that instruction is aligned with workforce needs. We develop programs with direct input from employers. A prime example is our two-semester Aircraft Assembly Technology certificate program. Graduates not only gain hands-on skills but also advance more quickly into Boeing’s hiring pipeline, demonstrating how we connect education with immediate career opportunities.
In 2024, Trident Tech served more than 20,000 students across business technology, culinary and hospitality; engineering and construction, film, media and visual arts, health sciences, law-related studies, information technology and manufacturing and maintenance. Many of the 2,267 graduates in May entered directly into the workforce: 82 percent in health sciences, 72 percent in culinary and hospitality, 66 percent in manufacturing and maintenance technology and 65 percent in business technology.
Many students in our transfer programs go on to four-year institutions. Trident Tech’s associate degree nursing program, the largest in South Carolina, produced 171 graduates in 2024. Unlike other programs that take four years, our students complete their degree in two. Even more impressive, our 2024 annual registered nurse pass rate for first-time test takers on the NCLEX exam was a 99.5 percent, exceeding both the statewide rate of 94.7 percent and the U.S. rate of 91.2 percent.
We are also proud of our apprenticeship and dual-enrollment initiatives. These programs allow youth and adult apprentices to gain hands-on experience and high school students to earn college credits early, creating smoother transitions into sustainable careers. Through partnerships with local businesses and school districts, participants get a valuable head start.
While rooted in the tri-county area, our impact extends far beyond. Trident Tech provides workforce training in defense-related fields such as welding and shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics, emerging industrial technology, homeland security and cybersecurity. These programs prepare graduates to contribute locally and nationally in industries vital to our economic security and national defense.
At the heart of all these efforts is collaboration. Employers, educators, legislators and community partners work together to keep programs responsive to skill gaps, emerging technologies and industry trends. This ensures that students are prepared for meaningful careers while helping businesses thrive.
At Trident Technical College, we are not just preparing students for jobs. We are preparing them for futures filled with opportunity, resilience and impact. Together, we are building a stronger community.
Vicky Wood is the president of Trident Technical College.