Programs
The Workforce Painting Academy
Nine weeks of technical instruction, supervised hands-on practice, and professional development—built with contractors so graduates arrive ready to work.
Curriculum
What students learn
Every cohort covers the full scope of professional painting alongside the workplace skills employers ask for most.
Residential Painting
Homes, apartments, and occupied-space protocols including cut-in work, trim, and finish quality.
Commercial Painting
Scale, scheduling, coatings selection, and specification-driven work for commercial clients.
Interior Painting
Masking, sheen selection, ceilings, walls, doors, and clean handoff of finished rooms.
Exterior Painting
Weather considerations, siding, soffits, ladders and scaffolding, and long-lasting exterior systems.
Surface Preparation
Cleaning, scraping, sanding, caulking, and priming—the foundation of every professional finish.
Drywall Preparation
Patching, taping, mudding, texture matching, and repair work before a single coat goes on.
OSHA Safety
Ladder and scaffold safety, PPE, ventilation, hazard communication, and job-site awareness.
Brush, Roller & Spray
Tool selection, technique, airless spray setup, coverage rates, and finish consistency.
Customer Service
Client communication, expectation setting, punctuality, and jobsite professionalism.
Professional Development
Work ethic, teamwork, time management, and the habits that turn a job into a career.
Resume Building
Translating training, certifications, and field hours into a resume employers respond to.
Interview Preparation
Mock interviews, common questions, and confident answers about experience and goals.
Career Coaching
One-on-one guidance on goals, wages, advancement, and long-term trade pathways.
Employment Readiness
Documentation, transportation planning, and first-90-days expectations on the job.
Program Timeline
Nine weeks, week by week
A progressive build from safety fundamentals to spray application, commercial practice, and employment placement.
Week 1
Orientation & Safety Foundations
Program expectations, OSHA safety fundamentals, PPE, tools, and job-site conduct.
Week 2
Surface Preparation
Cleaning, scraping, sanding, caulking, masking, and priming techniques.
Week 3
Drywall Preparation & Repair
Patching, taping, mudding, sanding, and texture matching for paint-ready surfaces.
Week 4
Brush & Roller Technique
Cut-in precision, roller loading, coverage, sheen control, and finish inspection.
Week 5
Interior Painting Systems
Walls, ceilings, trim, doors, and occupied-space protection in residential settings.
Week 6
Exterior Painting Systems
Siding, soffits, weather windows, ladders, scaffolding, and exterior coatings.
Week 7
Spray Application
Airless sprayer setup, tips, pressure, overspray control, masking, and cleanup.
Week 8
Commercial Practices & Customer Service
Specifications, productivity standards, client communication, and quality walkthroughs.
Week 9
Career Readiness & Graduation
Resume, mock interviews, licensing assistance overview, employer referrals, and graduation.
Get Involved
Every career we build strengthens Memphis.
Whether you are ready to learn a trade, hire a graduate, or fund a scholarship, there is a place for you at Ready For The World.