Employee Training
2026 Schedule
Visit these pages for more training opportunities:
Cathodic Protection
Propane Manager Training
All courses are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Fundamentals of Propane (PEP)
This entry-level course is a prerequisite for the more advanced PEP and CETP courses. It provides instruction about propane’s sources, production, physical and combustion properties, and how it is transported. Other topics covered include various organizations that publish codes and standards, bulk plant operations, primary safety concerns, customer service, odorants and more. This course is the PEP replacement for CETP’s 1.0 Basic Principles and Practices.
April 14 – Webinar (New this year! This live training will be held virtually.)
May 6 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
August 4 – Comfort Inn, Manistique
September 8 – Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Frankenmuth
October 6 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
Bobtail Drivers (PEP)
This course provides information for drivers who operate commercial motor tank vehicles to deliver propane. It explains the bobtail’s basic systems and equipment, including the tank, pumps, meters, delivery hoses, and emergency discharge control systems. It also covers various inspections, as well as safe driving practices, hours of service, Materials of Trade (MOTs), evacuating containers, and other needed information. Also covered are inspection requirements for customer installations, and leak checks to place systems in operation after an interruption of service. This is the PEP replacement for CETP’s 2.2 Bobtail Delivery Operations.
April 21-22 – Webinar (New this year! This live training will be held virtually.)
May 12-13 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
August 5-6 – Comfort Inn, Manistique
September 9-10 – Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Frankenmuth
October 7-8 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
Cylinder Delivery (PEP)
This course is designed to train delivery personnel to operate cylinder delivery vehicles. It covers the information, codes and practices to safely load and deliver cylinders. It also covers cylinder requalification requirements, safe procedures when filling cylinders, proper location of containers, vehicle inspections and operation, hours of service, and other pertinent information. System leak checks and placing customer systems into service after and interruption of service are also covered. This is the PEP replacement for CETP’s 2.4 Cylinder Delivery Operations.
May 19-20 – Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Frankenmuth
Dispenser Operations (PEP)
In this course, you will learn the steps to use propane to fill small cylinders. The training will also walk you through an introduction to propane dispensing station equipment. In addition, uncontrolled release, identifying cylinders and their components, filling cylinders by weight and volume, securing dispensers, and transporting cylinders. Also included are lessons on filling motor homes, and filling Autogas containers.
September 23 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
Exterior Systems: Part 1 and 2 (PEP)
This course is offered in two parts and replaces CETP 4.1. Employees must take Part 1 before attending Part 2.
This course covers the following topics: exterior propane system design and layout; determining total connected BTU load; design, size and select exterior propane piping; regulator operations; size and select regulators and vapor meters; sizing, selecting, and installing vaporizers; installing and joining exterior piping systems; pressure testing and leak checking exterior piping systems; purging gas piping; and gas appliance startup.
Part 1: June 23-24 – Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Frankenmuth
Part 2: July 7-8 – Bavarian Inn Restaurant, Frankenmuth
Interior Systems (PEP)
This course replaces CETP 4.2.
This course will cover conducting a new interior system assessment; pressure testing new piping; leak checking piping; flow and lock-up testing; purging gas piping (residential, small and large commercial); different types and categories of new appliances; appliance conversions; burning characteristics of propane; compete and incomplete combustion; venting systems; combustion air requirements; and appliance lighting and start-up.
July 28-29 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
Gas Check
Conducting a safety inspection is a critical task for propane professionals and is the key component of keeping customers comfortable and safe. This class offers training for two types of inspections.
• Gas System Check which can be completed on the gas delivery system, including containers and regulators.
• Gas Appliance System Check which is completed on both the delivery system and all propane burning appliances.
July 22 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
DOT Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Training
This is a half-day course from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with lunch included. This program was developed to assist companies in complying with the federal training requirements prescribed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The program includes six modules in total. Modules one through five are based on DOT training requirements that apply to any hazmat employee. The sixth module covers the OSHA initial training requirements. The modules are as follows:
• DOT Hazardous Materials: (HazMat) Training: Introduction
• DOT Hazardous Materials: General Awareness and Familiarization
• DOT Hazardous Materials: Function-Specific Training
• DOT Hazardous Materials: Safety Training
• DOT Hazardous Materials: Security Awareness
• OHSA Hazard Communication
July 21 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
Mobile Crane Safety
A training program designed to teach crane operators, field technicians, and managers the best practices and procedures for the safe operation of a mobile crane in the propane industry.
August 19 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
Plant Operations (CETP 3.1)
Provides information, practices, and procedures that support many general plant operations tasks. This course is primarily designed to train employees who inspect and fill DOT cylinders and ASME tanks at the bulk plant; requalify DOT cylinders; maintain cylinders, tanks, and bulk plant equipment systems; and other propane employees who could benefit from sections of this course, including plant managers and plant office personnel.
June 9-11 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
Designing and Installing Dispenser Transfer Systems (CETP 5.1)
This course covers all general knowledge that a propane employee would need to use and operate a dispenser. The book includes information on dispenser tank valves, fittings and locations; and installing, start up and shut down procedures of a dispenser transfer system. In addition, this course will cover the following: maintain and troubleshoot propane pumps and propane compressors; inspect and maintain propane liquid meters; maintain propane valves, flow monitors, and hoses; and inspect and maintain liquid transfer systems.
August 25-26 – Doherty Hotel, Clare
General Information and Registration
Classes are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day unless otherwise noted. The registration fee for each course is $125 for 1-3 day courses and $60 for half-day courses. The fee includes course materials, lunch and refreshment breaks. A refund less a $25 administrative fee will be provided for cancellations received at least 10 days in advance. Attendance at all classes is by PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY. Classes size is limited.
IMPORTANT FOR PEP AND CETP COURSES
All students MUST be registered with access to the PERC Learning Center. Each student is required to register individually and create their own account or be prepared to access their existing account. New registrations in the PERC Learning Center require a 3-day wait before access granted. Please confirm you can successfully sign into the Learning Center before the start of class. For assistance, visit the help desk or call 800-757-1554 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM).
Class Locations
Bavarian Inn Restaurant
713 S. Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI
Comfort Inn Manistique
607 E. Lakeshore Drive
Manistique, MI
906-341-6981
Doherty Hotel
604 N. McEwan
Clare, MI
989-386-3441
Rooms are available at $112 per night. Mention MPGA when making reservations.
For assistance, contact the MPGA office at 517-487-2021.