BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP) -- In anticipation of the shale gas boom spreading northward from Pennsylvania, educators in New York are launching training programs to give workers the skills industry needs to fill entry-level positions.

Janet Hertzog of Broome Community College in Binghamton says the school is ready to start a three-week, intensive program to certify roustabouts, or general laborers on a drilling rig.

Broome is one of five community colleges in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York participating in ShaleNET. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, ShaleNET focuses on recruiting, training and placing people in high-priority natural gas jobs.

Corning Community College began its natural gas industry course in March 2011 in partnership with industry. Other public colleges and universities are also adding staff, academic majors or job-training courses.