What is a Registered Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is the passing of skills and knowledge from
one generation to the next. It is a formal training agreement
whereby an apprentice will receive the education and on-the-job
training necessary to make him/her proficient in a chosen craft.
The documents that outline the apprenticeship agreement between
employer and apprentice cover all aspects including starting wage,
specific on-the-job training, college-level related training,
periodic pay increases and qualifications of instructors.
A formal contract (the Apprenticeship Training Agreement) is entered
into using a form prescribed by the Federal Office of Apprenticeship.
When the apprentice and the employer have agreed to the terms
of the apprenticeship training program, the contract is forwarded
to the regional office for approval, thereby "registering"
the apprenticeship.
There are several hundred recognized job titles that can be the
focus of a registered apprenticeship. Each job title has assigned
to it the minimum number of on-the-job training hours required
to be completed, and all titles require a minimum of 144 instructional
hours in related training each year for the term of the apprenticeship.
While the structure of an apprenticeship is mandated by the U.S.
Department of Labor, the apprenticeship training program is actually
owned by the employing firm and may be personalized to fit the
employer's needs.
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Getting Started
Step one of the process deals with selecting an appropriate job
title. Although the apprenticeship training program must be in
pursuit of a "registered" job title, the actual content
of the training is personalized to fit the day-to-day operations
of the employing firm. A machine tool apprenticeship at one firm
may look different from that of another because of the different
day-to-day operations each does.
NOTE: It is to the advantage of all area employers to work with
their local Office of Apprenticeship to standardize training for
a particular craft as much as possible. This is best illustrated
and clarified in examining the startup process for creating a
registered apprenticeship.
Step two of the process deals specifically with defining what
skills and knowledge apprentices within a firm must acquire. There
are four basic steps to setting up a registered apprenticeship:
1. Establish an apprenticeship committee
2. Establish standards of training for the apprenticeship, i.e.,
what training apprentices will receive.
3. Register the apprenticeship with the U.S. Department of Labor,
Office of Apprenticeship
4. Select apprentices and submit them to the U.S. Department of
Labor, Office of Apprenticeship
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Establishing an Apprenticeship Training
Committee
The apprenticeship training committee or supervisor is the driving
force behind a firm's apprenticeship programs. This group of people
should include anyone who could provide valuable input in setting
up what training an apprentice should have to create the finished
product the company desires. Represented in this group should
be skilled professionals now working in the trade to be apprenticed
(journeymen), human resources staff, production supervisors, union
representatives, and anyone who can provide direction in seeing
the program runs smoothly and contains the most effective training
component.
Typically one person from each area, creating a team of three
to five people would be appropriate. Smaller organizations may
have fewer, and larger organizations may have more. In some organizations,
because of their personnel structure, an apprentice supervisor
who is familiar with the overall needs of the program may act
as the apprentice committee, working with key individuals in the
organization.
If an organizational meeting is held, minutes should be recorded
to reflect the members present and the intent of the apprentice
committee. The records of this first meeting become a permanent
record of the apprenticeship program's history. If an organizational
meeting results in the appointment of an apprentice training supervisor,
this should also be recorded in writing. When members of the committee
are added or deleted, or the apprentice supervisor changes, a
follow-up document should be authored so that the current committee
members or supervisor is always accurately recorded.
It is possible that a firm may have more than one apprenticeship
program in place. Larger firms might have machine tool craftsman,
plumbers and pipe fitters, electricians, and so on. The firm should
decide if additional committees are to be established or if one
committee with specific members responsible for specific trades
will suffice.
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Establishing Training Standards
While the apprentice committee will have authority over every
aspect of the apprenticeship program, including apprentice selection,
starting wages, etc., its first duty is the actual creation of
the program. This is where the selection of a supervisor by committee
members becomes important. Two things must be decided:
1.What on-the-job skill training is necessary?
2.What formal classroom-related training is necessary?
Early in this process, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of
Apprenticeship area training representative should be contacted.
The representative will provide invaluable guidance in formulating
standards that represent a quality training program and are consistent
with the programs at other organizations in the region. The training
representative in your area will provide a list of courses and
program examples that compliment specific on-the-job training
schedules.
The apprentice committee will decide what skills are to be taught
to the apprentice. It will determine the amount of time the apprentice
will spend on each task to acquire these skills. They will also
decide what related training, in the form of classroom instruction,
should accompany on-the-job training and how that instruction
is to be provided.
NOTE: Remember, every apprenticeshipable registered trade has
assigned to it the minimum number of hours required for on-the-job
skills training. In addition, each apprenticeship must include
a minimum of 144 hours of related classroom instruction per year.
(A four-year apprenticeship would then require 8,000 hours of
on-the-job training and a minimum of 576 hours of related instruction.)
Once these elements of the program have been determined, the firm
is ready to submit their program for registration by the U.S.
Department of Labor.
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Registering the Program with the U.S. Department
of Labor,Office of Apprenticeship
When the standards for apprenticeship training have been developed,
the employing firm sends a copy to their Office of Apprenticeship
regional representative. A simple cover letter on company letterhead
introducing the firm and their desire to register their program
should accompany the forms. Looking at the title to be registered,
the representative will review the application to see that the
on-the-job training and related training in the new standards
represent a valid path for the apprenticeshipable trade.
When the new apprenticeship program has been approved and registered,
the employing firm is notified in writing by the U.S. Department
of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. At this time the employing
firm may begin to recruit and enroll registered apprentices.
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Selecting and Registering Apprentices
One of the functions of the apprentice committee is to establish
the manner in which apprentices are selected. Selection criteria
and screening methods are at the discretion of the employing firm,
as long as no employment laws are violated. The employer may want
a minimum time on the job for an individual to be considered as
an apprentice. The employer may want a minimum education or require
a skills proficiency exam and recommendations from supervisors.
The employer is free to set any minimum standards or require any
combination of qualifying criteria for apprentice selection, as
long as no employment laws are violated.
Once an apprentice candidate has been selected, it is easy to
complete his/her registration. The apprentice and the employing
firm will complete U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training
Administration) Form ETA 671, the "Apprenticeship Agreement"
and forward it to the regional BAT office. When the apprenticeship
has been approved, a copy is returned to the employing firm, signed
and stamped by the Office of Apprenticeship representative.
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Tracking the Apprentice's Progress
The employing firm must establish a process for tracking the
apprentice's progress. The on-the-job training at each specific
task must be recorded so that credit for completing each segment
is given when due. Eventually the apprentice will have completed
all related training and all on-the-job skills training and a
Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship will be awarded. It
is important the apprentice's work performed be accurately recorded.
Also, the related training to be accomplished must be similarly
tracked. If the training is to be provided by an accredited college-level
institution, a transcript of classes completed is adequate documentation.
If any other source of related training is to be used, such as
in-house training, again some system to quantify and record this
training must be established and maintained.
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Credit for Prior Experience
You will see on the apprenticeship agreement form the apprentices
can be given credit for prior work experience and related training.
This can be a valuable tool when an employer wishes to enroll
an apprentice but does not have the proper ratio of journeymen-to-apprentices
to support it. The selected individual can enter a nonregistered
training program, identical to that of the registered program.
When another slot for a registered apprentice becomes available,
a simple filing of a completed apprenticeship agreement form,
including credit for work and education already completed, will
establish that individual as a registered apprentice.
Working closely with your Office of Apprenticeship area training
representative in cases such as these is very important. In order
to maintain the integrity of your training program, documentation
for any credit given must be provided to the Office of Apprenticeship's
satisfaction.
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Revising Your Apprenticeship Program
As new technologies are developed and the focus of your firm's
work changes to remain competitive, you may see a need to change
your apprenticeship program. This is easily done by a written
request for change to the Office pf Apprenticeship. On your company
letterhead and over the signature of one of your apprentice committee
members simply state what change you wish to make and included
a brief explanation as to your motives. For instance, if the nature
of your firm's business now incorporates more work on NC/CNC equipment,
you may want to restructure your training to reflect this need.
Create a revised version of the portion of your program that is
affected and send this to the BAT with your cover letter.
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Lake Michigan College's Role
Beginning with this brief document that provides an overview
of the apprentice training system, LMC will provide whatever assistance
possible to any inquiring form. Our apprentice training staff
will be happy to work with your firm and the Office of Apprenticeship
to introduce your staff to the apprenticeship process. As a first-rate
educational institution, Lake Michigan College can provide your
firm with the related training necessary to support your apprentice's
education.
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Additional Offerings
If your employees need training, but aren't ready for apprenticeships,
Lake Michigan College can assist you in customizing programs to
meet your company's specific training needs. Individualized curriculum
in many applied technology areas is also available.
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How to Reach Us
If you are interested in apprentice programs and /or other specific
training programs at Lake Michigan College, please write or call:
Marty Warner, Director Apprentice Training
M-TEC at Lake Michigan College
400 Klock Road
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269)927-8100 ext.2136
800-252-1562 ext.2136
warner@lakemichigancollege.edu
Rhenee Florian, Secretary Apprentice Training
M-TEC at Lake Michigan College
400 Klock Road
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
(269)927-8100 ext.3036
800-252-1562 ext.3036
florian@lakemichigancollege.edu
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This page was last modified :
August 17, 2007
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