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APPRENTICESHIP INFORMATION |
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Q. What is Apprenticeship? |
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A. It is an earn-while-you-learn program of on-the-job training combined with related classroom instruction that is normally provided by the district technical college. As an apprentice, students are trained under a written training agreement called an indenture. While indentured, the employer agrees to teach the student the skills of the trade and the apprentice agrees to learn the skills involved. Other conditions of the indenture, such as the length of training, amount of pay, the rate of periodic pay increases, and the related classroom hours are covered. An apprenticeship is one of the best ways to enter a skilled occupation. Q. What is an Apprenticeable Occupation? A. An apprenticeable occupation is clearly identified and commonly recognized throughout an industry. It involves manual, mechanical, or technical skills and knowledge that require a minimum of 2000 hours of on-the-job work experience. It also requires an average of 400 hours of paid-related classroom instruction to supplement the on-the-job training. The state of Wisconsin has recognized more than 300 apprenticeable occupations.
A. Start by learning what you can about the skilled occupation in which you are interested. Talk to people who are in the occupation, both employers and employees, counselors at your high school, or the local technical college, employers' associations, and labor unions. Remember, looking for an apprenticeship is like looking for a job. Applications should be made directly with employers or joint apprenticeship committees. If you are entering an occupation that involves action by a joint apprenticeship committee, it will be necessary for you to go through their selection and interview procedures. Very often a committee may maintain a waiting list of qualified applicants who passed the committee's selection procedures. A. An indentured apprentice works a regular workweek, is paid apprentice wages, and also attends paid-related instruction on a regularly scheduled basis. The apprentice's progress in both the on-the-job training and classroom instruction are evaluated and appropriate records are maintained. There is no discrimination in any phase of apprenticeship employment and training. Upon completion of the training program, apprentices will receive a certificate from the state of Wisconsin certifying each one as a completed apprentice. To protect the interests of all parties concerned and to assist in the enforcement of the various aspects of the agreement, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, is given the responsibility of overall supervision of the apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship is not an on-demand program. All applicants must apply to the programs through the respective committee or sponsor. The apprenticeship Office at NWTC can assist with the application process. Contact the Apprenticeship office at: (920) 498-5682, or check out our Web site at: www.nwtc.edu [Apprenticeship]. Q. What are the Qualifications for an Applicant? A. The basic requirement is that the applicant be at least 16 years of age. In ALL cases, however, the applicant is also required to be a high school graduate or to have passed the high school equivalency test. Applicants are also required to take an assessment test which is provided at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College or other trade-specific exam by committee. Most employers and/or joint apprenticeship committees have approved selection standards with more exacting requirements. In some trades, the requirements for the applicant include one or two years of high school math. Some trades require that the applicant take an aptitude test. A. The length of the apprenticeship depends upon the skilled occupation involved. Apprentice programs vary from two to five years. The average program is four years in length. Q. What Related Classroom Instruction is Involved? A. The number of classroom hours range from 288 hours to 1,008 hours of paid-related instruction, depending upon the skilled occupation, with the average being 400 hours. This related instruction teaches the apprentice the theory behind the skills learned on the job. Apprentices are required to attend night school on their own time and at their own expense. Q. Where is the Related Training Offered? A. The Clayton J. Smits Apprenticeship Center of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College offers related classroom instruction at the Green Bay, Marinette, and Sturgeon Bay campuses. Q. What is an Apprenticeship Employer? A. An employer must be an individual, a joint apprenticeship committee, an owner of a business, a company, or a corporation who can teach the skills involved in the occupation. All sponsors of indentured apprentices are equal opportunity employers. A. Wages in the various skilled occupations and localities vary; most apprentices start at approximately 50% of the current skilled rate. The apprentice is on a progressive wage scale with increases every six months, so that during the program the apprentice will average 60% of the skilled rate. Q. How Do I Get More Information? A. For more information about a specific skilled occupation, contact: Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Apprenticeship Coordinator, Trades & Technical Division at NWTC For more information call Patrick LaHaye at
498-5704, |
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Related Links:
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, 2740 West Mason St, P.O. Box 19042, Green Bay, WI 54307-9042, 1-800-422-NWTC
Updated March 4, 2008