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APPRENTICESHIPS
Apprentice programs are the route of the entry to the skilled trades, including:
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS: Apprenticeship is a voluntary system of training in an occupation that requires a diverse range of skills and knowledge as well as maturity and independence of judgement. It involves planned day-by-day training on the job and experience under proper supervision, combined with technical studies in subjects related to the occupation. Apprenticeships give men and women instruction and experience both on and off the job, as well as all the practical and theoretical aspects of the work required in a skilled occupation. Through rotation from one division of work to another, accompanied by related technical instruction, apprentices acquire additional skills, master application of those already learned and develop independence of judgement. This system enables apprentices to be productive during their entire period of training. Most apprenticeship terms are from one to five years, depending upon the occupation involved. To master a particular trade, an apprentice must learn and perfect each skill and bring those skills up to the speed and accuracy required of the job. YOU AND THE PROGRAM: Once you have been selected as an apprentice, a written agreement is made which includes the length of the program (when it begins and ends); a description of the training to be given; and the wages you will receive and other general conditions of employment. You will work with, learn from, and be supervised by skilled craftspersons. These craftspersons are very competent or skilled in their particular trades and have earned the title of a journeyperson or of a master. STEPS IN BECOMING A JOURNEY-LEVEL WORKER THROUGH AN APPRENTICESHIP: The procedure listed below is what may happen if you decide to become an apprentice. You may contact your local California State Apprenticeship and Training representative, the U.S. Bureau of Apprentice, or inform your employer of your wishes. They will discuss with you the qualifications and demands of the job and will help you determine if you are genuinely interested in becoming an apprentice. You will be told that you may need to take a general aptitude test and pass it with a satisfactory score, and that you may need to pass a physical examination that meets the requirements of the occupation. If you meet these qualifications, your next step would be an interview with the Apprenticeship Training Committee. The committee will help you further decide if an apprenticeship is really for you. If you are selected for training, your name is then placed on a list with other apprentices. Your name will appear on the list according to the committee's final evaluation. When work becomes available, you will be called. Prior to reporting to work, you will be required to sign an "Apprenticeship Agreement" card. This card registers you with the state as an apprentice. Most apprentices have a probationary period. If you satisfactorily complete your probationary period, if you finish the necessary classroom training, and if you meet all the requirements of the terms of your apprenticeship agreed upon when you first indentured, you may reach JOURNEY LEVEL. APPLICATION: Interested individuals should contact the local union office of the program in which they are interested. Some programs will place the apprentice candidates in a job, while others require the apprentice to obtain his/her own position, but will typically offer assistance. Apprenticeship programs are typically actively seeking potential apprentices, particularly women and minorities. BASIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR AN APPRENTICESHIP: Each program sponsor, or Trust, determines the requirements and selection process for their respective programs; however, there are minimal standards all programs must adhere to:
Some apprentice programs have physical requirements, such as manual dexterity and adequate physical strength. Many programs require arithmetic skills, including algebra knowledge for several of the apprenticeships. Most programs have remedial classes for those lacking math skills, but this will likely extend the length the of the apprenticeship. Most apprenticeship programs require a high school diploma or G.E.D. TYPICAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS: Apprentice programs combine the classroom and education and on-the-job training to enable individuals to progress to journeyman status. Apprenticeships typically last from three to five years, during which time apprentices are paid a percentage of the contracted journeyman wage with periodic increases, often every six months.
CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION: When apprentices finish their training, they receive certificates of completion of apprenticeship. These are issued by the State Apprenticeship Agency, or in those states not having such an agency, by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training in accordance with its recommended standards. PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS: Apprenticeship pre-job programs provide on-the-job training. Their purpose is to introduce potential apprentices to specific skilled trades and to determine their suitability for the particular work involved. When students successfully complete the introductory period, they may continue with placement in regular apprenticeship training programs. Review the numerous apprenticeship programs offered
throughout the state of California Division of Apprenticeship Standards – The Division of
Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) creates opportunities for Californians to gain
employable lifetime skills and provides employers with a highly skilled and
experienced workforce while strengthening List of apprenticeship resources within California: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON APPRENTICESHIPS IN SPECIFIC TRADES:
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