Apprenticeship in America

Apprenticeship May Be A Steady Ride In Unsteady Times

Every business builds success on the foundation of skilled workers. By participating in a registered apprenticeship program, workers can equip themselves with the skills and knowledge necessary to become part of this foundation. An apprenticeship is the combination of structured on-the-job training and related technical instruction.

Registered apprenticeship, sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS), takes a formalized approach to this concept. Through this nationwide program paid employees receive technical training in a specific occupation. Apprenticing employees are able to garner the skills they need while sustaining a modest, but adequate income. In exchange, employers develop the type of worker needed to maintain a successful business. Apprenticeship training programs make great practical sense and provide wonderful opportunities to the American worker.

The supply and demand of industry determines the skills essential to maintaining a sustainable workforce. Because the content of apprenticeship programs is driven by industry needs, workers finish their training with skills that are in high demand. Plumbers, electrical technicians, culinary artists are all apprenticeable careers that have stood a substantial test of time. Such a wide range in occupations attracts people from a variety of backgrounds—young people coming out of high school, ex-military personnel, and workers seeking new career opportunities, among many others.

People have been extending this kind of training for hundreds of years, far before the dawn of modern record keeping. Passed down along generations, youth of the past acquired great knowledge and skill from the master craft workers that came before them. The practice of indenture, brought to America from Europe during the period of colonization, incorporated a system of master-apprentice relationships. Indentations were torn in duplicate copies of apprenticeship certification forms. These notches created an uneven edge in the copy of the apprentice, which could be matched with the master’s copy for verification of proper training.

Apprenticeships still play a major role in a wide range of modern industries, from culinary arts to mechanical engineering to health care. Today, there are over 850 occupations that can be learned through apprenticeship training, and more are being added all of the time. Registered in December of 2002, the Air Transport Pilot is the latest addition to the growing fleet of apprenticeable careers. OATELS, under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, offers official registration approval for new training requests.

A Registered Apprenticeship Program is valuable because it satisfies federally approved and industry-endorsed standards regarding on-the-job training, related classroom instruction, safety in the workplace, labor organization, and wage incentives. Individuals that complete registered apprenticeship possess the technical skills, knowledge, and experience required to succeed in their chosen field—they become journey-level workers. Journeyworkers receive a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship.

Apprentices are generally paid half of the skilled journeyworker’s wage at the start. The more they learn, the higher the pay. Thus an apprentice’s wages increase as his or her skills steadily sharpen and body of knowledge expands. While there is often an opportunity to earn college credit in many occupational areas, a journeyworker’s salary competes with those of college graduates and even those with advanced degrees.

Depending on the occupation, apprenticeships generally take one to six years to complete. To further explore this prospect, visit America’s Career InfoNet at www.acinet.org and browse the Career Videos archive. Specifically, review the Apprenticeship Summary Video (Get Real Player!) to better understand why apprenticeships are solid opportunities in the current marketplace.

"Apprenticeship training is a great opportunity for women to gain valuable skills that can advance their careers with better paying jobs," expresses U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "By expanding the skills of America’s working women, we are addressing the needs of our workforce and assisting women in the development of rewarding careers. When women win, families win." The Department of Labor is offering $1,000,000 in grants to organizations that will help employers and unions establish apprenticeship programs for women.

There is a well-founded commitment toward extending the extremely viable practice of apprenticeship into the twenty-first century, for women, youth, and all working Americans. To learn more about the nationally recognized Registered Apprenticeship program, including a list of over 850 apprenticeable occupations currently registered in the United States, visit OATELS at or call 1-877-US-2JOBS.

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Occupational Outlook Quarterly

by Olivia Crosby

I learn new things every day," says Elizabeth Cummings, who is training as an electrician apprentice. "I get to use my hands and my mind. I'm practically guaranteed a great career in a few years-a job that I know I'll like and that pays very well."

In fact, Cummings earns full-time pay while she learns. "It's better than any scholarship," she says. Cummings is describing a few of the benefits of apprenticeship. She was looking for a free education in a highly skilled field. Like thousands of others, she found what she wanted in apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships are available for more than 850 occupations. Construction and manufacturing apprenticeships are most common, but apprenticeships are available for all sorts of occupations. Possibilities range from telecommunications, environmental protection, and pastry making to healthcare, childcare, and the arts.

What do all of these programs have in common? They combine structured on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Current programs vary in length from 1 to 6 years. Throughout that time, apprentices work-and learn-as employees. And when they complete a registered program, apprentices receive a nationally recognized certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor-proof of their qualifications.

Apprenticeship also can be combined with other kinds of training. Classroom instruction often counts toward licenses, certifications, and college degrees.

But for all its advantages, apprenticeship takes time and effort. So before deciding if apprenticeship is right for you, keep reading to learn more about what apprenticeship is and how to find, choose, and qualify for a program.

Apprenticeship: The basics

Apprenticeship is career preparation. It mixes learning on the job with learning in class. A child development apprentice, for example, might spend the day as an assistant teacher, helping to supervise children, lead activities, and make arts and crafts materials. That evening, in class, the apprentice might learn safety procedures and theories of child development.

Most formal apprenticeships are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. This registration means the program meets Government standards of fairness, safety, and training. Graduates of registered programs are called journey workers. They receive certificates of completion from the U.S. Department of Labor or an approved State agency. These certificates are accepted by employers nationwide.

Employee associations, employers, or employer groups manage apprenticeship programs. As program sponsors, they choose apprentices, develop training standards, and pay wages and other expenses.

When apprentices are accepted into registered programs, the sponsors and the apprentices sign an agreement. The agreement explains the specifics of the apprenticeship program: the skills apprentices will learn on the job, the related instruction they will receive, the wages they will earn, and the time the program will take. In signing an agreement, the sponsors promise to train the apprentices and make every effort to keep them employed. The apprentices promise to perform their jobs and complete classes.

On-the-job training. Registered apprenticeship training is more formal than most other types of on-the-job training. Apprentices follow a structured plan. They practice every major element of an occupation.

This variety is an advantage in the job market. "I'll end up more well rounded," says Richard Marshall, a machinist apprentice in Wytheville, Virginia. "I'll have more steady work because I can do more things." And because employers develop the training plans, training keeps up with the needs of the industry.

Apprentices start by learning simple, repetitive tasks and then gradually progress to complex duties. Electrician apprentices, for example, might begin by learning to cut wire and install it in walls. Eventually, they will plan projects; set up, wire, and test entire construction sites;
and diagnose and fix electrical problems.

Expert guidance speeds the learning process. In the beginning, apprentices are closely supervised by a journey worker. "You learn all the tricks of the trade," says Chris Wilcox, a carpenter apprentice in Newark, Connecticut. "They work with you and show you how to do it." But soon, apprentices gain independence. A journey worker stays nearby to answer questions and demonstrate new skills.

Related instruction. In addition to learning by doing, apprentices take classes to learn the basics. A first class might teach the names and uses of the equipment a student will see on a jobsite. Later, students learn techniques, such as drafting, cost ,. estimating, or reading blueprints - any procedure the worker must know to perform the occupation.

Students also learn the theories underlying the work they do. For metal workers, this means learning trigonometry, measurement, and applied physics. For cooks, it includes learning about nutrition and the economics of restaurant management. For science technicians, chemistry or physics is essential.

Apprentices see their academics pay off in the job they do. "At work, I notice the children behaving just the way we studied in class," says Norma Grey, a child development apprentice in Huntington, West Virginia. Understanding these behaviors helps her work with the children more effectively.

Related instruction comes in a variety of formats. Many apprentices attend a vocational school or community college one or two evenings a week after work. Others go to school full time for a few weeks each year. Still others take classes over the Internet or through the mail. Wherever and whenever they study, most apprentices need at least 144 hours of instruction per year.

Earnings. As employees, apprentices earn wages for the work they do. Unless they are part of a prison rehabilitation program, apprentices must make at least minimum wage to start, but they usually earn more. Beginning apprentices often earn about half of what fully trained workers do. They receive raises periodically-usually, every few months. "Workers are more valuable as they learn more skills, so we pay them more," explains Tom Gibbs, a former heating and air conditioning apprentice who now hires apprentices for his heating and air conditioning business in Ames, Iowa.

Time commitment. Learning a skilled occupation takes time. How much time depends on the occupation. All apprenticeship programs require at least 2,000 hours of work experience. Some take up to 12,000. These hours translate into about 2 to 6 years. Most programs require about 4 years-or 8,000 hours-on the job.

The table shows the approximate number of years required to train for each apprenticeable occupation. But the times listed are estimates. People can reduce the years required by working more hours per week. Or, they can get credit for education and experience they already have. Marshall is benefiting from this flexibility. His experience in a prior job and the classes he's taken at a community college will shave hundreds of hours from his apprenticeship.

Some employers' programs focus on skills more than on time at work. In these programs, apprentices still need work experience, but they have to pass skills tests to progress. Skills-based programs take roughly the same amount of time to finish as other programs do.

Many people keep training long after their apprenticeship ends. Reaching journey worker status opens the door to advanced instruction. Cummings, for example, hopes to take master classes in solar energy systems after receiving her certificate of completion.

Apprenticeable occupations: 858 and counting

Any occupation can be registered as apprenticeable if it meets four criteria:

Currently, 858 occupations meet these standards. The most common are listed in the box on the facing page. But the U.S. Department of Labor adds more occupations as employers propose and register them. Internetworking technician, youth development practitioner, and plastic molds designer are some recent additions. Several computer occupations are under consideration.

The number of apprenticeable occupations may seem overwhelming, but not every occupation is available at a given time. Programs open and close depending on the number of new workers needed in an occupation. Now, 518 occupations have apprentices working in them. The number of occupations available for apprenticeship varies from one State to another. But in most States, there are hundreds of occupations to choose among. Apprenticeable occupations can be categorized as follows:

Arts. Theater arts, including stage technicians and actors, fall into this relatively small group, as do designers and arts and crafts workers.

Business and administrative support. Office managers, paralegals, and medical secretaries are some of the occupations in this category.

Construction. These are the most commonly available apprenticeships. Most employers of construction workers consider apprenticeships the best training for these jobs. Workers in this group include plumbers, electricians, and terrazzo workers. Many, such as residential carpenters and acoustical carpenters-who install panels and materials that absorb or affect sound-use considerable math skills. Some, such as reinforcing metal workers, need strength and endurance.

Installation, maintenance, and repair, including telecommunications technicians and power plant operators. Working as service technicians, engine mechanics, or body repairers, some apprentices learn to fix cars and planes. Apprentices also learn to maintain electronics, musical instruments, and power plant machinery. Also in this group are apprentices who install equipment. Millwrights, who install industrial machinery, are an example. Workers who install and maintain communication and sound equipment-such as communications and telecommunications technicians and line installers-also are included.

Production. Production occupations employ the second most commonly available group of apprenticeships. Again, many production employers consider apprenticeship the best way to learn these jobs. Metal workers in this category include tool and die makers and machinists, who create specialized parts out of metal and other materials. Apprentices in precision assembly occupations include those who construct circuit boards and electrical appliances. Others build prototypes, operate printing machines, and conduct safety inspections.

Science, drafting, and computing. Science apprenticeships include chemical, engineering, mapping, or environmental technicians. Drafters, tool and die designers and nondestructive testers are other examples. Computer programmers and internetworking technicians are a few of the computer occupations that are apprenticeable.

Service. Many of the most skilled service occupations are apprenticeable. Cooking, for example, is most often learned in an apprenticeship program. Protective service workers, including police patrol officers, correctional officers, and firefighters, commonly receive apprenticeship training. Landscaping and customer service apprenticeships are a few of the other programs available in some States.

Which occupation is right for you?

When exploring careers, prospective apprentices should think about the kind of work they enjoy and what they do best. Some apprenticeable occupations, such as electrical and metal working occupations, require workers to have strong math and problemsolving skills. Others, including nursing and law enforcement, focus on working with the public. Occupations such as jewelry making and tool design demand concentration and attention to detail. Career counselors can help jobseekers choose and test occupations to see which fit their interests.

Another thing to consider is working conditions. Does the work require stamina, as millwrighting does? Does it require moving from job to job, as construction does? Is it clean, as healthcare occupations are? Or dirty, as automotive repair is?

Earnings are important, too. Several apprenticeable occupations-electrician, carpenter, and elevator repairer, for examplepay some of the highest wages in the economy. Others, such as childcare development specialist, pay less. Table 1 shows the earnings of the top-paying occupations for which many people train as apprentices. It shows median earnings-half of all workers in the occupation make less than this amount and half make more.

Job prospects also vary by occupation. Choosing an occupation with many openings leads to better job prospects and greater ability to move from one location to another. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the number of nationwide job openings in occupations. Table 2 shows which commonly apprenticed occupations are projected to have the most job openings between 2000 and 2010.