By William Bales, NCCER
Registered Apprenticeship Program
If your business needs a custom-trained workforce, then a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a proven solution to help meet its goal. Apprenticeship programs allow employers to design a training program to fit the unique needs of a specific job, utilizing qualified recruits and mentors working in tandem for a common objective. Programs are designed so apprentices master all skills and knowledge necessary to be fully proficient in the chosen occupation.
Although starting a registered apprenticeship can be challenging, the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) has resources available to make the process easier to manage.
NCCER – Providing Direction in the Apprenticeship Process
As a business owner, community college administrator, or site superintendent, your time is valuable. NCCER can assist with developing your customized apprenticeship programs and direct you during the process through an array of resources – NCCER’s Workforce Development Team (WDT) with years of experience and its flexible NCCER module-based curricula.
NCCER works with contracting businesses, training facilities and educational institutions to assist in the apprenticeship journey. Utilizing NCCER as a partner on the apprenticeship path is beneficial for existing businesses unfamiliar with the process and next-generation educators expanding their craft workforce training programs.
Benefits of an Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship program develops a skilled workforce for your company tailored to your needs. Skilled craftsmen understand the rules and guidelines which they’ll be working within to provide for a safe work environment. A skilled craftsman is also a more efficient worker. Lastly, productivity increases, errors are reduced, and apprentices stick with companies they’ve trained with.
When you speak with an NCCER workforce development team member, they’ll help you identify which construction craft you’ll want to focus on. To get a head start, go to the Department of Labor (DOL) website to assist in finding approved occupations for apprenticeship programs.
NCCER Workforce Development Team
NCCER has helped contracting businesses across the United States design RAPs and training curricula for a number of construction crafts and disciplines. Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with technical classroom instruction, preparing workers for highly skilled careers.
Members of the NCCER Workforce Team are a helpful resource for businesses and educators when they’re developing apprenticeship curricula. WDT member Brad Kibbe explains, “Some organizations need our help. They need our understanding of the education aspect or the related training aspects of how they’re putting their apprenticeship programs together.”
That’s where NCCER’s expertise lies — in assisting merit or union-affiliated shops in the apprenticeship design process. The NCCER team can direct businesses and give them the resources to understand where they need to go in their state and what they need to do for an application process.
Advantages of Using NCCER for Apprenticeship Curricula
The advantage of utilizing NCCER is flexibility. With some apprenticeship programs, businesses need to develop the curriculum. With NCCER, businesses can select various modules to build a customized apprenticeship. NCCER is plug and play making it a powerful way to build a program.
WDT member Matt Clark elaborates, “NCCER has all this content that will meet the needs of just about any craft discipline apprenticeship that you could put together. Programs are structured in such a way that you know the recommended hours add up to the required 144 hours per year related technical instruction (RTI) and 2,000 hours minimum per year of on-the-job-learning.”
All of this is coupled with assessments and testing, end-of-module exams and performance profiles prove to the DOL that learning has occurred. These pieces: of content, structure, and testing validate learning and instruction took place. Matt continues, “NCCER provides every piece of what they’re looking for. The Departments of Labor Offices of Apprenticeships love it.”
NCCER’s curriculum is designed to meet the registered apprenticeship RTI hours requirement and can be used to build your Standards and Appendix A.
Putting the Pieces Together – Developing the Program
Once you’ve decided on the apprenticeship construction craft, it’s time to develop the program structure, which will include technical instruction and on-the-job (OTB) training with a mentor.
It’s important to note that selecting a skilled journey-level craft professional as a mentor, to guide the apprentice, will bode well for a successful apprenticeship. As part of the program development, also consider establishing a competitive wage structure.
After you’ve outlined and developed your program, you’ll need to register with your local apprenticeship agency to register with the DOL. Finally comes the recruitment of qualified candidates. A great place to start is NCCER’s CareerStarter where businesses can post open positions for applicants.
Additional Opportunities – Inflation Reduction Act
In 2022 Congress signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The signing of the legislation, designed to address climate issues, also created incentives for businesses in the clean energy arena to expand workforce training programs and apprenticeships for clean energy jobs. The legislation opened a floodgate of opportunities for clean energy companies.
Employers in the clean energy sector will find the legislation makes funds available for workforce development, apprenticeships and tax incentives. For the first time, with the passage of the IRA, the federal government is providing long-term support to the clean energy industries by extending tax credits for 10 years to 2032.
The IRA contains important prevailing wage, workforce development, and apprenticeship provisions to ensure a diverse pool of skilled labor has access to good jobs and the skills necessary to meet clean energy goals.
Additional Assistance
Both the Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) provide technical assistance and support to program sponsors, answer questions about the apprenticeship model, guide partners on each phase of developing a program, connect businesses to training providers, and advise partners on available funding sources to support apprenticeships. While both entities function similarly, there are some key differences that may apply.
Need additional help? NCCER can help you develop your registered program and provide recommendations. Call 888.622.3720 or contact our workforce development team for more information.
About the Author
William Bales is a copywriter with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) which provides rigorous and relevant workforce development solutions for the construction industry. William has written articles and copy for variety of topics for NCCER which have focused on career and technical education, apprenticeship, and skilled trades in green energy. His goal along with those at NCCER is to let readers and job seekers know the great opportunities that exist in the construction industry.
