Apprenticeship is not just a job, but a career opportunity! It is occupational training that combines supervised on-the-job training experience with classroom instruction. Apprentices usually begin at half the salary of journey workers - those who have completed their training and have industry certification. Apprentices receive pay increases as they learn to perform more complex tasks. When they become journey workers, they increase their chances of finding a well-paying job in industry and may become supervisors or go into business for themselves. Apprenticeship committees, made up of employee and employer representatives from the specific industries, operate apprenticeship programs. Both state and federal government have a role in regulating apprenticeship programs.
There’s a wide range of occupations available, from corrections officer to heavy equipment operator. Not all programs are available in all parts of the state. The variety of available occupations depends on local industry needs. We currently offer HVAC Technicians, Sheet Metal Workers, Sprinkler Fitters and Test, Adjust and Balance Technicians.
Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) is a committee made of equal number of Employer and Employee representative. Employer members represent management and Employee members represent labor. Each committee operates in compliance with the Oregon State laws & administrative rules, program standards, and policies.
Yes! Usually, the wage scale begins at 50 percent of the journey-level worker’s rate and increases progressively with satisfactory completion of on-the-job training hours and related training classes.
The committee doesn’t provide any health benefits; however your employer may, depending on the company you work for and their policies.
Individual apprenticeship committees take applications for their program. They advertise that they are accepting applications through an opening announcement. Applicants can find apprenticeship opening announcements posted at Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) offices, local schools, community colleges, Oregon Employment Department offices, local newspapers, and community organizations. Announcements contain the details about the application process.
An apprenticeship agreement is a written agreement or contract between the apprentice, the program committee and Bureau Labor of Industry. Items typically incorporated in the agreement are provisions for instruction, overtime regulations, minimum wage schedules, and approximate time schedule for training in different aspects of the trade.
An Apprentice is a person/individual who has entered into a written agreement with an employer under which the employer is to provide an opportunity for the apprentice to learn an apprenticeable trade.
The journey level wage is determined by an annual wage survey. 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 regular scheduled file reviews by the committee. Training agents are required to pay no less than the wages as indicated by the percent of journey level pay that the apprentice has attained.
A training agent is a company who has met the committee’s requirements to provide training and has demonstrated qualifications to teach the skills involved in the occupation to apprentices. Training agents are expected to cooperate with the committee to keep apprentices employed and must strive to offer each apprentice a full spectrum of training as defined in the apprenticeship standards.
A journey-level worker is a skilled worker in that trade or craft who has successfully completed an apprenticeship program and is certified by the apprenticeship committee.
“On-the-job training” happens at an actual work-site. Apprentices practice trade and real-work problem solving under supervision as they rotate through all aspects of their particular selected trade. Some apprenticeship programs require up to 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
During the “classroom” portion of the apprenticeship program, apprentices learn theory and technical knowledge related to the trade, and practice new skills in a simulated setting. The classroom curriculum is determined by the program sponsor. Registered apprenticeship programs must provide a minimum of 144 hours per year of classroom training. However, some apprenticeship programs require many more classroom hours.