HOW APPRENTICESHIP WORKS

Apprenticeship, the "original four year degree" , has been used around the world for centuries as a means of training skilled craftpersons. It is an "earn while you learn" program where you are paid to learn a trade or occupation. Apprenticeship combines paid work experience working for employers under the supervision of journey-level workers, known as On the Job Training (OJT) combined with classroom training dealing with the technical details of the occupation, known as Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI).

Apprentices are paid a percentage of the journey-level wage rate based on how many hours of OJT and RSI that they have completed. Each increase in progression brings an automatic increase in wages. Additionally, most apprenticeable occupations also provide guaranteed health and retirement benefits. Union building trades apprentices generally receive the same rate of pay and contributions into the same health and retirement programs at every employer that they work for - they are always covered by the same benefit plans as they change jobs. There are apprenticeships available for many different occupations, including all of the Building and Construction Trades. In Washington State, apprenticeships are regulated by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, which sets the administrative rules, and approves the Standards of Apprenticeship, of apprenticeship programs. These Standards provide the legal framework by which the apprenticeship training programs operate, setting forth the rights and responsibilities of the programs and the apprentices that they train, and are registered with the Apprenticeship Section of the Department of Labor & Industries. The Apprenticeship Section website provides information on apprenticeship and the various programs in Washington State. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association jointly sponsor apprenticeships for several occupations across the United States. Click here for more information on these programs and training locations. Electrical apprenticeship can be a stepping stone into a wide variety of careers in the electrical industry. Students, parents and career counselors can visit electrifyingcareers.com for more information.