Apprenticeship Programs and On the Job Training

Many careers require apprenticeships, or on the job training, before workers can attain full certification in that career field. Traditionally, apprenticeship programs are required for trade occupations: plumbing, welding, carpentry and electrician apprenticeships are common examples. According to the US Department of Labor, over 700 different careers offer apprenticeship programs in the U.S. alone.

In most cases, apprenticeships aren't independent of formal, in-class training. Apprentices will complete an average of 144 hours of class time over their apprenticeships. Most of this class time can be put in during evening classes, so apprenticeships can be completed during the day.

 

During an apprenticeship, the apprentice learns under the supervision of an experienced member of the trade. The hours required to complete an apprenticeship vary from trade to trade, and range from six months to four years. Upon successfully completing an apprenticeship program, the individual is awarded a journeyman certification in the field.

Apprentices are generally paid during their apprenticeships, which is a significant advantage to anyone trying to learn a career and make a living at the same time. On average, apprenticeships pay approximately fifty percent of a journeyman's wage, and some apprenticeship programs include raises based on hours worked and completed coursework.

 

Students with a high school diploma and GED can enter apprenticeship programs. However, ome apprenticeships require specific education, such as drafting or mathematics.

 

The primary advantage of an apprenticeship is the chance to learn practical skills on a daily basis. Apprentices work full-time alongside certified journeymen, whose experience is a valuable resource throughout the apprenticeship.

Individual companies or associations of companies may offer apprenticeships. The U.S. Department of Labor offers an apprenticeship program sponsor database on its website that you can use to find apprenticeship programs in your area.

 

Each apprenticeship program offers a limited number of on the job training positions at any given time, and applicants may have to wait for a position to open. It can take several months to two years for an apprenticeship to open, and competition for the position can be fierce. Many programs require personal aptitude tests before awarding apprenticeships. Strong high school marks, especially in the sciences and mathematics, will improve your chance of securing an apprenticeship, as will related work experience.

Once apprentices finish on the job training and receive journeyman certification, they can usually work anywhere in the country. Journeymen often go on to supervisory positions and often gain promotions faster than employees who never completed apprenticeship programs.

 

While there are many jobs available in industry for well-trained graduates of apprenticeship programs, some people choose to go into business for themselves after completing apprenticeships. People who complete electrician apprenticeships, for instance, may start their own electrician business.