What is a Registered Apprenticeship?

1. Registered Apprenticeships: an alternative career pathway for individuals living with disabilitiesPresenter: Travis Williams M.Ed., LPC, CRCNCCDD Systems Change Manger

2. What is a Registered Apprenticeship? • A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a proven model of apprenticeship that has been validated by a State Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency • In NC our Apprenticeship Programs are managed by the NC Community College System • In North Carolina a list of registered apprenticeship programs can be found at Apprenticeship NC • https://www.apprenticeshipnc.com/

3. Qualifications • Participants must be at least 16 years of age (or 18 years and older for occupations deemed hazardous). • Program sponsors can also add additional minimum qualifications to apply, such as: education, ability to physically perform the essential functions of the occupation, and proof of age. • Based on the selection method utilized by the sponsor, other qualification standards, such as fair aptitude tests and interviews, school grades, and previous work experience may be identified.

4. Apprenticeships are flexible and can cover any career area • Apprentices in North Carolina are training in more than a thousand occupations, covering traditional fields as well as newer ones, • Including computer simulation, banking, medical coding, and pharmacy operations.

5. Key features of Registered Apprenticeships include: • Participants are paid an hourly wage by employers during training, a wage that increases over time as new skills are learned • Employers and their training partners provide on-the-job learning and job-related classroom or technical instruction • Training results in an industry-recognized credential that certifies occupational proficiency

6. Major Components of Registered Apprenticeships

7. RA Component Details: • BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT: Every Registered Apprenticeship Program begins with a business identifying a need with in an organization • Some of the benefits for employers include • Employee engagement • Adaptability • Problem Solving capability • STRUCTURED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING Apprentices receive on-the-job training from an experienced mentor for typically-not less than one year.

8. RA component details continued: • RELATED INSTRUCTION Apprenticeships combine on-the-job learning with technical education at community colleges, or technical schools, training provided is sometimes on-line or at the job site. • REWARDS FOR SKILL GAINS Apprentices receive increases in wages as they gain higher level skills. • NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIAL • Registered Apprenticeship programs result in a nationally-recognized credential

9. Pro’s for using registered apprenticeships as an alternative career pathway for individuals living with disabilities: A July 2015 Office of Disability Policy (ODEP) report entitled, “Registered Apprenticeship Programs: Improving the pipeline for people with disabilities” highlighted the following: • Apprenticeship are time-tested system of job training which entry-level professionals “earn while they learn” • offer paid on-the-job learning with related technical classroom instruction that can lead to a long-term career pathway and sustained employment. • Recent regulation changes and new occupations in emerging industries make RA a valuable resource for jobseekers, particularly those without a postsecondary education.

10. Benefits of using registered apprenticeship programs as alternative career pathways for individuals living with I/DD and other Disabilities • Apprenticeships can be customized to meet business need and skills of the apprentices • There is flexibility in program design allowing for time based, competency based programs or a hybrid of the two

11. RA Benefits cont’d • Instruction can be based at the school, job site, or online. And take place during or after work hours • Flexible training models- traditional, front loaded, segmented, or pre-apprentice can be built into the program

12. Inroads to Employment Initiative Purpose: Develop up to three registered apprenticeships in high demand (health care, technology and business), yet achievable career pathways for individuals with I/DD. Draft summary report outlining best practices guidebook on registered apprenticeships Activities to Date: • Your Local Greens (YLG) in Burlington, NC is a startup hydroponic food production company that is committed to developing an apprenticeship for people with I/DD • An application for at registered Agriculture Technologist apprenticeship has been drafted by NC Apprenticeship • We are working with Your Local Greens to develop the 2000 hours of paid on-the-job training and two classes to provide 144 of “classroom” training via a biology/plant science class and a class on soft skills for the worksite. • We have begun to explore (with NC Works) creating modifications to the Working Smart (soft skills training) to adapt the classes for students with disabilities.

13. Inroads to Employment Initiative Outcomes cont. 2. Well-Spring Retirement Center in Greensboro has budgeted funds to start a feeding assistant pre-apprenticeship in late Spring, 2019. 3. Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC is interested in developing an apprenticeship in health care and in furniture manufacturing- discussion is beginning for later in 2019.

14. Previous Apprenticeships: Lessons Learned • 2017 Innovative Employment Initiative focused on developing best practices for apprenticeships that were specifically developed for individuals living with I/DD • Elderberry Healthcare, Blue Area Foundation, and Vaya Health partnered to establish feeding assistant pre-apprenticeship in Marshal NC.

15. Previous Apprenticeships Cont. • Also in 2017 we focused on I/DD Peer Mentor Apprenticeship • Included partnership among Vaya Health and Cardinal Healthcare Innovations both agreed to develop a proposal to fund pilot of the Peer Mentor Training Model under a registered apprenticeship model

16. Previous Apprenticeships Results: • Feeding Assistant apprenticeship (5 interviewed 2 hired) one is still employed at Well Spring. Second cohort expected to complete training this spring. With an expected hire date in July. • I/DD Peer mentorship apprenticeship (6) pilot was in process to be approved by NC Works and US DOL. Project was placed on hold due to funding

17. Apprentices and Participation Trends Apprentices and Participation Trends • In FY 2018, more than 238,000 individuals nationwide entered the apprenticeship system. • Nationwide, there are over 585,000 apprentices currently obtaining the skills they need for their careers • Just under 72,000 participants graduated from the apprenticeship system in FY 2018. • There are over 47,000 veterans nationwide currently participating in an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship Sponsors and Trends • There are more than 23,400 registered apprenticeship programs across the nation. • In FY 2018 there were 3,229 new apprenticeship programs were established nationwide. FY 2018 State Totals for NC Active Apprentices 7,039 New Apprentices 3,307 Graduates 1,147 Source 3/6/2019 DOLETA Fact Sheet

18. Resources for locating a RA Program • Contacting sponsoring Employers. • NCTAP NC Triangle Apprenticeship Program http://nctap.org/ • Contact your local community college career technical education counselor

19. Thoughts or Questions