Earlier this summer, the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards (NGS) were released to provide local JATC members policy and guidance when preparing individual standards for apprenticeship. The guidelines, developed by the ITI and approved by the Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship, conform to the requirements of Title 29, CFR parts 29 and 30.

It is the recommendation of the ITI to adopt these guidelines with as few changes as possible. Training directors and coordinators can view the new guidelines, separated into sections, on TotalTrack.

“If you add to these guidelines or take away from these guidelines, you could inadvertently change something that would cause your training center not to comply with regulations,” said Mike Harris, ITI administrator, during a webinar to discuss the release of the new guidelines with training directors and coordinators. “If you use the wording as it is in these documents, it will conform.”

Five documents make up the NGS, including four appendix sections (A-D). Appendix A is the “meat and potatoes of how your program operates,” Harris said, and it includes the work process schedule and related instruction outline. This section is where the bulk of the editing is going to be completed. Directors and coordinators will fill out items such as the JATC name, number of apprenticeship years, and ratio and pay scale information set in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), as well as a probationary period, among others.

In the main document, an item to note is wording was added to the minimum requirements, suggesting a high school diploma only as a recommendation, not a requirement, in order to protect JATCs. These requirements now allow for additional flexibility.

Appendix B contains the apprenticeship agreement, while Appendix C is a sample of an affirmative action plan. Appendix D provides the employer acceptance agreement, which is required for every employer to complete, stating they understand their local apprenticeship program and their participation in that program.

“It helps the contractors to understand their role and encourages the conversation about on-the-job training, what is needed, what are they looking for in regard to training, expectations in the classrooms and on the job,” Harris said. “It also gives you an opportunity to speak to them about the new standards.”

Some key take-aways from the new NGS include:

• Apprenticeship candidates must be 18 years old by the time they’re accepted to the apprenticeship program and can be at least 16 years of age if participating in a school-to-work program or an apprentice readiness program (ARP).
• Physical capability tests and drug screenings may be conducted prior to being put to work as an apprentice.
• JATCs will use consistent and equal ways and means to measure and evaluate individuals to determine how much credit to award for on-the-job and related training. Any credit will be given up front and can be adjusted during the apprentice’s evaluation.
• A high school diploma or GED is preferred, not required. Points may be given to applicants for those who hold either a high school diploma or GED.

Aside from items that need to be required, Harris suggested remaining a little flexible on other items. For instance, the minimum age and physical requirements should be required, but whether or not a potential apprentice should have a high school diploma or equivalent could be considered as preferred.

“If you feel there are any items you need to add, consider making ‘preferred’ qualifications and give points for them toward the ranking list,” Harris suggested. “Don’t make them ‘requirements,’ because you can limit yourself. When they’re required, there’s no way around it.”

Training directors and coordinators have access to National Guidelines in their “Documents” folder on TotalTrack.