For EMPLOYERS

Apprenticeship in a Nutshell

on-the-job training	mentoring
related instruction	incremental wage increases

The Maine Apprenticeship Program (MAP) is a training program that combines paid, on-the-job training with related college or other post-secondary coursework.

Apprenticeship enables employers to develop and apply industry standards to training programs that can increase productivity and improve the quality of the workforce.

What is an Apprenticeship sponsor and what are its duties?

A sponsor is an employer that is able and willing to train workers in all aspects of an apprenticeable occupation.

The there are three main responsibilities of sponsors:

(1) Provide job training under the supervision of skilled workers, as laid out in the Apprentice’s work schedule

(2) Pay the Apprentice wages according to the Apprenticeship Agreement

(3) Ensure that the Apprentice is successfully completing the related instruction that is required as part of the Maine Apprenticeship Program

Who can become an Apprenticeship Program sponsor?

Any business, large or small, union or non-union, which employs workers in an apprenticeable occupation is qualified to be a sponsor.

Who is eligible for an Apprenticeship?

Any existing employee or new hire can become an Apprentice as long as they:

Have their high school diploma or GED
Are over the age of 16
Are committed to furthering their education, both in the classroom and on the job

Apprenticeship = A Smart Business Investment

Apprenticeship is an attractive way to develop a highly skilled and productive workforce.

Apprentices are trained in the skills that are fundamental to their position in your company. This specialized Apprenticeship training allows your company to be more competitive in your particular industry.

Without a steady flow of Apprentices becoming skilled journey workers, the quality of industrial standards would suffer.

Advantages for Apprenticeship Sponsors:

Employee skills are tailored to fit your workplace—leading to greater productivity and competency

The training gives employees a path for upward mobility. Future managers can be selected from the program’s pool of highly skilled workers
Skills of a retiring workforce are preserved through on-the-job mentoring and e mployees trained in new technologies share information with other employees, giving you a competitive edge
Structured training of the program promotes quality and teamwork
Recruitment and retention of a highly qualified workforce and reduced turnover
Generates greater prestige through public recognition on the state and national levels
Provides assessment of existing skills, identifies and improves the standards of the occupation, and ensures meeting the training standards of the occupation
Reduced training costs—receive an excellent return on your training investment

What support is available to my business from the Maine Apprenticeship Program?

Apprenticeship Representatives based in the CareerCenters are available on an ongoing basis to provide technical support and information. The Apprenticeship Reps in the CareerCenters and the Director of Apprenticeship Standards offer you technical assistance to create a program and link it with other resources and accreditations. Beyond brief, periodic check-ins, once your program has been developed, you can involve the staff of the program as much or as little as you choose.

Establishing a Registered Apprenticeship Training Program

Apprenticeship Representatives assist in setting up Apprenticeship Agreements between the employer and Apprentice(s). The representatives will clarify your training information, make sure that the worksite meets on-the-job training standards, and assist with documentation.

Employers work closely with their Apprenticeship Representative and the Director of Apprenticeship Standards to establish a set of Apprenticeship training standards, which include:

an on-the-job training outline,
related classroom instruction curriculum, and
Apprenticeship program procedures.

The program will be registered if it meets federal requirements.

What is the catch? There must be a lot of paperwork and costs to the sponsor.

Apprenticeship is a win-win situation for the sponsor and the Apprentice. There is no “red tape.” Once the program is customized to your needs, the paperwork is minimal and is done by an Apprenticeship Representative based on information from you.

There is no fee to establish a Registered Apprenticeship Program. The employer pays the Apprentices for the work they perform and the Apprentice is responsible for the educational costs. MAP may reimburse the Apprentice (or employer if the company is providing tuition assistance) for up to 50% of tuition for college credit courses.

A sponsor pledges to train the worker(s) to no less than the industry’s minimum standards and MAP grants the credentials. There are no exams and no extensive paperwork involved.

Paperwork includes:

An agreement to train the workers
An agreement to notify MAP when those registered workers are either terminated or complete the program.

MAP sends the sponsor a Certificate of Competency for his/her signature before the Apprentice receives their certificate. The certificate verifies that the Apprentice has reached journeyperson status.

The Bottom Line

Apprenticeship is a smart business decision and an investment in the future success of your business
MAP assists industry in developing and improving Apprenticeship and other training programs designed to provide the skilled workers needed to compete in a global economy

To register your business as an Apprenticeship Sponsor, contact:

Gene Ellis, Director of Apprenticeship Standards
Bureau of Employment Services
55 State House Station
Augusta, Maine, 04333-0055
Phone: (207) 623-7990
Fax: (207) 287-5933
E-mail: gene.a.ellis@maine.gov

Or

Contact your local Maine CareerCenter and ask to speak with the Apprenticeship Representative.

Authorization

The National Apprenticeship Act of 1937, as amended (Public Law 75-308) (29 U.S.C. Part 518, §50, §50a, and §50b and 29 U.S.C. Part 664, §50 and §57.)

RESOURCES

America's Job Bank
An electronic labor exchange that provides job seekers and employers a marketplace connect online at no cost to them

Business, Trade and Technical Schools
Searchable vocational school database and career training resources

Career One Stop
A career-oriented federal-state partnership web portal

America's Service Locator
Includes a searchable database of service providers for job training, education opportunities, and other services

America's Career InfoNet
Employment trends, job training requirements and more

Fact sheets:

What Employers Need to Know (MS Word)

U.S. DOL, Registered Apprenticeship (PDF)

U.S. DOL, Registered Apprenticeship for Workforce Development (PDF)

ABOUT APPRENTICESHIP