The Apprenticeship and Training Bureau within the state’s Department of Labor administers an apprenticeship program that combines on-the-job training with related theoretical and practical classroom instruction. This training is furnished by the individual employer, community college, technical institute, or a four-year university.
Apprenticeship programs in the state of North Carolina are administered by the N.C. Department of Labor with guidance from the Apprenticeship Advisory Council. Apprenticeship programs are established by private employers or under the sponsorship of joint labor-management committees.
Skilled consultants provide technical assistance, monitoring, and consulting services to qualified employers willing to take on the responsibilities and obligations of program sponsorship.
Registered apprenticeship is a proven training strategy with related classroom instruction to prepare highly skilled workers for specific industry. Some 40,000 program sponsors offer registered apprenticeship training to approximately 325,000 apprentices in the U.S. today. These training programs serve a diverse population including minorities, women, youth and displaced workers.
Currently, at least two-thirds of all apprenticeship training positions are in the construction and manufacturing industries. Experts agree that apprenticeship has the potential to benefit numerous other industries as well (e.g., service, retail, public sector).
Registered apprenticeship programs range from one to six or more years in length. For the apprentice, this translates into an "industry scholarship" worth $40,000 - $150,000. Since the content of the training program is based on industry needs, it produces workers with skills that are in high demand.
The Apprenticeship and Training Bureau, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training is responsible for:
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Registering apprenticeship programs that meet federal and state standards.
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Issuing Certificates of Completion to apprentices.
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Encouraging the development of new programs through marketing and technical assistance.
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Protecting the safety of and welfare of apprentices.
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Assuring that all programs provide high quality training to their apprentices.
To find a list of apprentice trades and the apprenticeship consultant that serves your county, visit the N.C. Department of Labor Apprentice and Training Bureau website.