What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship training is the time-proven method of systematically producing highly skilled workers. In this state, it is a voluntary labor and management effort. Apprenticeship is, in simple terms, a system of training in which a person desiring to learn a specific apprenticeable occupation is given instruction and experience on the job, as well as school courses related to such occupation.

This method of training is so important that it is covered by a statute, which is known as the Washington State Apprenticeship Act. The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (WSATC) is a seven-member, policy-making authority that oversees the apprenticeship training program statewide. There are also two (2) ex-officio members, one (1) each from the Employment Security Department and the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. The Apprenticeship Section is the administrative arm of the WSATC.

The IEC of Washington Apprenticeship and Training (A&T) Committee is approved by and registered with the WSATC and is composed of an equal number of representatives from labor and management. The A&T committee supervises the training of apprentices for all apprentices registered with this program throughout the state of Washington. It has the responsibility of screening and selecting those applicants who will be indentured as apprentices.

The A&T Committee developed a written apprenticeship training plan called Standards of Apprenticeship. These standards are approved by and registered with the WSATC. Contained in these standards are the requirements that the apprentice, the employer, and the committee must abide by, such as:

1. The geographical area covered by the standards.
2. Qualifications for becoming an apprentice including age, education, and other pertinent requirements.
3. Selection procedure and affirmative action outreach activities.
4. Ratio of apprentices to journeyman.
5. A statement of the term of apprenticeship--total time to be spent in training.
6. A progressively increasing scale of wages, starting at 45% of the journeyman’s scale and increasing at specific intervals throughout the term of apprenticeship.
7. A listing of the work processes to be performed and the number of hours to be spent in each category.
8. A statement regarding related instruction requirements. The law requires a minimum of 144 hours per year in classes pertaining to the necessary theory and basic principals of the trade. These classes are held after work in a local facility.
9. A statement that apprentices are required to work under the supervision of a journeyman at all times.
10. Administrative rules adopted by the committee
11. A list of labor and management representatives responsible for the administration of the apprenticeship training program.

The Standards are available online by clicking here. 

To become an apprentice, the first step is to apply.

Upon acceptance into the program, an applicant is required to sign an Apprenticeship Agreement, which is then registered by the committee with the Apprenticeship Section of the Department of Labor and Industries.

Upon completion of apprenticeship, the IEC of Washington and WSATC award a Certificate of Completion indicating that the individual has completed all requirements and is considered to be fully qualified to sit for the journeyman licensing exam.