Apprenticeship Programs have been in existence for many years. Practiced mostly in Europe, the term "apprenticeship" is used to describe the idea of a professional teaching their skill or occupation to another individual. Training in this manner helped to insure a continued pool of qualified candidates for many different occupations. Over time, training programs became more structured and formal, and included classroom instruction. Program Standards were developed by employers as a means of designating tasks or skills to be learned at the job site, and what classes must be completed for an individual to be successful in a specific career or occupation.
Apprenticeship Programs have gained momentum in the United States due mostly to the lack of skilled individuals available to the nation's employers. Their steady increase in popularity, especially with high school students, can be attributed to the fact that parents and students recognize the need for more viable post high school career training options that include occupational training while still in high school, assistance in paying for college, and the knowledge of guaranteed full time, gainful employment upon completion of high school that includes benefits and continued education, training, and employment opportunities.
The Apprenticeship system of training is unique in that it is the only formal, structured, and nationally recognized education and training program available that combines the two most common forms of career and occupational learning:
Classroom Instruction
With
On-The-Job Training
Apprentices not only learn occupational skills in the classroom, their learning is expanded to include paid on-the-job training!
Apprentices not only learn occupational skills in the classroom, their learning is expanded to include paid on-the-job training!
The School-to-Registered Apprenticeship (STRA) Program was developed to allow high school students the opportunity to participate in apprenticeship training as a part of their high school classroom activities. Students wishing to be considered for participation in a STRA Program must be at least 16 years of age and a third year (junior) student in high school.
Students, as early as their junior year, can be apprenticed, participating in technical instruction, as well as paid on-the-job training during their normal school day!
Participating employers, based on student candidate's application, portfolio, and assessment information, as well as the student's interview performance, choose who they wish to sponsor for specific occupations within their business. Student apprentices are required to complete a pre-determined number of classroom instruction as well as on-the-job training. During senior year, the student apprentice's classroom instruction may be provided by the local high school or technical school. A portion of the student's school day may also be spent performing paid on-the-job tasks at work site. Upon graduation, classroom instruction is continued at the local community college or other designated post high school instruction deliverer. All on-the-job training is supplied by the sponsoring employer both during high school, and, upon graduation, as a full time employee with the sponsoring business.
Student participants are registered with the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, and all classroom and work site training hours are recorded and kept on file until the students completes all program classroom and work site training hours. Program length, usually between 2000 to 8000 hours, takes anywhere from 2-5 years to complete depending on the occupation and the employer. Upon successful completion of all program hours, apprentices receive their "Certificate of Completion from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. These credentials, recognized by professionals in the industry nationwide, verifies the individual's status as quality trained and highly skilled!
Students who complete STRA Programs have experienced high quality academic and occupational education, technical training with employment, and awarded national credentials insuring immediate and future gainful education, employment, and career opportunities!
So why should a student consider the STRA Program?
The STRA Program is not for every student, but all students should be aware of the program and advantages of participation. Learn more about everything this program has to offer including:
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Software, Inc.
in cooperation with the STRA Consortium.