The U.S. Department of Labor established National Apprenticeship Week three years ago as a “National Celebration that offers leaders in business, labor, education and other critical partners a chance to express their support for Apprenticeship”. It gives apprenticeship sponsors, like the Electrical Alliance’s Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities and apprentices. The week of events shows the value of apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet employers’ needs.
This year, National Apprenticeship Week was held November 13th-November 19th. JATC leaders participated in several activities throughout the week designed to educate the community on apprenticeship opportunities.
Some of these events included:
- A Washington Area Apprenticeship Training Directors (WAATDA) open house for the Howard County, MD public schools.
- A Maryland Apprenticeship Training Council meeting and open house at the IBEW Local 24 in Baltimore. During the meeting, a proclamation/citation was given to the council for National Apprenticeship Week.
- A WAATDA open house at Calvert Career Center.
“Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week gives us a chance to show our communities the positive impact apprenticeships have on a wide array of industries and illustrates how people can prepare for a stable, high-paying career without going to college,” said JATC Director Chris Cash.
Each year the Washington, D.C. JATC graduates between 150 and 250 apprentices who have become highly-skilled electricians. The journeyman electricians go on to serve the Washington, D.C. region’s commercial construction needs, working on some of the nation’s most high-tech and highly visible projects. It offers three and five year electrical apprenticeships as well as a four year telecommunications apprenticeship. Tuition is free.
Candidates who are interested in applying for the JATC’s apprenticeship programs can learn more at www.getchargedup.org. The deadline to apply for enrollment in the upcoming apprenticeship class is March 31, 2018.
