National Apprenticeship Week is upon us- November 12th through 18th…but what is it about?
The Department of Labor posts:
“National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a national celebration that offers leaders in business, labor, education, and other critical partners a chance to demonstrate their support for apprenticeship.
NAW also gives apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices in their community. The week-long event highlights the benefits of apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries.”
Highly skilled trades, such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, elevator repair, telecomm technicians, and a host of others, depend on certified apprenticeships. If you work in an industry outside of the trades, you may not realize the amount of education that goes into a skilled trades persons goal of a Journeyman’s license or trade certification recognized by the state.
In the electrical field it requires the candidate be employed full time, while attending school two nights a week, for four years. At the end of these four years, the candidate graduates and receives his or her Journeyman’s license. They are now recognized by the state as a fully trained and certified electrician.
Those wishing to pursue a Masters license will take on an additional four years of instruction, while working full time as electricians.
IEC Chesapeake’s core mission is apprenticeship and education. That’s why we exist. Our chapter, and our 53 “sister” chapters are fueled and funded by electrical contractor members and associate members (electrical field specialists like manufacturers, distributors, and specifiers) within our chapter footprints.
We all enjoy flipping a switch and being delivered power; taking an elevator and actually going up. We enjoy placing a call and getting connected.
Thank a technician or trades person for these daily, uninterrupted pursuits. Support apprenticeships; the tried and true deliverance of crucial education skills and lifetime careers.
Jenny Boone Business Development
IEC Chesapeake/IECC
#weareapprenticeship
