| Learning a new, highly skilled profession | | | | In fact, this method of training may be the |
| requires an in-depth, hands-on, committed | | | | oldest form of learning anywhere. Certainly |
| training experience. This is where the | | | | it was used even by early Americans, |
| process of apprenticeship occurs. It fills-in | | | | including George Washington (surveyor), |
| the training gap in those places where | | | | Benjamin Franklin (printer), and Paul Revere |
| supervision is needed and provides hands-on | | | | (silversmith). Actually, Congress enacted the |
| help and a solid understanding of how a | | | | National Apprenticeship Act in 1937. They did |
| specific process works. Apprenticeship is one | | | | this to recognize the importance of |
| of the most successful methods any person can | | | | apprenticeship in developing highly skilled |
| use to develop new skills, especially in a | | | | workers in various trades, including |
| highly technical craft. | | | | manufacturing, public utilities, and |
| | | | construction. Later apprenticeship grew to |
| For example, you don't become an electrician | | | | include fire, police, safety, and other |
| by pulling a few wires off your remote | | | | emergency related occupations. |
| control car and hooking them up to the light | | | | |
| switch in your house. Instead, you apprentice | | | | Today, there are hundreds of different |
| under an electrical expert to learn the most | | | | occupational apprenticeship programs and |
| valuable, safest method for working with | | | | categories in and around the United States. |
| electricity. | | | | Each state oversees and administers the |
| | | | specifics of their own program, but they are |
| So what is apprenticeship? It generally | | | | federally approved. Once you complete an |
| includes full-time, on-the-job experience | | | | apprenticeship training program, you will get |
| where you actually learn to do "a job" while | | | | an apprenticeship certificate which is |
| performing the required tasks. In this | | | | recognized nationwide. It is also the |
| "hands-on" environment, you are placed under | | | | credential you will find the most useful and |
| the oversight of a skilled trainer or | | | | portable within most industries around the |
| journey-worker. A big benefit of on-the-job | | | | country. |
| apprenticeship is having an income while you | | | | |
| learn. At the same time you can also receive | | | | But apprenticeship isn't for the faint of |
| detailed training by taking specific, | | | | heart. Even before your job and classroom |
| technical classes that are directly related | | | | training, you will have to apply, and you may |
| to your new occupation. This training is | | | | have to wait until positions and |
| often in-addition to your normal job duties, | | | | opportunities are available. In fact, some |
| so be prepared for a large time investment. | | | | programs may have waiting lists or they may |
| | | | only accept new applicants at specific times |
| By focusing heavily on hands-on work | | | | throughout the year. |
| experience and detailed classroom study, long | | | | |
| term success is the usual result for anyone | | | | Although apprenticeship is a fantastic |
| truly dedicated to their occupation. | | | | occupational learning opportunity, it is not |
| Apprenticeship programs create some of the | | | | an option to be pursued lightly. Weigh your |
| most highly-skilled, highly-paid individuals | | | | options and make an educated decision about |
| who work at their jobs anywhere in the world. | | | | the time and other commitments, before you |
| | | | jump into an apprenticeship program. |