Save Money and Boost Profits through EST Apprenticeship
NSCA’s federally approved EST Apprenticeship program is an effective way to save money and boost profits while training ESTs for skills needed today in the workplace. The EST Apprenticeship Program meets licensure requirements in some states and is a great option for companies having trouble with local licensure requirements. The program results in highly skilled workers and is a win-win situation despite union affiliation. Contact NSCA’s director of government/industry outreach to find out how you will benefit from NSCA’s EST Apprenticeship programs.
Why Should an Employer Establish an Apprenticeship Program?
- Profit — Rather than paying full-scale wages for beginning, unskilled workers, you increase their wages as their skill level increases. Because prospective customers know that apprentices are meeting the minimum requirements set forth by law, you stay competitive with contracts while also staying on top of skill and technological needs.
- Motivated Employees — Apprentices are motivated, learn their jobs faster, attain technician status sooner and are more likely to become supervisors.
- Reductions of Absenteeism and Turnover — Apprentices are eager to complete their training and apply their new skills. Well-trained employees generally stay with their craft until retirement.
- Improved Community Relations — Your community will see that you are concerned with the quality of your technicians. You'll provide them with the best training the industry has to offer.
- Compliance with Federal and State Equal Employment Opportunity Requirements — Following guidelines set forth by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT) will help ensure your compliance with equal opportunity requirements.
Why Would an Employee Want to Participate in an Apprenticeship Program?
- Worldwide Recognition — An EST who holds a Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship from the BAT is recognized by employers worldwide as a graduate of a quality training program and as a competent EST.
- Wages Earned, Skills Learned — Apprentices will not have to incur costly school loans because they earn money while they learn.
- Increasing Scale of Wages During the Entire Training Period — As apprentices' skills increase, so do their wages.
- Possible Credit for Previous Experience in the Field — Apprentices who have already learned certain skills on the job may be able to shorten their apprenticeship period.
- Complete, organized skill set — Apprentices receive proper, technical instruction and training that meets the National Industrial Training Standards.
- Possible Dual Accreditation — Some registered apprenticeship programs can also be accredited through post-secondary institutions toward an Associated Degree.
Under the United States Department of Labor, The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT) provides apprenticeship services in all states and registers programs and apprentices in 23 states where there is no State Apprenticeship Council (SAC) or Agency. In the 27 states where there is a SAC (also including the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) your program must be registered with that specific SAC.
Either way, BAT will provide technical consulting on the development of the apprenticeship standards and NSCA will help to get the program registered in that state.
For more information about NSCA’s EST Apprenticeship program, contact NSCA’s director of government affairs and industry outreach, Cathy Mrosko, at cmrosko@nsca.org.