There is always legislation and regulation but that takes time and lots of politicing. Even though that may be the eventual plan, there are things that need to be done to prove that apprenticeship is an industry wish—one that we can do and will support.
We need to have a statewide apprenticeship program. Like politics, apprenticeship programs are local but we need an umbrella to the local programs. The Arkansas HVACR Association is the logical umbrella. The Association is in the best position to coordinate with the State and the Department of Labor. The Association is also in the best position to assure a seamless structure. Here are some advantages of a statewide umbrella.
Consistency. Each local training program needs to be generally consistent with the programs in the rest of the state. While some regions may need additional specializations like training in heavy refrigeration, the basic required competencies should be very similar. That way, if an apprentice moves from Washington county to Clay county, the local contractor would know his level of competency and that the man was worth the pay.
Credible Competencies. For a program to have the respect of the industry, a strong statewide competency requirement needs to be implemented. A statewide umbrella would make it easier to establish desired competencies and it would serve as a method of assessing the local programs. We all need a little supervision and the statewide umbrella could provide that motivation and oversight.
Continuity. The people running local apprenticeship programs sometimes "burn out." The state umbrella would help recruit new blood to serve on the boards so that it doesn’t all fall on one local guy. An apprentice should have a reasonable expectation that the program he began with will still be there when he is ready to finish. The Association / umbrella organization could help assure that what the apprentice started the apprentice could finish.
College Connection. We have several technical colleges in the state that could help. The college could provide space, instructors, and labs. It would be in everyone’s best interest and would give consistency and credibility to the programs. Students working toward their journeyman status could also receive college credit.
Cooperative Recruitment. Today our industry is busy trying to recruit from within. That is a nice way of saying that we steal each others employees. We need to recruit new people into the industry. By pooling our resources we can afford to tell the story of an HVACR career.
If you are becoming interested in an apprenticeship program, call Nancy McCool, Executive Director of the Arkansas HVACR Association, at 870-942-0910. She can schedule meetings in your area to get the ball rolling
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