Apprenticeship ProgramThe Ohio Valley Construction Education Foundation (OVCEF) trains over 400 individuals annually in one of 12 different trades; carpentry, electrical, HVAC, heavy equipment operator, masonry, pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, and sprinkler fitter. Our training program covers 38 counties which include southwest Ohio, southeast Indiana, and northern Kentucky area.
The OVCEF Apprenticeship Program is registered with the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship (USDOL-OA) and Ohio State Apprenticeship Council (OSAC) and is open to all individuals who meet the enrollment requirements. Throughout their career in the program, apprentices will gain increasing knowledge of the trade and could earn potential pay increases throughout their time in the program. The program offers avenues for additional training and certifications. This program benefits both the public and the construction industry.
"How can I get my employee involved in the OVABC Apprenticeship Program?"
To assist our members, we have put together the simple steps we call,
"APPRENTICESHIP PROCESS- FROM BEGINNING TO COMPLETION."1. Completion of application and submittal of required documentation. (Drivers’ license, high school diploma or GED required).
2. Complete the apprentice entry test. Required for all new applicants and must be completed before registration process. This does not apply to applicants on the availability list or if a student has completed a two year vocational trade program. Applicants who have completed a two year vocational school trade program may receive advancement into the appropriate level providing they submit a copy of their certificates, grade transcripts, and high school diploma are submitted with application. No advancement will be given without proper documentation. For other advancement consideration, please contact the education department at 937-521-1572.
3. Request for Advancement-UPDATE. Ohio State Apprenticeship Council requires previous training documents and an approved OSAC credit voucher must be submitted with the Application for Apprenticeship before any request for advancement will be considered. Applicants must provide copy of transcripts which may be reviewed by the OVCEF Board of Trustees or complete the TEST OUT requirement for advancement. Request for advancement without documentation or Test Out will likely be rejected by OSAC. To comply with OSAC requirements, new applicants who are seeking advancement in the apprenticeship program must complete Test Out requirement or provide documentation of previous training before application will be submitted. For more information, contact ABC office.
4. Complete the Dispatch & Return, Subscribing Contractor Agreement, and Apprentice Agreement forms and return to the office. Forms may be sent out to contractors or they can be completed during interview process once the applicant meets all entry requirements. The forms must be completed and return to ABC within 15 days after they date they were sent out. Please note a student is not considered an apprentice until they have received an approved apprenticeship agreement form back from the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council. Once approved, a copy of the Apprentice Agreement form will be sent to employer and the apprentice once it’s received from the State Apprentice Council. Please keep these forms for your records.
5. Monthly Work Hour Report Forms should be completed and submitted to our office by the 15th of the following month. These forms are essential for pay scale and are required to remain in the program. Current pay rate must be recorded on each form. If the student/ company chose not comply with the submission of monthly hours on a regular basis and do not responded to a notification of missing hours, that apprentice can be de-registered from the program. The company and apprentice can be sent a copy of their current hours on a quarterly basis. These forms can be downloaded from the ABC website.
6. Classroom attendance is another requirement for the program. The apprentice must be enrolled and actively attending an ABC sponsored training center. If a student chooses not to attend class or does not meet the required classroom hours a year, that student can be de-registered or required to repeat the same classroom level again.
7. Wage Rate Survey and Job Progress Reports are sent out to contractors annually and bi-annually. These documents are requirements of the apprenticeship program. Contractors sent these forms should complete the forms and return them to the ABC office.
While participating in the apprenticeship program, there are a few key requirements of the program. Employers and Apprentices are strongly encouraged to comply with these requirements as to maintain your compliance.
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| • gain on-the-job training with a contractor in the trade of their choice while obtaining the required on-the-job training hours needed for their registered trade |
| • attend classes held between September and April, until they complete the classroom instruction (156 hours/year) as it relates to their trade |
| • obtain yearly certificates and transcripts which document their training level |
| • receive a qualified journeyperson Certificate of Completion from OSAC once they meet all program requirements. |
To assist our members who have chosen to participate in the apprenticeship program, we would like to highlight a few key requirements of the program. This information will benefit both the employer and potential apprentice. As the program is regulated by the Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council, we want to address the importance of the various documents, procedures and requirements that keep the employer and OVABC chapter in compliance.
Monthly On-The-Job Training Hours
The employee must document the amount of hours accumulated in each of the process items as they occur on the site. The hours must be totaled and submitted to the employer for verification. The wage amount must be included on the form. Once approved by the employer, it should be sent to the OVABC office. Hours must be submitted monthly as for verification of employment status, documentation of training and acknowledgement of wages. The Employer agrees to work the Apprentice under such conditions that will result in normal advancement and trade exposure agrees to train the Apprentice in accordance with the Work Progress designated on the form. Any change of employment or wage status should be noted on the form.
Wages
The wage rate is established annually by the OVCEF Board of Directors. The employer must pay the minimum wage amount listed based on their monthly work hours. At no time shall the Apprentice's wage be less than the established rates. Employers have option of automatic wage advancements without notification from OVCEF if it’s within the established wage rates work hours. OVCEF may also notify employer of any wage increase upon receiving monthly OJT forms. Upon notification, wages should be increased. Late notification due to non-submittal hours are under the responsibility of the employer and apprentice; not OVCEF. If an apprentice on-the-job training is not progressing satisfactorily and such actions are documented on the Job Progress Report forms, the apprentice may be placed on probation. While on probation, all wage advancement are “frozen” until the OVCEF board receives documentation of improvement. Those individuals who complete the OJT hours will receive notification from the office. The list will be reviewed by the OVCEF Board of Trustee and a request for the Certificate of Completion will be sent to OSAC.
Apprenticeship Registration Paperwork
OVCEF has several key documents that must be completed before any eligible applicant can be submitted for registration into the apprenticeship program. These forms should be completed and returned to the OVABC office. OSAC requires only the originals must be returned and submitted. Do not fax or email the forms as they will not be submitted for approval. Below are the names and description of each form.
Dispatch and Return The D&R paperwork is an acknowledgement of employment with an OVABC Subscribing Contractor. The form will also verify the apprentices hire date, OJT hours, level of RTI, trade and pay rate. The employer must complete the form before returning to the office.
If an apprentice is laid off, terminated or leaves the employer, in accordance to the OVABC standards, the employer should use this form to document their actions and the form returned to OVABC. Once the form is returned, OVCEF must follow up with the apprentice to document their next intentions.
Subscribing Contractor-Apprenticeship Agreement is an agreement between employer and student that both parties agree to follow the key guidelines of the program, which are listed on the form. The form should be reviewed and signed by both the apprentice and employer before returning to the office.
Apprenticeship Application is a document agreement between the apprentice and the sponsor, OVABC. Once signed, the apprentices training, safety, employment and wages follow under the guidelines and supervision of the sponsor and the OVCEF Board of Directors.
Credit Voucher/Request for Advancement and TEST OUT are to assist apprentices who are seeking advancement with documentation of previous training. As required by OSAC, documentation of training records must accompany the apprenticeship application at the time it is submitted. Any request for advancement must be completed before the application will be submitted to OSAC. OSAC may delay the recognition of advancement after the original registration date.
Layoff/Termination and Availability Lists
These lists are made available to OVABC Subscribing Contractors for the purpose of assisting unemployed apprentice with their completion of the program and providing contractors with potential workforce employees. These lists are distributed by OVCEF and made readily available to all OVABC subscribing contractors. OVCEF encourages employers to refer to these lists when seeking new or additional workforce. Any new applicants can be denied registration into the program if current registered apprentices are available for hire. Again, we encourage you to consider hiring an available apprentice before referring a new applicant to OVCEF
Ratio of Apprentices to Journeypersons
The number of Apprentices employed by an Employer shall not exceed the ratio specified with is the standard formula of one apprentice to one journeyperson for the first apprentice and one apprentice to three journeypersons for each additional apprentice.
In the case of Prevailing Wage or Davis Bacon work assignments, the contractor is obligated to follow the ratios that are established for that assignment. Contractors should obtain that information from the general contractors at the jobsite or the Ohio Wage and Hour website http://www.com.ohio.gov under Labor & Worker Safety or the Davis-Bacon Wage Determination website at http://www.gpo.gov/davisbacon.
These are a few key items involved in the apprenticeship program. Compliance to these current policies will assure OVABC membership participation. If you have any questions, please contact Mike McIntosh at 937-521-1578 or micheal@ovabc.org.