"How can I get my employee involved in the OVABC Apprenticeship Program?"
To assist our members, we have put together the simple steps as follows:

"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 the 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 with their 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. Ohio State Apprenticeship Council requires previous training documents and an approved OSAC credit voucher be submitted with the Application for Apprenticeship before any request for advancement will be considered. Applicants must provide a copy of transcripts which may be reviewed by the OVCEF Board of Trustees or complete the TEST OUT requirements for advancement. Request for advancement without documentation or Test Out will likely be rejected by OSAC.
   
4. Complete the Dispatch & Return, Subscribing Contractor Agreement, and Apprentice Agreement forms and return the original forms to the office. Forms may be sent out to contractors or they can be completed during the interview process once the applicant meets all entry requirements. The forms must be completed and returned to ABC within 15 days after the date they were sent out. Please note a student is not considered an apprentice until they have received a stamped approved apprenticeship agreement with an assigned apprenticeship number from the Ohio State Apprenticeship Council. Once approved, a copy of the Apprentice Agreement form will be sent to the employer and the apprentice. Please keep these forms for your records.
   
5. Monthly Work Hour Report Forms will 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 or company chooses not to comply with the requirements and does not respond 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 and performance is another requirement for the program. The apprentice must be enrolled and actively attending an ABC sponsored training course. If a student chooses not to attend class or does not meet the required classroom hours, that student can be de-registered or required to repeat the same classroom level again. Students are also required to maintain a 70% class average to advance to the next level.
   
7. Wage Rate Survey and Job Progress Reports are sent out to contractors on a bi-annual basis. These documents are a requirement and contractors should complete the forms and return them to the ABC office in a timely manner.

While participating in the apprenticeship program, there are a few key requirements that must be met to maintain compliance. Employers and apprentices must comply with these requirements. Failure to do so may result in the apprentice being de-registered.

To assist our members we would like to highlight these key requirements. 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. 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 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 and 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 the option of automatic wage advancements without notification from OVCEF if it’s within the established wage rate 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 the responsibility of the employer and apprentice; not OVCEF. If an apprentice’s 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 advancements 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 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 it to the office.

If an apprentice is laid off, terminated or voluntarily leaves, in accordance to the OVABC standards the employer will use this form to document the apprentices actions and return the form to OVABC. Once the form is returned OVCEF must follow up with the apprentice to document their intentions.

Subscribing Contractor-Apprenticeship Agreement
The Subscribing Contractor-Apprenticeship Agreement is an agreement between employer and student that both parties agree to follow the key guidelines of the program listed on the form. The form should be reviewed and signed by both the apprentice and employer before returning to the office.

Apprenticeship Application
The Apprenticeship Application is a document agreement between the apprentice and the sponsor, OVABC. Once signed the apprentice’s training, safety, employment and wages fall under the guidelines and supervision of the sponsor and the OVCEF Board of Directors.

Credit Voucher/Request for Advancement and TEST OUT 
The 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 deny 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 apprentices 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 by 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 Beth O'Harra at 937-521-1572 or beth@ovabc.org.