Apprenticeships: A Tailored Path to Leadership

by Sherrie Samuels, Communications Manager

Table Salt Group (TSG) is proud to announce its designation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) as a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) educator.  According to the DOL, a Registered Apprenticeship Program consists of five crucial elements – Paid Job, On-the-Job Learning, Classroom Learning, Mentorship, and Credentials. This qualification validates our proven mission to help people enhance self-efficacy, grow, and progress through apprentice/mentor relationships.

The Flexibility of Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are employer customized programs of paid worker training that combine on-the-job learning and classroom instruction. The apprenticeship model has historically been a vital component of the ecosystem of succession planning in American industrial and skilled trades. But, a recent trend has emerged in today’s technology-driven workplace to expand the reach of apprenticeships into new career paths such as health care, IT, logistics, and energy. Due to the flexibility of the apprentice model, small to medium sized firms are entering the market utilizing government subsidized programs and collaborations with colleges and universities.

Apprentices Earn Credentials

Apprenticeships are an attractive option to potential candidates due to the unique advantages of the income based career preparation model. Apprentices are paid at the onset of employment and their salaries increase incrementally as they advance through one to six year curriculums. Credentials earned in an Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP) are accepted nationwide, often provide credits towards a college degree, and serve as prerequisites for advanced certifications. After certification, the DOL has shown that 94% of apprentices join their training employer and 91% have remained in place after 9 months.

Certification Through Apprenticeship

Joseph B. Fuller, Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, sees the growth in apprenticeships as a mechanism to fortify America’s middle class. The marketability of certifications gained has been compared to that of associate and bachelor degrees. Candidates may be sourced externally or within a company’s current pool of employees. The return on the investment of apprenticeship is found in the invaluable areas of employer retention, well trained staff, and leadership succession.

To learn how Table SALT Group can provide educational support for your apprenticeship programs or if you are interested in starting an apprenticeship program contact us today.