Home : Adult Evening : Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a voluntary system of training in occupations that require a diverse range of skills and knowledge as well as motivation and independence of judgment. Annually it involves 2000 hours of planned on-the-job training and experience combined with 144 hours of technical studies in courses related to the occupation. The on-the-job training and related components of apprenticeship allow apprentices to develop specialized skills to meet the personnel needs of industry and new technology. Most apprenticeship terms are from one to five years depending upon the occupation. Apprentices are full-time employees who not only acquire practical skills and technical knowledge of the occupation, but are also paid on a progressive wage scale.

In New Jersey, the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT) and the New Jersey Department of  Labor function as a team in the joint registration and administration of formal apprenticeship programs. New Jersey’s County Technical Schools are also partners through the employment of an Apprenticeship Coordinator. The Coordinator works directly with local employer sponsors in promoting and maintaining apprenticeship-training programs. The BAT monitors the on-the-job phase of apprenticeship and the DOL, through the County Apprenticeship Coordinator, approves the related theory portion of the apprenticeship-training program.

There are over 800 occupations approved by BAT as apprenticable in New Jersey. Occupational titles are constantly being evaluated and new ones develop as emerging technologies create new apprenticable opportunities. Examples of some recent additions to the approved list of occupations are: Biomedical Technician, Environment Analyst, Legal Secretary, and Office Manager/Administrative Services.

The Adult Evening School of the Mercer County Technical School District offers approved theory and technical training programs that satisfy the related training component of a registered apprenticeship program. Courses are scheduled for two evenings per week for three hours per evening, thus providing apprentices the opportunity to obtain 144 hours of instruction per each year of the apprentice training program.

EXAMPLES OF APPRENTICABLE TRADES IN MERCER COUNTY