Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 172 - Department of Career Education
Rule 172.00.15-005 - Rules and Regulations forArkansas Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 2, February 2024
SECTION I. AUTHORITY
The following rules and regulations are duly adopted and promulgated by the Career Education and Workforce Development Board pursuant to the authority expressly conferred by the laws of the State of Arkansas in Act 684 of 1989, and Acts 546, 553, and 10 of 1991 and as amended by Act 830 of 1993, Act 140 of 2015 and Act 1122 of 2015. The Career Education and Workforce Development Board may exercise such powers as are necessary to carry out the provisions of these Acts and the associated rules and regulations.
SECTION II. DEFINITIONS
APPRENTICE: An APPRENTICE is an individual enrolled in an apprenticeship training program that is registered by the United States Department of Labor / Office of Apprenticeship (OA), working at their chosen occupation, who has a signed indenture agreement on file with OA and, when working in an occupation where a license is required, has been issued such a license.
APPRENTICE COORDINATOR: An APPRENTICE COORDINATOR is the person designated by the program sponsor to be the primary contact person for the program and to coordinate the program.
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM: An APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM is a training program that provides on-the-job training, preparatory instruction, supplementary instruction, or related instruction in a trade that has been registered/certified as an apprenticeable occupation by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship.
ARKANSAS APPRENTICESHIP COORDINATION STEERING COMMITTEE (AACSC): The AACSC is a committee appointed by the Governor of the State of Arkansas who represent bargaining agents, employers, minorities and female workforce, the general public, and educators whose purpose is to oversee the operation and funding of apprentice training programs in the State of Arkansas.
APPRENTICEABLE OCCUPATION: An APPRENTICEABLE OCCUPATION is an occupation recognized by the OA and throughout an industry as a skilled occupation learned through structured on-the-job training requiring at least 2,000 hours of per year supplemented by related instruction requiring at least 144 hours per year or as approved by USDOL/OA.
APPRENTICESHIP: APPRENTICESHIP is a learning approach that enables an individual to become a qualified professional in a skilled occupation. This training consists of on-the-job training with job related (off-the-job) instruction.
APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS: APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS are the rules and regulations that the sponsor registers with the OA that describes the way in which an apprenticeship training program will be conducted.
OA: OA stands for the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor.
CONTACT HOUR: A CONTACT HOUR is a block of contact time of 60 minutes during which an apprentice receives instruction in a supervised classroom or laboratory environment. State funding can be requested in 15 minute increments
INDENTURE AGREEMENT: An INDENTURE AGREEMENT is a signed agreement between the apprentice and the sponsoring entity, person or firm. This agreement includes the basic standard rules and regulations of the particular program and are registered (filed) with the OA.
JOURNEYMAN: A JOURNEYMAN is an individual who has (if required) completed an apprenticeship training program and been released from their indenture agreement, has been recognized by their peers as having attained journeyman status, has by examination or other proof of competence demonstrated their ability to perform work as a journeyman, or when working in an occupation requiring a journeyman license has been issued such a license.
LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY (LEA): The LEA is a public community college, technical college, secondary or post secondary vocational-technical school, technical institute, university, life-long learning center, adult education center, area vocational center, or a public school system that has an assigned "LEA Number" recognized or accepted by the Arkansas Department of Career Education. The LEA will be the funding link between the apprenticeship program sponsor and the Arkansas Department of Career Education.
STATE EDUCATION AGENCY (SEA): The SEA is the Arkansas Department of Career Education. The point of contact at the Department will be the State Apprenticeship Office (SAO) located at:
3 Capitol Mall, Room 501-D
Luther S. Hardin Building
Little Rock, AR 72201
501-682-1360
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING (OJT): Each apprentice must receive on-the-job training and related instruction concurrently. On-the- job training is defined as work performed at a job or work site that relates to the classroom training received by the apprentice or trainee. This training should reinforce the theoretical or classroom skills gained in the classroom and requires proper and direct supervision at all times.
PREPARATORY INSTRUCTION: PREPARATORY INSTRUCTION is a course of instruction lasting six months or less that teaches the basic skills required for an individual to enter the workforce.
PROGRAM SPONSOR: The PROGRAM SPONSOR is any person or organization operating a registered apprenticeship program. The person or organization may be either an employer or a representative of the apprentice.
RELATED INSTRUCTION: RELATED INSTRUCTION is organized, off-the-job instruction in subjects required for the completion of an apprenticeship program for a particular apprenticeable occupation. The instruction is designed to enhance both theoretical and applied skills. The related instruction is documented by appropriate written and/or performance tests.
SUPERVISION: The on-the-job training must be under the supervision of a journeyman or master.
SAO: State Apprenticeship Office
SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTION: SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTION is a course of instruction that is designed to provide new skills or upgrade the current skills of fully qualified person in apprenticeable occupations.
SECTION III. QUALIFICATIONS
The related training instructors are selected and recommended by the local apprenticeship committee. Program sponsors will set the minimum requirements or criteria for trainers, teachers, or instructors in their training programs. Instructors should have a high school education or be able to establish, through a general education development test, that they have the equivalent of such education. Five years of experience may be required in the appropriate trade or technical area with at least two of these years as a journeyman. The instructors are encouraged to continue their own education through available means. For teaching such subjects as craft-related mathematics and blueprint reading, persons other than journeymen are considered; teachers with the ability to relate subject matter to job conditions may be used for these subjects.
SECTION IV. APPLICATIONS AND TERM OF APPRENTICESHIP REGISTRATION
All apprentices shall be placed under a written apprenticeship agreement between the employer and the apprentice. Each agreement shall be registered by the OA. The term of apprenticeship shall be consistent with training requirements established by OA approved standards.
SECTION V. PROBATIONARY PERIOD
A probationary period reasonable in relation to the apprenticeship term, with full credit for such time toward completion of apprenticeship will be established. The apprenticeship agreement may be terminated at the request of either party to the agreement. After the probationary period, the agreement may be canceled only after adequate cause has been shown, and all parties to the agreement have had an opportunity to be heard.
SECTION VI. WORKING CONDITIONS AND SAFETY
The working conditions and safety afforded an apprentice shall be the same as that of a journeyman in the trade or technical area.
SECTION VII. RELATED INSTRUCTION
The apprentice will be required to attend classes of related theoretical instruction. A minimum of 144 hours per year or as mandated in the standards of apprenticeship. Safety instruction will be included as part of the curriculum provided in the classroom or other organized courses of related instruction. School attendance shall not be considered as hours worked. In accordance with Apprenticeship Standards, an employer may or may not pay apprenticeship wages for related instruction time. Written documentation of the training consisting of time or attendance sheets, student sign-in sheets, or other documentation as approved by the SAO and/or the AACSC will be kept on file by the program sponsor for a period of not less than five (5) years.
SECTION VIII. APPRENTICESHIP AGREEMENT
The Apprentice shall be required to sign an apprenticeship agreement, which shall also be signed by an employer and by the Local Apprenticeship Committee. Every apprentice entering into an apprenticeship agreement shall be given the opportunity of reviewing the standards.
The following parties should receive a copy of the completed apprenticeship agreement:
The following agency must receive a copy of the agreement: .
USDOL/OA.
SECTION IX. THE ARKANSAS APPRENTICESHIP COORDINATION STEERING COMMITTEE (AACSC)
To conduct business associated with apprenticeship training, the AACSC will be reimbursed travel as per State travel regulations in effect at the time the expense was incurred to attend official scheduled meetings as well as a stipend approved by the State of Arkansas.
SECTION X. DUTIES OF THE LOCAL APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE
The Local Apprenticeship Committee shall adhere to their USDOL/OA Standards of Apprenticeship:
SECTION XI. GUIDELINES ON HOW THE SPONSOR INITIATES AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
An apprenticeship program must be managed by the apprenticeship sponsor. The sponsor may subcontract the management of their program to an LEA for any of the services listed below. The USDOL/OA Standards of Apprenticeship must be followed. The sponsor's responsibilities include:
Establishing the administrative policies governing on-the-job training and other instruction for apprentices in the program;
Establishing standards and goals for preparatory, supplemental and related instruction for apprentices enrolled in the program;
Planning and organizing instructional materials designed to provide the job related instruction to enable the apprentices to demonstrate knowledge and skill competencies for job related subjects;
Selecting/Recommending qualified instructors for the program;
Interviewing applicants and selecting those most qualified for entrance into the apprentice program.
Monitoring and evaluating the performance and progress of each apprentice in the program and the program as a whole;
Providing for the maintenance of records for each apprentice of their on-the-job training and progress through the related instruction;
Ensuring that the instructors maintain recommended qualifications.
Providing for continual improvement of the program; and
Ensuring that an appropriate Affirmative Action Plan is in place.
Upon Completion of the steps listed above, the following results will have been obtained:
The sponsor will have a program certified and registered by the OA.
The sponsor will have a designated apprentice coordinator.
The sponsor will have OA registered apprentices.
SECTION XII. PROCEDURES FOR START-UP OF TRADITIONAL APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
Programs will be reimbursed at the current contact hour rate in effect at the time the programs are approved for funding by the AACSC. (The current contact hour rate will never exceed a maximum contact hour rate established by the Arkansas Apprenticeship Coordination Steering Committee (AACSC). Depending on the number of programs and apprentices, the current contact hour rate of funding may be less than the maximum rate established. The AACSC in consultation with the SAO, Arkansas Department of Career Education shall establish the current contact hour rate.)
NOTE: No more than 15% of the state funds may be used by the program sponsor for administrative purposes such as supervisory and/or secretarial salaries, travel, office supplies, etc.
SECTION XIII. FUNDING AND OTHER INFORMATION
NOTE: The method of providing the above information will be recommended by the AACSC.
NOTE: This does not include retroactive reimbursement prior to January 1. Claims for class attendance reimbursement cannot be approved for classes conducted before the Annual Application Form (WE-APP-242) is approved.
NOTE: The percentage of funds appropriated for apprenticeship instruction programs shall be established by the formulas adopted on the recommendation of the AACSC.
SECTION XIV. GUIDELINES FOR ADMINISTERING AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Reflect the current skill of the occupation for which the apprentice is learning to become competent;
Periodically be up-dated to reflect the changing skills of the occupation; Be for the occupation for which the apprentice is registered;
Simulate the job environment as much as possible; and
Be of sufficient duration and depth to ensure that the apprentice is able to become fully qualified to perform the tasks of their chosen occupation.
The time an apprentice spends in instruction should correspond with the time of their apprenticeship.
The instruction should provide off-the-job skills development.
The instruction is generally made available through unit classes organized by occupation, group study in which two are more occupations are represented in the class, and/or in-house courses.
The approval to issue credit for previous work experience is the responsibility of the program sponsor.
The number of apprentices in the occupations, The needs of the program sponsors, and
The availability of classroom and laboratory facilities.
SECTION XV. APPEALS
Any appeals concerning the above regulations and/or process for Implementing should be addressed to:
Director
Arkansas Department of Career Education
#3 Capitol Mall
Little Rock, AR 72201 - 1083
