Before graduation into the Apprenticeship Program, employees must successfully pass a Graduation Physical Strength Test and a 15-day Climbing School Program. All apprenticeship training is conducted on the job site. This program offers referrals to apprenticeship programs and jobs with contractors on Washington State Department of Transportation projects throughout the State of Washington. The program emphasizes recruitment of women and minorities. Paths to Trades and Technology are short courses conducted off-site in the community.
All courses are free.
It is funded by Employment Security Department. Carpentry is the largest of the construction trades. Carpenters with skills in all aspects of the trade work more steadily because they have the versatility to perform whatever types of jobs are available. During their training, inmates are provided information regarding all available apprenticeship programs in Washington State where they may continue with their training or pursue different trade interests in an ongoing effort to reduce recidivism rates as well as to help fill the construction trades skills gap. The mission and goal of the program is to train inmates in the basic skills of carpentry, which will allow them to work in construction related work, as well as institutional jobs, and to provide inmates with an educational and career path to follow.