Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-05 - Apprenticeship rules › Section 296-05-015 - Apprenticeship program standards

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Apprenticeship program standards govern apprenticeship
				agreements between a program sponsor and an individual apprentice and define
				the term of the apprenticeship. The WSATC develops, administers, and enforces
				apprenticeship program standards, which are incorporated into apprenticeship
				agreements. Proposed standards must be reasonably consistent with existing
				standards in the trade or occupation. Proposed standards are reasonably
				consistent with existing standards when standards meet or exceed the minimum
				number of hours approved by the United States Department of Labor in the trade
				or occupation, if approval has been made. If not, the WSATC may use its
				discretion to determine whether standards are reasonably consistent with
				existing standards.
All apprenticeship agreements must comply with the approved
				program standards, chapter 49.04 RCW, and these rules. The standards of
				apprenticeship agreements must include the following:
(1) A statement of the occupation to be
			 taught and the required hours for completion of apprenticeship which must not
			 be less than 2,000 hours of reasonably continuous employment.
(2) A statement identifying the program
			 sponsor, establishing the apprenticeship committee and enumerating the
			 sponsor's and committee's duties and responsibilities. This statement must
			 include provisions to:
(a) Elect a chair and a
			 secretary from employer and employee representatives of the committee;
Exception:
This provision is not necessary for a plant
						  program.
(b)
			 Convene at least three annual regular meetings of the program sponsor and
			 apprenticeship committee. The meetings shall be attended by a quorum of
			 committee members (as defined in the approved program standards), be documented
			 with minutes which must be periodically submitted to the department and made
			 available to the WSATC upon request. Disciplinary action may only be taken at a
			 face-to-face meeting;
(c) Explain
			 the program sponsor's request for apprentices in the area covered by the
			 apprenticeship standards established under these rules and a plan to include
			 reasonable continuous employment;
(d) Establish minimum standards of education
			 and skilled occupational experience required of apprentices;
(e) Rotate apprentices in the various
			 processes of the skilled occupation to assure a well-rounded, competent
			 worker;
(f) Determine the adequacy
			 of an employer to furnish proper on-the-job training in accordance with the
			 provisions of the approved standards;
Exception:
This does not apply to plant programs.
(g)
			 Recommend competent instructors as defined in WAC
			 296-05-003 and
			 related/supplemental instruction in accordance with state board for community
			 and technical college requirements;
(h) Coordinate related/supplemental
			 instruction with on-the-job work experience;
(i) Hear and adjust all complaints of
			 violations of apprenticeship agreements;
(j) Adopt, as necessary, program rules to
			 administer the apprenticeship program in compliance with its standards, chapter
			 49.04 RCW, and these rules;
(k)
			 Periodically review and evaluate apprentices before advancement to the
			 apprentice's next wage progression period;
(l) Maintain apprenticeship records and
			 records of the administrative program as may be required by the WSATC, chapter
			 49.04 RCW, and these rules (see WAC
			 296-05-100).