Apprentice 101 forum encourages registered apprenticeship programs in county

OKANOGAN – Business owners, school district personnel, and community service representatives were among the 50-plus attendees that participated in a Registered Apprentice Program sponsored by WorkSource, the Okanogan County Economic Alliance and Washington Department of Labor and Industries at the Okanogan PUD auditorium last Thursday, Feb. 22.
Among those in attendance was Gene Dowers, Director of the Pateros Brewster Community Resource Center.
“The idea of a registered apprentice program did not occur to me until that meeting,” said Dowers. “I was impressed with how many people were there from schools in the northern part of the county.”
“Right now, there is nobody involved in a registered apprentice program in Okanogan County,” said Dowers. “And there is no certification program in the agricultural community in the county.”
Dowers said he could see a real need for registered apprentices working in such specialized agricultural fields as organic farming and wineries.
Last December, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced a $64 million in funding to provide apprenticeship, internship and other learning opportunities to 29,000 students through a Career Connect Washington grant.
Since then, Kristi O’Neill, Career Connection Specialist for WorkSource Okanogan is dedicating the next two years to networking with local chambers, schools, businesses and employers to raise awareness and develop apprenticeships that will be compatible with needs in Okanogan County.
Businesses are needed to step up and sponsor mentorships and apprenticeships for students who would gain from both on-the-job experience and additional supplemental training. Employers can participate in two ways, by sponsoring a program or being a training agent. Employer costs come with each option.
“If you’re not in a certified apprentice program you are just a trainee,” said Dowers “and you do not receive the certification that qualifies you to work in that field.”
Trainees working independently outside the registered apprentice program experience about a 30 percent success rate on their certification exams, said Dowers. Registered apprentices who benefit from the supplemental education enjoy a 90 percent exam success rate.
The project is designed to offer students an alternative to the cost of a four-year college degree and connects students to fulfilling careers in fields ranging from information technology, manufacturing, health care, agriculture, building trades and more.
Interested parties can contact O’Neill by email at kroneill@esd.wa.gov or by phone at 509-826-7555 for more information.