Virginia Registered Apprenticeship Program

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A QUICK WAY ON THE CAREER LADDER By Gene Marrano

High school students – and young adults – can take advantage of the Virginia Registered Apprenticeship Program to help land a good job.

Over the past several years, first Roanoke County and now Roanoke City and Salem public schools have teamed with their local government economic departments and employers like Graham White and the Western Virginia Water Authority to provide registered apprenticeship (RA) opportunities for juniors and seniors. It may lead to jobs or help them refine what path they wish to pursue at the collegiate level. Tom Rowley is the economic development manager for Roanoke County; he says his predecessor in that position (Jay Brenchick) was instrumental in attracting a Virginia Department of Labor and Industry office to the valley: “it was important to get their presence here, to really speed things up and move the effort along.”

The RA program is a mix of on-the-job training apprentices work around their regular school day – they are paid – along with theoretical classroom training. Roanoke County Schools recruits new businesses to the RA program every year and Rowley’s department helps support that effort. He says around 150 students showed up to a recruitment night earlier this year where they could meet with local companies willing to take on an apprentice. Manufacturing and construction companies looking for skilled labor are always towards the top of the list. The majority of career paths in the U.S. only require a certification or credential that demonstrates a skill – not a college degree Rowley claims. “A lot of apprenticeships are aimed at that career path,” he says, “and this is a way for them to get on the career ladder quickly.”

The Western Virginia Water Authority now takes on about 10-15 apprentices a year says Mike Altizer, the WWVA’s Fleet/Student Apprentice Coordinator. “Some start as juniors and some as seniors. We are starting into our fourth year beginning in August. The apprentice course that we created is 4000 hours and takes about 2 ½ years. [Students] work in different segments of the business 2-3 days a week, 8 hours a day and they still go to school,” notes Altizer, a former Roanoke County supervisor.

“The value to us as we say, we are growing our own,” adds Altizer. “Keep in mind that when they start, they are 16-17 years old and for most we are their first job. The hope and benefit is that we can hire 50% of our apprentices to full time positions.”

Patricia (Trish) Morrison is Director of the

Tom Rowley

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Division of Registered Apprenticeship in the state’s Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI). The program is actually 82 years old and is always employer-driven, based on current worker needs. “They’re seeking me out,” says Morrison, adding that the skills learned and the credentials earned have currency elsewhere in the county, even overseas: “if you go to Ireland with an electrician’s journeyworkers card from America- they know what that means.”

Morrison sees the contact tracer role now being hired for to track down those who may have encountered someone infected with COVID-19 as a good fit for the RA program, but adds that, “we haven’t made that [connection] yet.” Building trades provide the most opportunities for the DOLI program says Morrison. CNC programming, tool & die, and other manufacturing niches are high on the RA list as well. There are

programs for barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians and the like. The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), which eventually licenses everyone in the service trades, now offers some apprenticeship programs as well, notes Morrison.

Roanoke County already has a strong technical career education program, much it based at the Burton Center or at each high school,

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says Jason Suhr, Director of Career & Technical Education for Roanoke County Public Schools. When DOLI decided to promote the RA program at the high school level several years ago “we thought this might be a good opportunity for our kids.” He calls it a workbased model ideal for students “who know where they want to go. They find a company that’s invested in them.” Smaller firms that may need to fill just a few spots and have “niche needs,” have also taken advantage

of the program. With college debt loads seemingly on the rise regularly, Suhr notes that companies who hire apprentices may eventually help pay for them to go back to school. “It’s another win.”

Suhr praises the local businesses that have taken on apprentices. “The companies care about them; we found them to be very receptive and responsive to the students. The companies are [also] saying they can’t find anybody and they’re looking for a way to plug these holes in their workforce. This is one tool they have at their disposal ... to really grow their own.”

Editor’s Note: As of early June, Tom Rowley said 19 Roanoke County businesses employ 36 apprentices—2 students and 34 adults. Across the region (Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Salem, Botetourt County and Franklin County), 89 companies employ 406 apprentices (38 students; 368 adults).

Roanoke County Schools

Apprentice - Balzer and Assocates