How does an Apprenticeship programme operate?
The training is supervised by an officer of the NWDA in collaboration with the Industry Partner facilitating the apprenticeship. Training is "spelled out" in apprenticeship standards developed by the local apprenticeship committees, with the assistance from the NWDA. The period of apprenticeship may vary from 1 to 3 years, depending upon the trade. Apprentices usually start at a percentage of the skilled worker's wage and receive increases at pre-determined intervals.
Apprentices attending classes of related technical instruction may do so on the job or through a registered training provider. This instruction is geared at supplementing the training on the job and seeks to give apprentices a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical aspects of their work. Related instruction is one of the fundamental features of apprenticeship and has been developed and accepted as standard practice in every trade. The instruction may include such subjects as safety laws and regulations, mathematics, drafting, blueprint reading and other sciences connected with the trade.
In class, apprentices learn the theories of their trade; each day on the job they learn its practice, under the supervision of skilled professional, instruction in the use of the tools of the trade is also given apprentices early in their training; in most trades they are not allowed to use any power-driven machinery until well advanced in their training. In some instances Apprentices may be required to furnish some of their own their hand tools.
Each apprentice is expected to sign an agreement either with the NWDA and or an individual employer. Upon successful completion of training, they are issued a "Certificate of Completion" by the approved accredited organisation through which the training was attached.