News

Bus Maintenance Training Group Meets to Expand Apprenticeship

Posted June 2016

Slides from the Bus Maintenance Meeting Presentation

A committee of labor and management subject matter experts (SMEs) consisting of technicians, instructors and managers from bus transit met at WMATA’s Carmen Turner Training Facility June 14-16, 2016, as part of a national effort to expand apprenticeships under the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI). The national Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship project is a five year effort directed by the Center. The primary mission is to modify the existing DOL Apprenticeship framework, moving it away from a fixed, time-based program to a competency-based program, making it more flexible to accommodate a variety of agency needs.

A key element of apprenticeship is the creation of a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) comprised of both labor and management representatives to mutually direct program activities. Although this effort will strongly encourage agencies to achieve DOL registered status, the final decision to do so will rest with each agency. Registered Apprenticeship will provide bus transit with a nationally recognized training program, ensuring that technicians that gain certification are in fact qualified to do their jobs. Those agencies not seeking registered status will be able to develop and deliver a more structured and comprehensive training program.

Training provided under the apprenticeship program will place a strong emphasis on on-the-job-learning (OJL), and on classroom, lab, and other related instruction that engages students in the learning process. The base program will be structured so those candidates with basic mechanical aptitude would receive the full complement of training needed to achieve journey status. A process to confirm applicant competency will allow participants to progress quicker through the program consistent with existing knowledge and ability. The Apprenticeship Committee will work to recommend various processes to confirm applicant competency that ultimately will be left to each agency to adopt locally. The process will recommend both hands-on demonstrations of competency, and traditional written assessments. 

Work will also include a companion guidebook to assist agencies implement apprenticeship and achieve registered status, as well the development of distance based learning modules. For additional information contact John Schiavone at JohnJSchiavone@cs.com.