10/22/2019
The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, Eileen Cipriani, announced that the ARM Project – the Robotics Technician Apprenticeship Program with New Century Careers, Catalyst Connection, CCAC, Tooling U-SME – has been registered with L&I! Full release below:
L&I Announces New Robotics Technician Apprenticeship at New Century Careers in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA – PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Eileen Cipriani today announced a new registered robotics apprenticeship program for robotics technicians during a tour of New Century Careers’ Training Innovation Center in Pittsburgh. Apprentices will get on-the-job training in robotics and automation for good-paying cutting-edge manufacturing jobs in western Pennsylvania.
“This new program will provide apprentices with skills training for the manufacturing industry, and will allow New Century Careers to aid in developing a talent pool of highly skilled workers for local employers,” said Cipriani. “New Century Careers has successfully trained and placed thousands of workers in careers with local advanced manufacturers. Apprenticeships are a vital tool in this effort, and that’s why Governor Wolf is focused on expanding such training programs for our future and current workforce.”
Apprenticeships are part of Governor Tom Wolf’s PAsmart initiative to create the strongest workforce in the nation. The governor secured $70 million for PAsmart over two years, including $40 million for science and technology education and $30 million for apprenticeships and job training programs.
In Pittsburgh, the robotics technician apprenticeship program was approved by the Department of Labor & Industry’s (L&I) Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO). The program is sponsored by New Century Careers, which developed the two-year robotics apprenticeship program with 4,000 hours of required on-the-job training and 70+ competencies to be administered by the employer. Apprentices will receive related technical instruction through Community College of Allegheny County, Catalyst Connection, and Tooling-U/SME (online), for a total of 296.5 hours of related instruction in two years. The program received grant support from Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM), a Manufacturing USA® Institute.
New Century Careers currently sponsors the registered MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) pre-apprenticeship training program, which allows trainees hands-on experience with various metal working equipment to produce parts for local manufacturers as part of the New Century Job Shop. Carnegie Mellon has also created and registered a pre-apprenticeship program for high school students that gives credit toward on-the-job robotics technician training and related instruction for the robotics technician apprenticeship.
“Over two decades, NCC has demonstrated that apprenticeships are an effective entry point to a family wage career and a lifetime of continuous learning in the latest industry trends required for advancement,” stated Neil Ashbaugh, director of services at New Century Careers.
Ashbaugh added, “The robotics collaboration among industry, higher education and training professionals like NCC ensures that we are developing the precise skill sets that advanced manufacturers are seeking to create a pool of qualified workers right here in our region.” He encouraged individuals and companies to take competitive advantage of this cost-effective training solution.
The Wolf Administration created the ATO in 2016. Since then, the office has registered 156 new program sponsors and 223 new apprenticeship programs or occupations, bringing the total number of registered apprentices to 18,187 statewide.
Apprenticeship programs approved by the ATO provide employer-driven training to create a more productive, highly-skilled workforce for employers and help reduce employee turnover. The program provides job seekers with increased skills, and a nationally recognized credential to support future career advancement and increased wages.