LAUNCH LA Apprenticeship Network
Bringing Education &
Industry Together
The LAUNCH LA Apprenticeship Network was formed by the Los Angeles Region College Consortium and leverages the workforce and education systems of the region’s community colleges, K-12 districts, and Workforce Development Boards. By integrating apprenticeship into these organizations and institutions, LAUNCH LA acts as an intermediary and education provider for businesses adopting the apprenticeship model. In addition, LAUNCH LA provides regional resources for developing programs and increasing pathways into apprenticeship both in traditional apprenticeships and new and innovative programs. Essentially, LAUNCH makes apprenticeship easy and effective for Los Angeles businesses and career-builders.
For more information about LAUNCH LA apprenticeships, please contact larcapprenticeship@pasadena.edu.
Why Apprenticeship?
The skills and aptitudes required for success in the modern workplace are constantly changing. Historically used to develop professionals in the skilled trades, apprenticeship is now a valuable workforce development tool in a wide variety of occupations. Over the past 50 years, the type of industries incorporating apprenticeship programs to develop and grow their workforce has changed drastically.
As apprenticeships continue to evolve, the basic concept remains the same. People new to an industry work alongside experienced veterans to leverage the institutional knowledge of current employees with theoretical learning from the classroom. Modern apprenticeship programs now play an integral role in industries such as manufacturing, information technology, tourism, health care, transportation and logistics and energy.
What is an Apprenticeship?
These registered apprenticeship programs are designed to create a path for employees to progress from basic skills knowledge to a level demanded for a successful career in the given occupation.
The programs vary in time from one to six years, depending on the length of time customary and necessary to achieve the skill set demanded by the chosen profession and the employer’s individual needs.
Employers determine the specific content of these training programs within specific guidelines.
These businesses also retain discretion to start new participants who demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge at an advanced level within the apprenticeship program.
Apprenticeship programs include a progressive wage scale for participants that includes incremental increases through participation. These wage increases can be based upon successful demonstration of acquired skills and competencies as they progress through the program or at predetermined intervals over the course of the apprenticeship. This approach benefits participants by providing clear incentives for professional growth while encouraging completion of the program. It also allows business partners to establish recruit new employees under “training rates” for employees as they develop new skills, provided the position meets all minimum wage requirements.