SALISBURY, N.C. — Rowan-Cabarrus is excited to announce the start of a new four-year apprenticeship training program which will assist companies with their maintenance technician needs by providing employee training to acquire the skill sets needed to become a multi-craft maintenance technician and certified journeyman at a state and federal level.

“We started this program because companies need more multi-craft maintenance technicians who have a mastery of all required job duties, but most of our local companies do not have the critical mass to run an apprenticeship program,” said Tashina Mahatha, account manager in business services at Rowan-Cabarrus. “By the College taking on the administrative functions, this allows companies to join a collective of manufacturing companies to ensure that their apprentices get the training they need when they need it.”

The training costs associated with the apprenticeship is estimated to be $3,500 – $5,000 for the four-year program, which includes the cost of books. Companies can also tailor the program by adding any additional training they would like for employees to undergo. Individuals in the apprenticeship program will also have the option to use their apprentice training course credits towards an associate degree if they so desire.

“We are proud to have passed the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s requirements for provisional registration of our NCWorks Apprenticeship program,” said David King, lead account manager in business services at Rowan-Cabarrus. “The expansion of apprenticeship programs all across the United States are preparing workers for the rapidly changing economy and filling existing and new jobs in the future.”

Currently, Rowan-Cabarrus is partnering with local companies, including Trelleborg Boots North America Inc. and Carolina Color Corporation, to provide apprenticeship training over the next four years for employees to become multi-craft certified. Their employees will participate in theoretical instruction and 2,000 hours of on the job training simultaneously.

This new program allows companies and organizations to invest in their employees’ developmental skills and training at a discounted rate. The program will offer apprenticeship instructions on electrical, mechanics, machining, programmable logic controls (PLC’s), welding, fabrication, and HVAC. Apprentices who complete this program will be multi-craft certified and equipped to handle a variety of maintenance issues.

“Having a qualified, trained maintenance technician saves companies both time and money because they will no longer need to outsource various maintenance needs for random issues, but instead can rely on a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ certified journeyman to handle any circumstance that may arise,” said King.

The Duke Energy Foundation generously provided a $200,000 grant to support the Multi-Craft Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship program. The grant will generously fund all tuition, book and material costs for each apprentice over the next four years. In addition, the grant allocated money to purchase new equipment and related supplies that will be housed in the College’s new Advanced Technology Center in Kannapolis which is slated to open at the end of 2019.

For those interested in getting employees the training and certification, it is not too late for employers to join the multi-craft maintenance technician and certified journeyman program. For more information, please contact Vice President of Corporate and Continuing Education Craig Lamb at craig.lamb@rccc.edu or 704-216-3500.