The IAM/Boeing Joint Apprenticeship Program, established in 1935
Apprenticeship training has proven to be one of the most effective ways to develop highly skilled craftspeople in selected trades. It is cost effective, goal orientated, and designed to meet specific skill needs of employers. Apprenticeships are challenging, exciting and fast paced. Apprenticeship is an opportunity to learn a highly skilled trade that can be used for the rest of your working career. Statistics show that a graduate apprentice earns a higher wage, has a more stable work record, and is promoted more quickly and more often than workers who have not completed an apprenticeship.
A Parents Guide to Apprenticeship
This booklet is designed specifically for parents and provides an overview of apprenticeship. Topics include the benefits of apprenticeship, career options, requirements, how to apply, and contact information for apprenticeships in Washington State.
The skills of a graduate apprentice are consistently in high demand by industry. Learning trade skills is only part of an apprenticeship program. You will also learn to think for yourself, to work with and cooperate with other workers, and to develop learning skills that can be applied to any other form of education. Graduate apprentices are certified as Journey Level Craftspeople in their selected trades by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. This certification is recognized around the United States and in most parts of the World.
An IAM/Boeing apprenticeship is a combination of real world, on-the-job work assignments under the instruction of qualified employees. It includes unpaid off-hour trade related classroom instruction in specific highly skilled trades. Apprenticeship differs from other training by not limiting the training to a single objective. The program instructs the apprentice in a wide range of equipment, processes, and operations.
The ten apprenticeship programs currently offered at Boeing are four or five years in length and include a 20% probationary period at the start of each program. Apprentices may work first or second shift on a rotating schedule. Off-hour instruction requires 160 unpaid classroom hours per school year.
Each program is a structured process of training, designed and provided by sponsoring organizations in accordance with the Standards of Apprenticeship approved by the IAM/Boeing Joint Apprenticeship Committee and the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
On-the-job training is supplied by qualified journeyworkers who are willing and able to share their knowledge and experience. Off-hour training is self paced instruction provided by qualified instructors with trade experience. Classroom attendance is required and an hours to lesson ratio must be maintained. Depending upon the trade, class instruction may include Shop Theory, Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Compound Angles, Physics), Composites, Electronics, Mechanics, Metallurgy, and Programming.
Apprentice wages are determined by the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinist. Pay rate increases are earned for each 1000 hours of successful progress in the program. Graduate apprentices are paid the maximum rate of their target job title.
