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ETA News Release: [06/18/2003]
Contact Name: Lorette
Post
Phone Number: (202) 693-3984
U.S. Labor Department
Awards $2.8 Million Grant for National IT Apprenticeship Program
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $2.8
million grant to the Computing Technology Industry Association, better known as
CompTia, to continue building a National Information Technology Apprenticeship
System. The system will provide consistent credentialing for IT career
development.
“This Administration is committed to helping unemployed and
dislocated workers find new job opportunities,” said Secretary of Labor
Elaine L. Chao. “Today’s $2.8 million for National Information
Technology apprenticeship programs will help many workers gain the skills to
find better paying jobs with brighter future prospects.”
The grant will allow CompTia to completely build four of seven
identified IT apprenticeship career tracks, using current industry-based skill
standards and certifications. It will also provide funding for implementing
Web-based processing of applications and certification. Over the next five
years, CompTia has committed to providing matching funds of nearly $3.8 million
to develop the system’s infrastructure, IT Career Lattice of skills
standards and work processes, and marketing strategies needed to encourage
large-scale private sector adoption of the system.
“Today’s training programs must be flexible, competency-based,
economical and efficient in order to move people quickly into jobs with good
futures,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training
Emily Stover DeRocco. “The apprenticeship training model adapted to the IT
industry and IT career opportunities will provide a powerful tool for the
public workforce system to assure we are preparing workers for skills in demand
and jobs in the 21st century economy.”
NITAS’ seven-track career matrix will allow workers to progress
through part or all of the apprenticeship program through a combination of
classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Standardized certifications will
result as each apprenticeship tier is completed and the certifications, which
assure worker quality and achievement, will be transferable from employer to
employer.
CompTia projects that, within five years, about 384,000 IT workers will
have become registered apprentices and almost 6,700 employers will have been
enlisted as registered on-the-job learning providers.
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