Wash. Admin. Code § 296-05-003

Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024

Section 296-05-003 - Definitions

The following definitions apply to this chapter:

(1)Adjudicative proceeding: A proceeding before the WSATC in which an opportunity for a hearing before the WSATC is authorized by chapter 49.04 RCW or these rules before or after the entry of an order by the WSATC.

(2)Apprentice: A worker at least 16 years of age employed to learn an apprenticeable occupation and registered with a sponsor in an approved apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04 RCW and these rules. Building and construction trade occupations require an apprentice to be at least 17 years of age to register with a sponsor in an approved apprenticeship.

(3)Apprenticeable occupation: A specified occupation which must:

(a) Involve skills customarily learned in a practical way through a structured, systematic program of on-the-job supervised learning;

(b) Be clearly identified and commonly recognized throughout an industry;

(c) Involve the progressive attainment of manual, mechanical, or technical skills and knowledge which, in accordance with the industry standard for the occupation, would require the completion of at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning to attain;

(d) Require a minimum of 144 hours of related instruction per program year to supplement on-the-job work experience;

(e) Involve sufficient skill to establish career sustaining employment;

(f) Not be part of an occupation previously recognized by the registering agency as apprenticeable.

(4)Apprenticeship agreement: A written agreement between an apprentice and either the apprentice's program sponsor, or an apprenticeship committee acting as agent for the program sponsor(s), which contains the terms and conditions of the employment, training and education of the apprentice.

(5)Apprenticeship cohort: The group of individual apprentices registered to a specific program during a one year time frame, not including those whose agreements have been canceled during the initial probationary period.

(6)Apprenticeship committee: A quasi-public entity approved by the WSATC to administer and perform apprenticeship and training services.

(7)Apprenticeship program: A plan for administering an apprenticeship agreement containing all terms and conditions for the qualification, recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices. Apprenticeship programs must include apprenticeship agreements.

(8)Apprenticeship section: The division of the department of labor and industries administering registered apprenticeships for state and federal purposes.

(9)Cancellation: The termination of registration or cancellation of approval for an apprenticeship program at the request of the supervisor or sponsor, or the termination of registration or approval of an apprenticeship agreement at the request of the apprentice, supervisor, or sponsor.

(10)Career ladder: Opportunities for apprenticeship graduates to progress to higher levels of pay and responsibility with an employer.

(11)Certificate of completion: A record of the successful completion of a term of apprenticeship issued by the department on behalf of the WSATC. To be eligible for a certificate of completion, an apprentice must have been registered with the department and an active participant of a committee's program for at least six months and have successfully completed their apprenticeship.

(12)Certification: Written approval from the WSATC that:

(a) A set of apprenticeship standards established by an apprenticeship program sponsor substantially complies with standards established by the WSATC; and

(b) An individual is eligible for probationary employment as a registered apprentice as part of an apprenticeship program.

(13)C.F.R.: Code of Federal Regulations.

(14)Competent instructor: An instructor providing related/supplemental instruction who has demonstrated satisfactory performance in the occupation for a minimum of three years beyond the customary learning period for that occupation and who:

(a) Meets the requirements of the state board for community and technical colleges for a vocational-technical instructor; or

(b) Is recognized within an industry as having expertise in a specific occupation and is a subject matter expert; and

(c) Has training in teaching techniques and adult learning styles. The training may be acquired before, or within one year after, the competent instructor begins to provide related/supplemental instruction.

(15)Competitor: An apprenticeship program providing training in the same or similar occupation as one already existing in a certain geographic area. To determine whether a program provides training in the same or similar occupation, the WSATC may consider:

(a) Approved apprenticeship standards;

(b) Collective bargaining agreements;

(c) Dictionaries of occupational titles;

(d) Experts from organized labor, licensed contractors, and contractors' associations;

(e) Recognized labor and management industry practice;

(f) Scope of work descriptions issued by the department.

(16)Completion rate: The percentage of an apprenticeship cohort receiving a certificate of completion within one year of the projected completion date.

(17)Department: Department of labor and industries.

(18)Employer: Any person or organization with a valid Washington state unified business identifier (UBI) number employing an apprentice.

(19)Federal purposes: Any federal contract, grant, agreement, or arrangement dealing with apprenticeship. Includes any federal financial or other assistance, benefit, contribution, privilege, allowance, exemption, preference, or right pertaining to apprenticeship. See e.g., 29 C.F.R. Part 29.2.

(20)File: To send to:

Supervisor of Apprenticeship and Training

Department of Labor and Industries

Apprenticeship Section

Post Office Box 44530

Olympia, Washington 98504-4530

Or deliver to and receipt at:

Department of Labor and Industries

7273 Linderson Way S.E.

Tumwater, Washington 98501

Filing is complete upon deposit in the United States mail, properly addressed, postage prepaid, or personal service.

(21)First full training cycle: A full training cycle begins with the registration of the first apprentice and continues for one calendar year regardless of completion, cancellation and/or suspension of the apprentice.

(22)Individual agreement: A written agreement between an apprentice and/or trainee and either the apprentice's employer or an apprenticeship committee acting as agent for the employer.

(23)Industry-wide standards: The current, acceptable practices, including technological advancements, being used in the different occupations.

(24)Journey level: An individual having sufficient skills and knowledge of an occupation to be recognized by a state or federal registration agency and/or an industry as being fully qualified to perform the occupation. An individual can be fully qualified either through formal apprenticeship training or practical on-the-job work experience equal to or greater than the term of apprenticeship.

(25)Living wage: The minimum income needed to meet necessities such as food, housing, transportation, health care, and child services in a given area.

(26)On-the-job training program: A program that is set up in the same manner as an apprenticeship program with any exceptions authorized by the WSATC and as further described in WAC 296-05-013.

(27)Other nonwage benefits: Benefits such as health care, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, paid vacation leave, sick leave, fitness, child care, a retirement plan, and other benefits an employer provides for the employee.

(28)Probationary period: A period of time during which the apprentice has not yet reached full status or is subject to corrective action.

(a) Initial probationary period: A period of time in relation to the full apprenticeship term, with full credit given for such period toward completion of apprenticeship, which cannot exceed 20 percent of the apprenticeship term, or one year from the date of registration, whichever is shorter. Apprentices within the initial probationary period may not file apprenticeship complaints with the program sponsor. Apprentices transferring from another program are not subject to additional initial probationary periods.

(b) Disciplinary probationary period: A period of time after the initial probationary period during which the apprentice's progress is not satisfactory. The program sponsor may withhold periodic wage advancements, suspend or cancel the apprenticeship agreement, or take further disciplinary action. Apprentices subject to a disciplinary probationary period may file complaints with the program sponsor.

(29)Program sustainability:

(a) An assessment of future sustainability of a program will contain the following elements:

(i) A description of program funding:

(A) A description of program funding source and mechanisms, such as grants, trust, apprentice fees, employer fees, public funds, or other;

(B) If a program is relying on public funds to start up, a description of how the program will be funded after public start up funds expire.

(ii) A description of how program funding will be used to maintain the operational and administrative capacity of the program over time including, but not limited to, how the program will meet administrative, staffing, books and materials, rent, equipment, and insurance needs.

(iii) A description of how resources will be used to maintain capacity to deliver related/supplemental instruction over time.

(iv) For group programs as defined in WAC 296-05-009(1)(a), a description of the structure and mechanisms the program will have in place to ensure it remains adequately funded, in compliance with its financial and legal requirements, and in a manner that promotes the best interests of the apprentice. A program must detail how its contracts, memoranda of understandings, collective bargaining agreements, or other legally binding agreements will be used to ensure program sustainability.

(b) Platforms may develop and request additional sustainability criteria specific to their sector and industries, and can recommend these criteria to the WSATC for consideration in approving programs.

(30)Provisional registration: Initial one-year approval of a registered program meeting the required standards for registration. After one year, the provisional registration may be made permanent or continued as provisional through the first full training cycle, or rescinded following a compliance review.

(31)RCW: Revised Code of Washington.

(32)Registration: Both apprenticeship agreements and apprenticeship program standards are registered.

(a) Apprenticeship agreement registration: The acceptance and recording of an agreement by the apprenticeship section of the department of labor and industries as evidence of the apprentice's participation in a particular registered apprenticeship program.

(b) Apprenticeship program registration: The approval and recording of the program standards by the WSATC and the apprenticeship section as meeting the basic standards and requirements for such approval.

(33)Registration agency: The apprenticeship section of the department of labor and industries responsible for registering apprenticeship programs and apprentices, providing technical assistance, and conducting reviews for compliance with chapter 49.04 RCW and these rules.

(34)Related/supplemental instruction (RSI): An organized and systematic form of instruction designed to provide the apprentice with knowledge of the theoretical and technical subjects related to the apprentice's occupation. It may be provided in any form approved in advance by the WSATC. Apprentices must receive not less than 144 hours of RSI per program year.

(35)Secretary: The individual appointed by the director of the department according to RCW 49.04.030.

(36)Sponsor: Any person, firm, association, committee, or organization operating as an apprenticeship and training program and in whose name the program is registered.

(37)Standards: A written agreement containing specific provisions for operation and administration of the apprenticeship program and all terms and conditions for the qualifications, recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices, as further defined in WAC 296-05-015.

(38)Supervision: The necessary education, assistance, and control provided by a journey-level employee to an apprentice. Apprentices must be supervised by a journey-level worker on the same job site at least 75 percent of each working day, unless otherwise approved by the WSATC.

(39)Supervisor: The individual appointed by the director of the department who acts as the secretary of the WSATC. When these rules create a duty of the supervisor or secretary of the WSATC, the supervisor may designate department of labor and industries' employees to assist in the performance of those duties subject to the supervisor's oversight and direction.

(40)Trainee: An individual enrolled in an on-the-job training program, but who is not registered with a sponsor in an approved apprenticeship program under chapter 49.04 RCW and these rules.

(41)Training agent: Employer of registered apprentices approved by the program sponsor to furnish on-the-job training. The training agent shall use only registered apprentices to perform work processes in accordance with approved program standards.

(42)Training agreement: A written agreement between a training agent and a program sponsor containing the provisions of the apprenticeship program applicable to the training agent and the duties of the training agent in providing on-the-job training.

(43)Transfer: A shift of apprenticeship registration from one sponsor to another with a written agreement between the apprentice and the affected apprenticeship committees or program sponsors.

(44)WAC: Washington Administrative Code.

(45)WSATC: Washington state apprenticeship and training council.

Wash. Admin. Code § 296-05-003

Amended by WSR 14-23-065, Filed 11/18/2014, effective 12/19/2014

Amended by WSR 18-17-149, Filed 8/21/2018, effective 10/10/2018

Amended by WSR 20-13-060, Filed 6/15/2020, effective 7/16/2020

Amended by WSR 23-11-124, Filed 5/23/2023, effective 6/23/2023

Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.04 RCW and RCW 19.285.040. 11-11-002, § 296-05-003, filed 5/4/11, effective 7/25/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.04.010, 2001 c 204, and chapter 49.04 RCW. 01-22-055, § 296-05-003, filed 10/31/01, effective 1/17/02.