Manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program continues growth

The Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Program facilitated by Pennsylvania College of Technology continues to experience increased enrollment and engagement. Its most recent cohort featured 124 high school juniors and seniors from 21 public and private schools across the commonwealth.

The longest-running registered pre-apprenticeship program in Pennsylvania, AMP enrollment numbers have doubled over the past two years.

The AMP program is designed to increase knowledge of manufacturing concepts and skills and to expand the number of prospective employees choosing manufacturing-related career pathways. The initiative teaches foundational knowledge and hands-on skills to prepare the pre-apprentices with entry-level skills for many manufacturing occupations, including those in the semiconductor industry.

“Pre-apprenticeship programs like Pennsylvania College of Technology’s advanced manufacturing program offer Pennsylvania students the opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives while building in-demand skills that will earn them entry to family-sustaining jobs in growing industries,” said Nancy A. Walker, secretary of the state Department of Labor & Industry. “A pathway to a career is a pathway to a life of real freedom, and the Shapiro administration is proud to partner with organizations like the Pennsylvania College of Technology to make these opportunities available to as many Pennsylvanians as possible.”

The program is designed so that a single student – or up to an entire class of students – can participate.

School districts that participated in the four-month program, held during Spring 2024, were: Ellwood City Area, Greater Johnstown, Greencastle-Antrim, Lawrence County Career & Technical Center, Methacton, Mohawk Area, Neshannock Township, New Castle Area, Northampton Area, Oley Valley, Portage Area, Selinsgrove Area, Southern Tioga, Sullivan County, Union Area and Wellsboro Area. Charter schools participating were: Commonwealth Charter Academy, Executive Education Academy Charter School, Insight PA Cyber Charter School, PA Virtual Charter School and Reach Cyber Charter School.

Penn College’s AMP has been offered free to schools for the past six years. The initiative is funded by grants from the state Department of Community and Economic Development and PAsmart.

Pre-apprenticeship students complete online learning and hands-on lab sessions. The transferrable skills in manufacturing include safety, measurements, blueprint reading, manufacturing processes, additive manufacturing process and automation through robotics CNC.

Students completing the AMP requirements receive a Credly badge from Penn College and a certificate of recognition from the state Department of Labor & Industry. Pre-apprentices can also earn the Certified Manufacturing Associate certificate from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Among the recent cohort, 58 earned the SME certificate. 

As a registered pre-apprenticeship program, AMP qualifies as an alternative assessment for high school graduation under the state Department of Education Act 158.

“Pre-apprenticeship programs like AMP provide a low-risk training opportunity for high school students to explore career opportunities in in-demand, high-skill manufacturing jobs,” said Ross A. Berger, AMP program coordinator. “Penn College’s manufacturing employer partners appreciate that the pre-apprenticeship builds a pipeline for their future workforce.”

AMP is aligned with Penn College’s registered apprenticeships in industrial manufacturing technician, industrial maintenance mechanic and mechatronics technician.

Employers who participate in Penn College apprenticeships are invited to pre-apprenticeship lab sessions to give career presentations and are also invited to AMP’s culminating event – Industry Day, which serves as a mini-career day and a recognition ceremony for students who completed the program.

Held in Penn’s Inn at Penn College’s Bush Campus Center, Industry Day featured representatives from First Quality Products, Kellanova, Procter & Gamble Co., Westlake Royal Building Products and West Pharmaceutical Services.

Twenty-seven pre-apprentices attended Industry Day and were encouraged to connect with the employers to learn more about career opportunities in various sectors of manufacturing. The event concluded with pre-apprentices and their supporters being offered a campus tour.

In addition to Berger, Penn College employees offering remarks were Adam J. Yoder, AMP program instructor and an industrial training specialist for Workforce Development, and Sarah F. Marino, enrollment counselor.

For more information on AMP, email or call Workforce Development at 570-327-4775.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.