The Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council, established under State Statutes, is composed of members with broad experience in the field of Apprentice Training.

Recommendations of the Council are submitted to the Connecticut Labor Commissioner for adoption. The Commissioner of Labor has adopted regulations governing the Apprentice Work Training Standards (Sec. 31-51d-1 to 12).

The following Apprenticeship Standards have been adopted by the Council as the basic standards of approval for an Apprentice Program. The Council has made provisions for special requirements as part of each sponsor's standards submitted for review and approval. The regulations for the Commissioner of Labor's Work Training Standards for Apprenticeship and Training Programs are incorporated by this reference as part of the following standards.

I. Special Provisions

Explain any terms and conditions that govern this sponsor's program, which deviate from the language that follows: (Reference the Section of standards and add additional sheets if necessary.)

II. Definitions

1. Sponsor means the duly established firm, association, committee, organization or corporation permanently located within the State of Connecticut in whose name this program is approved and registered.
2. Employer means the sole owner, partnership or corporation that employs apprentices for wages; is responsible for the on-the-job training of apprentices; is a party of these standards either as a program sponsor or as a participant under the jurisdiction of a Joint Apprenticeship Committee.
3. Joint Apprenticeship Committee means a committee composed of equal representation of employer and labor members sponsoring an apprenticeship program.
4. Apprentice means a person training under a written agreement which provides specific terms of apprenticeship and employment including but not limited to wage progression; specific hours of job training processes; hours and courses of school instruction which satisfactory completion thereof provides recognition as a qualified professional, technical, craft or trade worker.
5. Journeyperson means any person who has completed an apprenticeship or is recognized/classified as a skilled person and possesses a valid Journeyperson card or occupational license when required.
6. Council means the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council which recommends policy concerning apprenticeship to the Commissioner.
7. Department means the Connecticut Labor Department, which is the registration agency for all programs.
8. Related Instruction means an organized and systematic form of instruction designed to provide the apprentice with knowledge of the theoretical and technical subjects related to his/her trade.

IV. Recruitment, Selection, Employment and Training

The recruitment, selection, employment and training of apprentices shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, learning disability or physical disability including but not limited to blindness; unless such disability prevents the apprentice or potential apprentice from performing the essential functions of the work involved in the apprenticeship program. The sponsor will operate the apprenticeship program as required under applicable laws, regulations and executive orders. 

B. Affirmative Action Plan

1. A specific selection procedure and affirmative action plan must be developed when the program attains an enrollment of five or more apprentices.
2. The Department will assist the sponsor in the development of a selection procedure and affirmative action plan.
   
   

C. Recruitment Procedures Under an Affirmative Action Plan

1. Present Employees
   Apprentices may be selected from the sponsor's existing work force providing its composition does not indicate a discriminatory pattern.
2. New Employees
   Selection of apprentices from new employees must be made from a pool of eligibles.
3. The Department will provide technical assistance to the sponsor for recruitment to attain goals and timetables.

V. Term of Apprenticeship

1. The standard term of apprenticeship for each trade objective is defined herein. Appended to these standards is a work training process schedule for each trade objective. (Schedule "A")
2. Apprentices shall receive instruction and work experience to reach proficiency in the various skill processes throughout the training period. The sponsor will assure that proper record keeping is maintained. If conditions arise which preclude inclusion of certain skill processes, the work training schedule is to be modified in accordance with Section XIV of these standards.
3. The probationary period allows both the apprentice and the sponsor an opportunity to evaluate the training situation. Unless otherwise stated in Section I, the first wage period shall be considered a probationary period wherein either the apprentice or the sponsor may cancel the agreement. Apprentices entering with advanced standing will serve an equivalent period.
4. Each apprentice is entitled to have previous job experience and school training evaluated by the sponsor for the purpose of applying credit hours to reduce the standard training period. The amount of credit granted will be made part of the agreement. Apprentices admitted to advanced standing shall be entitled to rate of pay schedule established for the appropriate period.
5. Prior to each period of wage advancement, an evaluation of each apprentice for satisfactory progress in job skills and classroom training will be conducted by the sponsor. If job or classroom progress does not warrant advancement, the apprentice may be permitted to continue on a specific probationary period, not to exceed six months, prior to termination of the agreement. The Department shall be notified of the term of probation and all terminations.

VI. Apprenticeship Agreement

VII. Wages, Hours and Conditions of Work

1. The workday and work week for apprentices shall be determined by the program sponsor. Employment of apprentices on regular shifts is encouraged to allow direct supervision by a journeyperson or supervisor of apprentices. Time spent in related classroom instruction, if during a scheduled work period, shall be considered as time worked and paid accordingly with the exception that the hours spent in classroom instruction may not be used in computing overtime.
2. Apprentices shall receive wages in accordance with the currently effective minimum wage schedule. (Schedule "C")
3. Continuity of Employment
   1. When the program sponsor is the employer of the apprentice it will be the intention of the sponsor to give the apprentice continuous full-time employment and training. However, conditions of business may make it necessary to temporarily suspend the period of apprenticeship. Such periods of suspension shall not be for intermittent periods. Apprentices whose term of apprenticeship is suspended for the above reason will be given the opportunity to be re-employed or to resume their training before additional apprentices are employed. The suspension and reinstatement of apprentices shall be done in relation to retention of the most advanced apprentice.
   2. When the program sponsor is not the employer and when the employer to whom the apprentice is assigned is unable to fulfill is obligations as a trainer, the sponsor will endeavor to transfer the apprentice to another employer under the same program who can fulfill the apprenticeship responsibilities, This will be done with the consent of the apprentice and the sponsor and with full credit to the apprentice for satisfactory time and training earned.
   3. The Connecticut Department of Labor shall be notified of changes in the training status of all apprentices.

VIII. Training Capability Ratio

IX. Related Instruction

X. Safety

XI. Apprenticeship Responsibilities

1. To make every effort to understand the apprenticeship program and abide by all rules established by the program sponsor.
2. To attend regularly and complete the required hours of instruction in subjects related to the trade.
3. To maintain records as may be required of work experience and related instruction.
4. To conform with safe working procedures as instructed to assure their own safety as well as the safety of fellow workers.
5. To perform diligently and faithfully the work of the trade.

XII. Certificate of Completion

XIII. Complaint Procedures

• Complaints concerning discriminatory or other equal opportunity matters must be submitted, in writing, processed and resolved in accordance with state and/or federal equal opportunity laws, regulations and executive orders. The Department will attempt to reach an informal resolution of the complaint and will submit to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities the resolution for their disposition.
• Other complaints arising under an apprenticeship agreement not resolved informally or which are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement may be submitted in writing by an apprentice or his/her authorized representative to the Department for review.
• In the event of any differences regarding the terms of this agreement, either party may request assistance from the Council.

XIV. Modification

XV. Program Deregistration

XVI. Reinstatement of Programs