Carpenter(Preservation) Apprenticeship Program

Heritage Restoration, Inc. is a proud employer/sponsor of a Carpenter(Preservation) apprentice. The apprenticeship program is registered and recognized by the Rhode Island Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training(RIBAT), U.S. Department of Labor. The Carpenter(Preservation) program was adopted in 1995 by the RIBAT, as a subcategory of Carpenter, recognizing preservation as a specialty within the Carpenter work category. The first apprentice graduate, Aaron Crocker(HRI business partner), completed the program in 1999, earning him the first certificate as a Carpenter(Preservation). Currently, Heritage Restoration, Inc.(HRI), Inc. is sponsoring Robert Howell, whom started his apprenticeship in May 2002. HRI is a proud sponsor of the apprenticeship program as a structured training option to further the skills and disciplines necessary in today’s building preservation trade.

An apprenticeship program seeks to develop a mentor/student relationship between sponsor and apprentice, providing the apprentice exposure to the skills, techniques and analytical tools of the trade. Under the BAT guidelines, the Carpenter(Preservation) apprenticeship program requires 8000 hours of on-the-job training, and 576 hours of related technical instruction. The balance of on-the-job training and related instruction provides the critical relationship between head and hand, to better comprehend the actions of the trade on the fabric of our cultural heritage. The apprentice may also learn the skills of proper project management, estimating, job tracking, as well as business structure and management. The intent of the apprenticeship/sponsor relationship is to develop an environment to enrich the apprentice’s skills and knowledge of the trade, while creating a strong ability for future enrichment and independence.

On-The-Job Training

Under the RIBAT Carpenter(Preservation) Apprenticeship Guidelines, the work process was designed to be commensurate with the sponsor’s ability to provide such skills exposures over the four year apprenticeship. HRI has tailored a work process based on our work history, where the skills and crafts practiced by HRI act as the “guideline” for exposure. The guideline is then used as a comparison to the actual on-the-job training the apprentice receives. While the guideline is somewhat flexible in skills and hours spent for each work process, the work processes should remain within the “accepted” skills of the historic preservation/carpentry trade. These accepted skills are determined by the apprentices overall satisfaction of the work exposures provided by the sponsor, and if the original expectations of the work process are met throughout the four year sponsorship. The intent of the apprenticeship is to provide the “student” a structured training expectation, while the sponsor receives the satisfaction of passing on the skills and techniques of their own mentors and peers.

Related Technical Instruction

The related technical instruction component of the apprenticeship program requires 576 hours of classroom study. Typical educational exposures average 3 hours a week, where apprentice under a certain trade classification gather for technical training. Apprentice in larger groups utilize vocational, technical and specialized educational programs, that are supported by the apprentice’s sponsor or employer. Since the Carpenter(Preservation) apprenticeship has only one sponsor and one apprentice, HRI provides the related instruction though various partnerships with government, private craftspeople and educational facilities. HRI also has designated Aaron Crocker to facilitate and organize all related technical instructional components. Examples of such exposures include:

The challenges of being the sole sponsor and apprentice require a certain creativity of related technical instruction, where the apprentice’s and BAT’s expectations are met under the requirements of the Apprenticeship Standards.

Conclusion

The introduction of the Carpenter(Preservation) apprenticeship program provides a unique opportunity for a structured training and educational field based trade experience. Despite the program being solely adopted by the RIBAT and sponsored only by HRI, the value of the experience is not diminished. Thus far, educational and training relationships have been fostered through the existence of the apprenticeship program with the National Park Service, Roger Williams University, several private and non-profit educational and museum facilities, as well as numerous craftspeople. The Carpenter(Preservation) apprenticeship program is designed to be but one of several career options in the historic preservation trades, thus expanding the opportunities and exposures for new talent.