The New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program announced on Monday it will begin offering the first registered Industrial Management Production Technical Apprenticeship program in the state.
The CNC Apprenticeship program, which will be offered through NJMEP’s Pro-Action Education Network, was approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.
“NJMEP developed an innovative, nationally approved Computer Numerical Control (CNC) program that is discovering — and then delivering — exactly what skilled workers are looking for in today’s career opportunities,” Patricia Moran, director of apprenticeships, NJMEP, said. “Skilled machinists are the lifeblood for manufacturers but the local labor pool of skilled workers has been tight.”
“There is a huge need for skilled machinists,” John W. Kennedy, CEO of NJMEP, said. “This is an investment for both the individual and the company and a great opportunity for students to obtain an education without incurring student debt while gaining a successful career foothold in manufacturing.”
The program runs for 1.5 years. Here’s a breakdown of it:
- 3,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training and classroom training hours;
- Based on the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Production Technician Certification that NJMEP already offers;
- Focuses on foundational production education with an emphasis on CNC technology and lab time;
- Program content consist of: Print Reading, Measurement and Industrial Math, CNC Milling Setup Operations and Programming, Machining Process, CNC Lathe Setup, Operations, and Programming;
- No educational costs for the student.
“The job options are virtually limitless,” Kennedy said, adding that machinists are needed in the aerospace, medical and energy industries, among others.
