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                In February of this year, the Crater Lake Electrical Board of Trustees decided to expand the size of the Training Center. Construction began on July 1^st and the new 4800 square foot addition is scheduled to be completed on September 9^th.  The main purpose of the new space will be to increase the area available for hands on labs for the apprentices and Craft Certification units for journeymen.

                Over the last few years, we have attempted to introduce hands on training into the apprenticeship curriculum, with limited success. The main problem has always been the lack of space, equipment and materials. If the first year class wanted to bend conduit, the fourth year class could not work on motor control projects. The new building will allow us to have one bay dedicated to conduit bending and a large area dedicated to motor controls. In addition to these areas, we will also have permanent booths set up for training in residential, fire alarm and telecommunications. This will allow the apprentices to move from classroom studies to practical application. It will also allow the apprentices to receive the practical training it has become difficult to provide on jobsites.

                The NJATC has developed a testing program called Craft Certification that allows a Training Center to put a journeyman through a series of written and hands on tests that verify their overall knowledge of the trade. Journeymen are put through a four hour hands on lab where they are required to complete a project involving transformers, panels, motor controls and lighting. Journeymen who successfully complete the examination will receive a card verifying their certification and this certification will be placed in their permanent record. Contractors will be able to use this certification as a selling point with clients who want to know that their employees are qualified. The Crater Lake Electrical Training Center plans on building three Craft Certification booths in the new building expansion.

                Apprentices will also be using the Craft Certification booths, completing tasks developed for each level of their apprenticeship training. First year apprentices will be required to complete a series of conduit bends and wire pulls. Second year apprentices will run conduit, pull wire and hook up a series of circuits. At the third year level, an apprentice will be required to wire both the primary and secondary connections to a transformer, as well as a panelboard. Fourth year will complete a motor control project and the fifth year will be required to complete a fire alarm system. At the completion of the five year program, apprentices who have successfully completed all aspects of the hands on tasks will also be classified as Craft Certified.

                The expansion of the Training Center is only the first step in this process, the next step will be building all of the training units and acquiring all of the necessary materials. The overall success of this project, however, will be decided by the contractors and journeymen who understand its value and not only participate, but encourage others to get on board. For this reason, I would encourage anyone who has any questions to please contact my office. I am more than willing to come out to your shop and explain the program in detail with both contractors and journeymen.