How Apprenticeships Work
In-house Skills Development
Employers enabled to drive skills development to meet immediate workforce needs and along industry-based competencies.
May include up to 6,000 hours of On-the-Job Training (OJT).
Related Technical Instruction
Rigorous course-formatted learning delivered by GACC Pittsburgh Chapter'sexclusive network of Community Colleges, industry-recognized course providers and skills development customized to meet employers' needs.
Industry-recognized Certifications
Apprentices who complete one of the four GACC Pittsburgh Chapter programs earn the nationally recognized designation of journeyperson with a number of exclusive industry certificates and German credentials.
- Journeyperson Certification | PA Departments of Labor
Certified Production Technician (CPT)
DiHK German Certification
The Four GACC Pittsburgh Chapter Apprenticeships
Mechatronics Technician
Mechatronics Technicians have electrical and mechanical skill sets and therefore are high-value employees with job duties critically important to a company. MTs are highly involved with maintaining high-tech machines such as robots, CNC machining, factory automation equipment and a range of complex platform. Mechatronics skills will be in high demand for most Industry 4.0 careers.
up to ~6,000 hours of On-the-Job Training
550 Hours of Related Technical Instruction in:
Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Programming (PLCs), Automation, Robotics, Control Systems, CAD Electives.
Credentials Earned:
last updated Oct 16, 2023
Sales Engineer
The Sales Engineer has fundamental skills in manufacturing processes and production management to give them the technical background they need to pitch a sale or convince buyers with their problem-solving strategy with technical issues. The sales engineer forms a bridge between the customer and the engineering or R&D department of a company as he or she becomes an expert about customer needs and preferences and can determine how products and services could be modified to suit those needs.
up to ~5,000 hours of On-the-Job Training
465 Hours of related Technical Instruction in:
Technical Sales, Business Processes, Agile Methodologies, Intro Programming (Python), Intro Web Development
Credentials Earned:
- Associates Degree in Business with Certification in Sales Engineering
- Journeyman certification issued by the Department of Labor
- Globally-Recognized German DiHK Certification
last updated Oct 16, 2023
Polymer Process Technician
Polymer Technician combines mechatronics with polymer certification for plastics, including extrusion, blow mold, injection molding.
up to ~6,000 hours of On-the-Job Training
550 Hours of Related Technical Instruction in:
Plastics, Extrusion, Blow Mold, Injection Molding
Credentials Earned:
- DIHK German Apprenticeship Certification
with German translation
last updated Oct 16, 2023
CAD/CAM Technical Designer
Technical Designers are at the start of all product design and advanced manufacturing processes today. They have extensive knowledge of software programs to produce complex, detailed digital assets, surface and solid models and more.
up to ~5,000 hours of On-the-Job Training
500 Hours of Related Technical Instruction in:
Technical Design, 2D, 3D, Prototyping, Computer Design Software, AutoCAD, Solidworks
Credentials Earned:
- Associates Degree ub Computer-aided Drafting & Design Technology (A.S.)
- Journeyman certification issued by the Department of Labor
- Globally-Recognized German DiHK Certification
last updated Oct 16, 2023
94% of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship retain employment with that company.
Apprentice graduates earn more than $300,000 over their lifetime than peers who are not.
The average annual salary for a apprentice upon completion is $77,000.
FAQs
As Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce we are directly connected to the German IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) and therefore have access to a pool of 360 state-of-the-art Apprenticeship modules that have been established in Germany for decades. With adapting the Dual Apprenticeship program we include the skills and competencies required from the German IHK for the job profiles and modified them into a two-year program to make them a better fit for the companies in the American market.
Apprentices will attend community college courses that are integrated with the On the Job training. The core courses include a 30-35 credit certification, with courses in Electricity, Mechanics, Motor Controls, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, Robotics, Programming Logic Controls (PLCs), Power Distribution. The Associate’s Degree will continue with advanced courses in these areas with the ability to specialize for a variety of industries and careers. Depending on the community college, the Certification and Associates Degree program can be found under Mechatronics, Robotics Technician, or Applied Technology.
For Polymers:Apprentices will attend community college courses that are integrated with the On the Job training. The core courses include a 30-35 credit certification in Mechatronics, with courses in Electricity, Mechanics, Motor Controls, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, Robotics, Programming Logic Controls (PLCs), Power Distribution. With a second certification in Polymers, which focuses on basic polymer chemistry, safety, troubleshooting and quality control methods. The Associate’s Degree will continue with advanced courses in these areas with the ability to specialize for a variety of industries and careers.
For CAD/CAM Technical Designer:Apprentices will attend community college courses that are integrated with the On the Job training. The coursework will be an Associate’s Degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing and (or also knowns as Computer Aided Design Technology). Courses include Technical Drafting, Introduction to Design, Materials, and Processes, Math for Technologies, Computer Numerical Control, 3D Solid Modeling, Materials, Machining, Technical Communication.
For Sales Engineering:Apprentices will attend community college courses that are integrated with the On the Job training. The coursework will be an Associate’s Degree in Business, with a Sales Engineering Certification. Apprentices will take core business courses, such as Intro to Business, Production Management, Principles of Selling, Technical Communication, Principles of Macroeconomics, Accounting. In addition to business classes, apprentices will take 20-25 credits of technical electives, specifically designed for the industry and technology of employment.
All of our Apprenticeship Programs are registered by the State of Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry and have been approved by the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council and the Federal Committee on Apprenticeship. Because of that, the GACC Pittsburgh Chapter, is eligible to issue journeymen paper upon completion of the Apprenticeship program.
With our broad network and contacts to the PA State Department of Labor and Industry and other county workforce development boards we are always looking for additional funding to minimize the investment on the company side. Those grants can help pay the apprentices tuition fees and their wages.
Our services include consulting, organization and quality assurance for apprenticeship programs according to German standards.
- Program Development & Management
- Train the Trainer Courses & AdA-International Certification
- DIHK certification of new and existing programs
- Advice regarding new in-house programs
- Recruiting of qualified students and applicants
- Preparation and execution of IHK examinations