Designated Occupations A New Approach to Training and Certification Alberta Excellence Through Training and Experience ADVANCED EDUCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT Designated Occupations — A New Approach to Training and Certification, is published by Apprenticeship and Industry Training, Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development. 10th Floor, 10155 - 102 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 4L5 Telephone: (403) 427-8765 Fax: (403) 422-7376 ISBN 0-7732-1702-9 © 1995, Her Majesty the Queen in right of the Province of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development. 06/95-2m 09/96 - 500 Designated Occupations — A New Approach to Training and Certification Increasingly companies and industries* of all shapes and sizes are identifying training as a priority. To improve their competitiveness, meet the needs of a global market, or help their employees adapt to the new methods from the old, employers are looking for effective well-recognized training. Industry representatives meet to discuss a joint venture in a new market. Their biggest problem is a lack of consistent training standards across the industry. Business planning An association surveys its members. Training varies greatly within the association's membership and the credibility of the occupation must be upgraded. Occupational standards A human resource planning team determines the skill training necessary for all employees after major retooling. More automa­ tion is planned. More training is needed, particularly in the use of automated systems. Human resources planning A manufacturing employer is expanding. Screening applicants is proving difficult because of a wide range of experience, little formal training, and no recognizable credentials. Recruitment and selection A company is experiencing high levels of employee turnover. Workers view the job as dead-end, yet they are a vital component of the business. There is a need to improve their outlook and career path. Career development What is a designated occupation? A designated occupation is an occupation that has been approved by the Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act on the recommendation of industry. It has established job skills and competencies, standards of performance, and training. When a trainee achieves the standards of performance that are established for the designated occupation, the Minister grants an Occupational Certificate to the trainee. The certificate is recognized throughout the province as an achievement of competency for that occupation. * see Definitions, page 8. Definition of a designated occupation Occupational certificate Designated Occu pations — A New A pp roach to Training and Certification In Alberta, establishing a designated occupation is a new way of making training and certification available to address human resource issues such as the following: Why establish a designated occupation? Designated Occupations — A New Approach to Training and Certification Benefits to employers Benefits to employees Voluntary participation For employers, associations or labour organizations, a designated occupation provides: • training that meets industry's need to develop a skilled and mobile workforce and that improves the competitiveness of the entire industry, • greater ease in recruiting, promoting and compensating employees, because of consistent training, • the potential to focus on specific issues, such as safety train­ ing, as required. For employees, a designated occupation provides: • recognition of achieved standards in the form of an occupa­ tional certificate, • greater mobility and skill transferability within their occupa­ tion and their industry, • increased opportunities for career development based on industry recognized training, • improved job satisfaction and increased self-esteem, • increased confidence that appropriate training has been obtained. Participation in a designated occupation is voluntary. Employee wage rates are not regulated. Participation is not a requirement to be able to continue working. How is a designated occupation established? Establishing a designated occupation After requesting information about the process of establishing a designated occupation, industry decides: • what job skills and competencies are necessary to perform the tasks, activities and functions in the proposed designated occupation, • what training will be provided to develop the trainees' skills and competencies, • what standards of performance will be established, and how the standards will be measured, • how the training will be delivered, • how industry will monitor the training and standards of performance. Advanced Education and Career Development provides consulting services to industry throughout the application process.* In many cases, industry requires assistance in making contact with training establishments, industry or training partners, and training development experts, as well as assistance in developing the application. Consulting services Who should apply to establish a designated occupation? Who should apply Industry submits an application for a designated occupation to the Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development. Submission of an application What should be included in an application? Generally, an application should include: • an indication of industry support for the proposed designated occupation, • an outline of the job skills and competencies that would be required, • an outline of the training that would be required, • an indication that there is a need for new, improved or con­ sistent training. Application outline What happens to the application? The Minister reviews the application and forwards it for review to: • the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board, • government departments and agencies that may be affected. Review of an application The Board forwards the application to: • other employers, associations, provincial apprenticeship committees, or people in the industry, if they might be af­ fected by or interested in the application. The Minister may ask the Board to establish a provisional committee with equal representation of employers and employees who are knowledgeable about the occupation. The provisional committee's role is to make recommendations to the Board about the job skills, competencies, tasks, activities, functions, training and standards of performance of the proposed designated occupation, and proposes an occupation regulation. * referrals to other departments and agencies may be provided where appropriate Provisional committee Designated Occupations — A New Approach to Training and Certification Any industry may benefit from establishing a designated occupation. A designated occupation may be established for a specific company or for an entire industry. Additional information Where necessary, the Board may request additional information from industry about the application, or set in motion a process to acquire additional information from the public or specific groups. Board recommendation The Board will recommend to the Minister either approval or rejection of the application. Decision The Minister decides whether or not to approve the application to establish a designated occupation. Designated Occupations — A New Approach to Training and Certification Who develops the training? Development and delivery of training Industry funds the development and delivery of the training. Training may be of long or short duration, classroom or on-thejob, mostly practical or highly theoretical, according to the needs of the designated occupation. Training may be delivered by training establishments or by the employer. What happens when the designated occupation is established? Occupation regulation Occupational training committee The Board, with the approval of the Minister, will establish an occupation regulation that governs the standards and requirements for training and certification in the occupation. The Board may appoint an occupational training committee with equal representation of employers and employees to: • make recommendations to the Board about training and certification in the designated occupation, • monitor the training and the progress of the trainees. What happens when a trainee achieves the standards of the designated occupation? Occupational certificate When the trainee has completed the training and achieved the standards of the designated occupation, an Occupational Certificate is granted. When applying for a designated occupation: 1. Give the name of the proposed designated occupation. 2. Give the contact name, address and telephone number. Application procedure 3. List the employers, associations, labour organizations and individuals who have been consulted regarding the proposed designated occupation. Include: • contact names and titles, • addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers. 5. Indicate the effect and benefits of a designated occupation on the public, and employers and employees working in the occupation. Consider issues such as safety, worker mobility, costs, customer service, training standards and training quality. 6. Indicate if this occupation has been designated elsewhere and its effect on that labour market. 7. Outline a skills profile. This is a description of the job skills and competencies required to perform the tasks, activities and functions of the proposed designated occupation. 8. Outline a training plan. This is a description of the proposed training involved, including the scope and duration of the training. 9. Identify any dangerous substances, equipment and tech­ niques or practices that may be used in this occupation and ensure that proper training is outlined in the training plan. 10. Outline a business plan for maintaining the training and standards of performance of the occupation. Designated Occupations — A New Approach to Training and Certification 4. Attach letters that indicate support for the application. Sup­ port must be shown by each of the following groups: • employers and supervisors of the occupation, • employees within the occupation, • associations or labour organizations within the occupation. Process for Establishing a Designated Occupation Step 4 1 Step 2 2 Industry requests information from Industry consults with the the department. department regarding skills, Step 3 3 The Minister reviews the ■ | Industry develops , the application and submits it to the Minister. 5 4 Step 5 ■ I The Board reviews the application and application. forwards it for review and comments to skil s • competencies, ■ • the Board, • standards, • government departments • training, • the development ofanapplication affected and agencies that may be The Minister may ask the Board to form a ■ Note: Between steps 5 through 7, the Minister, the Board or the department may require additional information from the applicant, or may put in place surveys, public hearings or committees to obtain additional information. May 1995 provisional committee. Step 6a The Board forwards the application for review to employers, associations, provincial apprenticeship committees, where appropriate. Step Step The Board receives and reviews ■ ND The Board recommends that the Minister approve or reject the application. comments about the application, the recommend­ ations of the provisional committee. the Board, the applicant and the department. step 6b When established, the provisional committee develops the proposed tasks, activities, functions and standards of performance, occupation regulation. The Minister accepts or rejects the Board's recommendation and advises ■ Definitions: Designated Occupations — A New Approach to Training and Certification Definitions IIndustry: employers, employees, industry groups, associations, and labour organizations The Board: the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board. The Board is made up of employers and employees who represent trades and occupations. It operates under the authority of the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act The Department: Advanced Education and Career Development, responsible for the administration of apprenticeship and industry training The Minister: the Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development, responsible for the administration of apprenticeship and industry training under the authority of the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act For more information or assistance in developing an application, please contact: for more information Designated Occupations Apprenticeship and Industry Training Advanced Education and Career Development 10th Floor, Commerce Place 10155-102 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4L5 (403) 427-8765 (403) 422-7376 (fax) Forward completed applications to: The Minister Advanced Education and Career Development 229 Legislature Building Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2B6 Copies of the Designated Occupation Administration Regulation, Alberta Regulation 391/91 and the Designation of Trades and Occupations Regulation, Alberta Regulation 387/91 are available from: Publication Services 11510 Kingsway Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2Y5 (403) 427-4952 (403) 452-0668 (fax) and Publication Services Main Floor, McDougall Centre 455 - 6th Street SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 4E8 (403) 297-6251 (403) 297-8450 (fax)