BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of Labor on Tuesday announced that the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council has approved three new registered apprenticeship programs and 16 new youth apprenticeship employers.

These additions to Maryland’s apprenticeship programs are expanding opportunities for students and workers in high-wage skilled trade jobs and non-traditional industries while supporting the workforce needs of local businesses.

“Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council, Maryland ended 2019 with over 10,000 registered apprentices for the second year in a row,” said Labor Secretary Tiffany Robinson. “With the continued support of Maryland’s business community, I am confident that there will be more registered and youth apprentices earning and learning in 2020 than ever before.”

Apprenticeships are full-time careers that include on-the-job training and classroom instruction that allow apprentices to earn while they learn. Anyone 18 or older can be a registered apprentice, while high school students can pursue youth apprenticeships. The school-to-apprenticeship model allows youth ages 16 or 17 to register as apprentices with a registered apprenticeship sponsor prior to graduation.

At the January council meeting, JESCO, Inc., the National Association of Landscape Professionals, and IntelliGenesis, LLC were approved as new apprenticeship sponsors. These new programs include occupations such as Construction Equipment Mechanic, Landscape Management Technician, Program Manager, and Data Science Practitioner.

“The association is pleased to announce that the State of Maryland has approved the registration of NALP’s Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program (LMAP) within their state,” said Apprenticeship/Programs Manager for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) Valerie Shuford. “The LMAP is a nationally recognized apprenticeship program with the Department of Labor that Maryland landscape contractors can now use as a training and recruitment tool within the industry while receiving state recognition of their skilled workforce.”

The Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council also approved the addition of 16 new eligible employers for the Apprenticeship Maryland Program, the state’s youth apprenticeship program. These employers, located in ten different counties across the state include: DARCARS Automotive, Ernest Maier, Inc., Montgomery County Public Schools, Stanley Black & Decker, CBIZ, Inc., MEC, Inc., Moran Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Turner Wealth Management, Wade Architecture, LLC, B&B Sport Aviation, Choptank Transport, the City of Salisbury, Quevera, LLC, the Baltimore City Public School System, the National Security Agency, and the Sparrows Point Country Club.

“Choptank Transport is pleased to be approved for acceptance into the Apprenticeship Maryland Program,” said Marketing Manager Harriett Mills. “What better way to give a student hands-on, practical experience in a career and industry that they probably never thought of joining, giving them a unique perspective into keeping the business of America moving.”

Businesses and job seekers interested in apprenticeships are invited to email [email protected] or call 410-767-2246.