Page 32 - CNC West Oct-Nov 2021

Fullerton College Machine
Technology Program
George Bonnard-Fullerton College Instructor
Over the years, increased global competition has reinforced the need to continuously pursue improve- ment in all of the areas that help run a manufacturing facility. Within Fullerton College’s Technology and Engineering division and other divisions, we offer training and continuing education opportunities to not only stay ahead of the innovation curve, but to develop our students into the industry’s top talent.
To support our students and employers, the Ful- lerton College Machine Technology program has em- barked upon a partnership with the California Tooling and Machining Apprenticeship Associate (CTMAA) as of March 2021. This partnership will enable appren- tices from various participating companies in the ma- chining trade to obtain their journeypersons card from the State of California.
So “What is Apprenticeship?”
A registered apprenticeship is a voluntary partner- ship between an Employer and one or more employ- ees who receive on-the-job training, employer-paid schooling and supervision by a qualified and experi- enced ‘expert’ machinist. “Registered” apprenticeships are approved by and certificates are awarded by the State of California and the US Department of Labor.
Registered Apprenticeships are required to have an Apprenticeship Committee to determine wage and skills standards, represent the training needs of all their industry employers - and to assure equal access, quality of instruction and determine standards for the certifica- tion of apprentices for graduation - as Journeypersons of their designated job (trade). CTMAA is a Unilateral Apprenticeship Committee (“UAC”) for the State of California. That means we are certified by the Califor- nia Division of Apprentice Standards (“DAS”) -on a statewide basis- to:
• Establish and Certify Training and Curriculum Standards
• Keep Legal Records of Apprentice Academic and Performance Attainment
• Survey Merit-shop Employers to Determine Appropriate Wage Levels
• Conduct Recruiting and Outreach to Colleges, Schools and the Public
• Serve as Advocates for both Apprentices and
Employers
• Receive Employment Training Panel (“ETP”)
Funds from California, on Behalf of Employers
A regular (Machinist) Apprenticeship is 8,000 Hours On-the-Job supervised training from the desig- nated skill standard plus approximately 576 Hours of
an approved College Certificate
An entry-level candidate with good mechanical ap-
titude, reasonable math and language skills, working full time and taking class one or two nights (or a Satur- day) per week for 2 Semesters per year will complete our program in four years -- all the while earning an increasing wage as his or her skills increase -- and not incur college debt!
The Fullerton College Machine Technology pro- gram is certified by CTMAA and can provide you with all the courses required to obtain your Machinist Jour- neyperson card.
If apprenticeship is not something you want or something that an employer wants to pursue then you may take courses separately (day and evening) and ob- tain a variety of certificates and degrees in the manu- facturing area which include (but are not limited to) the following:
• Machine Technology Level I Certificate
• Machine Technology Level II Certificate
• CNC Operator Certificate
• CNC Certificate
• Metrology Certificate
• Metrology Mini Skills Certificate
• Mastercam Skills Certificate
• Surfcam Skills Certificate
• Swiss Lathe Certificate
• Manufacturing Technology Associate Degree For more information or if you would like to visit
our facility please visit us at:
Fullerton College | Machine Technology (fullcoll.
edu)
Fullerton College: Career Ready calmachinist.com
Contact us directly at: gbonnand@fullcoll.edu dobrien@fullcoll.edu
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