Amid a persistent skilled labor shortage that continues to challenge the building sector, constrain housing supply and exacerbate affordability, Katerra, a technology company redefining the construction industry, today announced it has launched a new apprenticeship program that offers the necessary training and skills for the future of construction. Registered with and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, credentials earned through the Katerra Apprenticeship Program are portable and recognized in all U.S. states and three territories.
The Katerra Apprenticeship Program offers a combination of technical classroom instruction and hands-on training for a variety of trade occupations including carpentry, plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Apprenticeships for other occupations are anticipated in the future. The educational curriculum associated with each of Katerra’s programs is accredited through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). While individual programs vary depending on the complexity of the occupation, all Katerra apprenticeship programs require approximately 144 hours of technical instruction per year and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.
“Katerra is leading the construction industry in the application of new technologies and methodologies to deliver better quality buildings faster and more efficiently,” said Samantha Rist, head of self-perform at Katerra. “We developed our apprenticeship program to train the next generation of construction workers to use cutting-edge tools and the latest technology. Now, Katerra apprentices can gain portable credentials for use throughout their careers, at Katerra and beyond.”
As part of the program, Katerra offers a series of week-long boot camps at its state-of-the-art factories for related technical instruction training modules. The boot camps – delivered in both English and Spanish – are designed to ensure each participant receives individualized support. English-as-Second Language (ESL) classes are also offered.
“The lack of skilled laborers is one of the biggest challenges the building sector faces,” said NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde, a home builder and developer from Torrington, Conn. “Apprenticeship programs like Katerra’s that offer portable credentials and teach new technologies are important as the industry seeks to broaden recruitment and increase interest in construction as a career.”
To ensure equal opportunity for training and development in the construction industry, Katerra partners with local organizations in the areas where it operates to recruit for its apprenticeship programs, including from local high schools, workforce development programs, the military, and general industry. Interested candidates can apply for employment at Katerra’s website.
Related Stories
| May 1, 2014
First look: Cal State San Marcos's posh student union complex
The new 89,000-sf University Student Union at CSUSM features a massive, open-air amphitheater, student activity center with a game lounge, rooftop garden and patio, and ballroom space.
| May 1, 2014
Super BIM: 7 award-winning BIM/VDC-driven projects
Thom Mayne's Perot Museum of Nature and Science and Anaheim's new intermodal center are among the 2014 AIA TAP BIM Award winners.
| May 1, 2014
Chinese spec 'world's fastest' elevators for supertall project
Hitachi Elevator Co. will build and install 95 elevators—including two that the manufacturer labels as the "world's fastest"—for the Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed Guangzhou CTF Finance Center.
| Apr 30, 2014
Visiting Beijing's massive Chaoyang Park Plaza will be like 'moving through a urban forest'
Construction work has begun on the 120,000-sm mixed-use development, which was envisioned by MAD architects as a modern, urban forest.
| Apr 29, 2014
Best of Canada: 12 projects nab nation's top architectural prize [slideshow]
The conversion of a Mies van der Rohe-designed gas station and North Vancouver City Hall are among the recently completed projects to win the 2014 Governor General's Medal in Architecture.
| Apr 29, 2014
USGBC launches real-time green building data dashboard
The online data visualization resource highlights green building data for each state and Washington, D.C.
| Apr 28, 2014
Welcome to the Hive: OVA designs wild shipping container hotel for competition
Hong Kong-based OVA envisions a shipping-container hotel, where rooms could be removed at will and designed by advertisers.
Smart Buildings | Apr 28, 2014
Cities Alive: Arup report examines latest trends in urban green spaces
From vertical farming to glowing trees (yes, glowing trees), Arup engineers imagine the future of green infrastructure in cities across the world.
| Apr 25, 2014
A radiant barrier FAQ: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask
There are many examples of materials developed for the space program making their way into everyday life and radiant barriers are just that. SPONSORED CONTENT
| Apr 24, 2014
Unbuilt and Famous: LEGO releases box set of Bjarke Ingels' LEGO museum
LEGO Architecture has created a box set that customers can use to build replicas of the LEGO Museum, which is not yet built in real life. The museum, designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group, will commemorate the history of LEGO.
