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..Continued from page 17 viduals must apply for one of NPGA’s programs
with a participating propane employer If an
Take part in college fairs. High schools individual applies but isn’t employed with a par-
often host college fairs, where colleges exhibit to ticipating marketer, then NPGA will refer them to
recruit students to visit and attend their institution a local propane business NPGA’s apprenticeship
Often, you will also find recruiters from the military programs have “rolling admission,” so there is no
at these fairs, offering an alternative to college waiting for an enrollment period; each applica-
Similarly, consider a booth at a college fair to tion is considered as soon as all required informa-
present your profession and apprenticeship as an tion has been submitted
alternative to college Be sure to highlight that an To be eligible for apprenticeship, appli-
apprenticeship provides paid educational train- cants must:
ing • be at least 21 years old;
Use social media. Social media is an inex- • be eligible to work in the U S ;
pensive way to promote your company and ap- • provide proof of having earned a high-
prenticeship, especially to young people Don’t school diploma, GED, or equivalent;
miss out on opportunities offered through Face- • possess a valid driver’s license;
book, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter Be sure to be able to obtain a commercial driver’s license
use photos in any platform you use prior to completion of the program;
Educate vocational/technical school • be physically capable of performing
system personnel about your apprenticeship. Your essential functions of the program; and
company should already be recruiting graduates • be able to pass a substance-abuse
at your local community college, vocational, and screening as required by NPGA and/or employer
technical schools Be sure to include information All four of the propane apprenticeship
about your apprenticeship in any promotional programs require the apprentice to complete
material you provide to these institutions By virtue a set of instruction competencies and a set of
of their field of study, many of these graduates experience competencies Every instruction com-
may already have met several of the competen- petency breaks down into a number of course
cies required of an apprenticeship areas, and every course area breaks down into a
Host an “open house” or career day at series of lessons All the competencies and lessons
your company to market your apprenticeships. are available from the Propane Education & Re-
In conjunction with your suppliers, vendors, and search Council (at no cost) on demand through
community groups, host an “open house” or ca- their online learning center at www training pro-
reer day at your business to showcase the many pane com
opportunities a career in the propane industry More extensive information on compe-
can offer tencies can be found in the NPGA Apprentice
Program Guide
How to Become an Apprentice A lot of the training comes from CETP, but
For potential propane employees, be- not all of it It is important to know that although
coming an apprentice offers a prime opportunity these lessons are found in CETP, individuals are
to gain improved skills, get higher pay, advance not required to achieve CETP certification. And,
their careers, and earn nationally recognized cre- again this training is accessible for free on the
dentials that they can take with them wherever PERC online learning center found at www train-
they might go ing propane com The great thing about the
To become a propane apprentice, indi- Continued on page 21...

18 Alabama Propane Gas Association | July / August 2021