(a)

1. (1) The provisions in this section govern electrical apprenticeship programs and are supplemental to the requirements outlined in 17 CAR §§ 37-101 – 37-107, unless otherwise specified by this section.
2. (2) Terms shall have the definitions provided in 17 CAR § 37-101, unless a different definition is provided in subsection (b) of this section, in which case, that definition will control.

(b) As used in this part:

1. (1) “Apprentice electrician” means a person:

   1. (A) Who is at least sixteen (16) years of age, covered by the required apprenticeship agreements; and
   2. (B) Whose principal occupation is the learning of and assisting in the installation of electrical work under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or master electrician;
2. (2) “Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas” means individuals designated by the Department of Labor and Licensing pursuant to Arkansas Code § 17-28-201;
3. (3) “Employer” means any master electrician representing themselves or a company who signs an apprenticeship agreement to abide by this part;
4. (4) “Journeyman electrician” means any duly licensed person who possesses the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to install, maintain, and extend electrical conductors and equipment in accordance with plans and specifications which comply with standard rules governing the work;
5. (5) “Master electrician” means any duly licensed person who possesses the necessary qualifications, training, and technical knowledge to plan, layout, and supervise the installation, maintenance, and extension of electrical conductors and equipment; and
6. (6) “State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee” means people designated by the Career Education and Workforce Development Board pursuant to Arkansas Code § 17-28-314.

(c)

1. (1) No person shall engage in work as an apprentice electrician unless first registered to do so by the Department of Labor and Licensing, the United States Office of Apprenticeship, and the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The employer of an apprentice electrician must be a master electrician licensed in the State of Arkansas who signs an employer acceptance agreement with the United States Office of Apprenticeship to abide by the rules of apprenticeship.
   2. (B) Apprentices of residential master electricians, as defined in Arkansas Code § 17-28-101(11), are exempted from this requirement but are limited to an apprenticeship term of two (2) years.

3. (3)

   1. (A)

(i) The information for apprentice electrician registration shall be on an application form supplied by the department.

1. (ii) The application form shall be completed before consideration by the department, the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development, and the United States Office of Apprenticeship.

   1. (B) To establish a record of apprenticeship, every apprentice electrician shall, within thirty (30) days after employment, be registered with the department, the local apprenticeship committee or program sponsor, the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development, and the United States Office of Apprenticeship.
   2. (C) It is the responsibility of the master electrician to ensure that the apprentice is licensed, enrolled in, and attending an apprenticeship program.
   3. (D) The Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas may take action against a master electrician for working an apprentice for over thirty (30) days without being so registered.

2. (4)

   1. (A) The term of apprenticeship shall be a minimum of four (4) years consisting of eight (8) periods of one thousand (1,000) hours of practical work experience and eight (8) periods of seventy-two (72) hours of related classroom instruction in technical and supplemental subjects related to the trade or as approved by the United States Office of Apprenticeship.
   2. (B) Classroom instruction time obtained through a pre-apprenticeship program may be considered as time counted towards completion of apprenticeship.

3. (5)

   1. (A) An apprentice who successfully completes the required apprenticeship term will be eligible to take the state journeyman electrician examination as administered by the department.
   2. (B) Upon completion of the apprenticeship, a notice will be sent to the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development by the program sponsor informing it of the apprentice’s completion.
   3. (C) Upon verification of the completion, the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development will provide the release to test to the program sponsor.
   4. (D) Unless officially excused by the department, each apprentice should apply with the department for the journeyman electrician examination within sixty (60) days after completion of their apprenticeship.

4. (6)

   1. (A)

      1. (i) An applicant must submit a request for experienced credit within sixty (60) days of the date of application.
      2. (ii) Requested credit must be substantiated through notarized records, affidavits, or other evidence.
   2. (B) Work experience used as a basis for experienced credit must have a start and end date listed (to the present if the applicant’s current job is being used) and the amount of on-the-job training hours obtained during that time frame should be listed.
   3. (C) Work experience should be described with sufficient detail to provide a clear understanding of the work that was performed.
   4. (D) If a license or registration was required in the state where the work was performed, a copy of the license or registration valid during the time period in question should be provided.

   5. (E)

      1. (i) Time requested for experienced credit shall be evaluated by the local apprenticeship committee, if in existence, and approved by the State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee.
      2. (ii) In the absence of the local apprenticeship committee, requested time shall be evaluated by the State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee.
   6. (F) The applicant may be required to take an examination to verify their knowledge about subjects for which experienced credit is requested.
   7. (G) Experienced credit may be granted for related technical instruction where the applicant has attended an Arkansas Certified Pre-apprenticeship Program or college/vocational program approved by the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development where the classes taken match with an apprenticeship program’s related technical instruction.

5. (7)

   1. (A) The apprentice shall enroll in and attend classes in related subjects at an apprenticeship program that is approved by the United States Office of Apprenticeship and the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) The approved occupation titled program is Electrician (Alternate Title: Interior Electrician) (0159) V1 Time-Based or other approved program.
      2. (ii) This program requires five hundred seventy-six (576) hours of related technical instruction.
   3. (C) Apprentices shall take advantage of provided instruction in recognized apprenticeship classes during periods of temporary unemployment.
   4. (D) Class attendance is mandatory, and failure to attend classes in related technical instruction may result in discipline up to and including termination of the apprenticeship agreement.

   5. (E)

      1. (i) Apprentices will attend classes on their own time.
      2. (ii) Class attendance shall not be considered as hours worked.

   6. (F) The program sponsor shall not recognize any apprentice with whom they have not signed an apprenticeship agreement or who is not registered with the department, the United States Office of Apprenticeship, and the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development.

      1. (d) The State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee shall:
6. (1) Assist and advise local apprenticeship committees;
7. (2) Evaluate local apprenticeship training programs for compliance with the United States Office of Apprenticeship, the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development, and its own policies;

8. (3)

   1. (A) Serve as an appeal board for apprentices, employers, and local apprenticeship committees.
   2. (B) Any person may appeal directly to the State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee for review;
9. (4) Provide interpretations for training standards;
10. (5) Annually elect a chair, co-chair, and secretary who shall retain the power to vote in all matters before the State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee;

11. (6)

    1. (A) Hold meetings monthly if there are items requiring discussion or approval.
    2. (B) The chair may call special meetings when necessary to hear appeals;
12. (7) Approve electrical curriculum eligible for reimbursement through the Construction Industry Craft Training Trust Fund; and
13. (8) Make final determinations on experienced credit requests.

(e)

1. (1) An electrical apprenticeship program sponsor shall:

   1. (A) Review apprenticeship agreements between the employer and apprentice and submit those agreements to the United States Office of Apprenticeship and the department;
   2. (B) Ensure that all apprentices are duly registered with the department within thirty (30) days of employment by a master electrician and registration by the program sponsor;
   3. (C) Notify the United States Office of Apprenticeship, the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development, and the department of all actions affecting apprenticeship such as new hires, completions, suspensions, and cancellations within thirty (30) days of the action; and
   4. (D) Establish starting and stopping times for classroom instruction to ensure the completion of eight (8) periods of seventy-two (72) hours or as approved by the United States Office of Apprenticeship.
2. (2) If a program is found to be in violation of this part, the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development, in consultation with the State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee, shall contact the department and request that the program’s ability to register new apprentices, renew licenses, and have their apprentices approved to test be held until the program is in compliance.

3. (3) Local apprenticeship committees shall:

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Hold semiannual meetings.
      2. (ii) Special meetings may be called by the chair or by a petition of a majority of members; and
   2. (B) Annually elect a chair and a secretary who shall retain the power to vote on all matters before the local apprenticeship committee.

(f)

1. (1) Apprentice electricians shall be subject to a probationary period not to exceed one thousand (1,000) practical work experience hours.
2. (2) During the probationary period, the local apprenticeship committee, employer, or apprentice may request an annulment of the apprenticeship agreement without a formal hearing.
3. (3) Apprentices shall receive credit for time worked under the probationary period.

(g)

1. (1) Should an apprentice fail to attend on-the-job training or related technical instruction, the local apprenticeship committee or program sponsor shall take the necessary disciplinary action.
2. (2) The local apprenticeship committee or program sponsor may cancel the apprenticeship agreement and remove an apprentice from the training program for failing to comply with the terms of the apprenticeship agreement or applicable standards.

3. (3)

   1. (A)

      1. (i) Before taking any disciplinary action, the local apprenticeship committee or program sponsor shall notify the apprentice by certified mail that they should appear before the local apprenticeship committee at the designated date.
      2. (ii) The notice should specify the grounds for disciplinary action.
   2. (B) If an apprentice fails to appear before the local apprenticeship committee after receiving due notice, disciplinary action may be invoked.
   3. (C) In the absence of a local apprenticeship committee, the State Electrical Apprenticeship Committee shall function in its stead.