Potential Employers
Grow your business by becoming a training agent and employing HVAC/R and sheet metal apprentices.
Apply
As the program administrator, Chemeketa provides training at the Salem Campus for the Mid-Valley Sheet Metal and HVAC/R Apprenticeship Committees.
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Application Process
Training Agent application
Complete, sign and return the required documents by mail or email -
- BOLI Registration Agreement
- Training Agent application
- Fee Schedule
- Site Visit form and photos
- Acknowledgment of receipt of Policies and Standards
- Copy of LE/B or equivalent license for journey-level worker(s)
After all documents are received, the committee members vote and approve your application. Chemeketa will -
- notify you of your approval
- set up your account in WorkHands
- initiate creating your account with Chemeketa Business Services
Address
Chemeketa ApprenticeshipBuilding 33, Room 1014000 Lancaster Drive NESalem, OR 97305 -
Benefits
Apprenticeships provide business solutions for your company.
- On-the-job training provided by your company
- Related training includes hands-on lab sessions along with the classroom instruction at the Chemeketa Salem Campus
- Gain journey-level workers at the end of the four-year program
- HVAC/R apprentices test for their LE/B license with the Building Codes Division
- Encourage employees to apply for apprenticeship openings
- Request possible new employees from the pool of applicants
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Employer Expectations
As a Training Agent, you agree to the following -
- Hire applicants from the Pool of Eligibles and help recruit applicants
- Approve hours monthly using the online program WorkHands, and fill out recommendations for advancement twice per year
- Complete an annual wage survey each fall, and follow the scale (Training Agents are allowed to pay higher wages, as the scale is the minimum hourly wage required)
- Train apprentices on required work processes (see the details on this web page)
- Release apprentices from work in time for them to attend related-training classes
- Complete an apprentice release form when an apprentice leaves your employment
- Provide a safe work environment for apprentices and anti-harassment training for all employees who interact with apprentices (guidance is available from Chemeketa Apprenticeship)
- Assist apprentices in getting First-Aid/CPR certification within the first six months of apprenticeship
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Related Training
Related training
Classes begin in the fall term and are offered in sequence (fall, winter, and spring).
Textbooks
Chemeketa Apprenticeship uses NCCER and a variety of textbooks for related training. Some textbooks may be available digitally.
Both digital and printed textbooks may be ordered from the Chemeketa Bookstore website.
Steps to order your textbook on the website:- Select Textbooks
- Order Textbooks
- Department: APR
- Course: Select course by instructor
- View Your Materials
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On-the-job training
Training Agents provide On-the-Job Training (OJT)
- Mid-Valley HVAC/R, MA2026 - 8,000 hours of OJT
- Mid-Valley Sheet Metal, MA1060 - 7,200 hours of OJT
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HVAC/R Training Details
HVAC/R work processes and hours
- Installation & Service of HVAC Systems - 2,000 Hours
- Duct Design & Air Flow - 1,000 Hours
- Basic Refrigeration & Theory - 500 Hours
- Piping, Brazing & Soldering - 500 Hours
- Limited Energy Installations, including: conduit, flex tray & duct, control panels & controls, wiring devices, removal & finish work, stock room & materials, overhead & underground - 1,750 Hours
- Troubleshooting & maintenance - 250 Hours
- Communications systems, including: data tele-communication, intercom, paging; Specialized control systems, including: HVAC, medical, boiler, clock, instrumentation - 2,000 Hours
Ratio requirements
The ratio requirement is one apprentice per journey-level worker. For electrical hours, apprentices must be supervised by someone with an LE/B license or equivalent.
LE/B exam
Apprentices are referred to take the Limited Energy B Class Technicians License exam (LE/B) upon completion of their OJT hours and related training. Apprentices have six months to pass the test or are completed without benefit of license from the program.
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Sheet Metal Training Details
Sheet Metal work processes and hours
- Fabrication & Assembly - 2,150 Hours
- Installation or Erection - 3,150 Hours
- Layout - 900 Hours
- Miscellaneous - 1,000 Hours
Ratio requirements
The ratio requirement is one apprentice per journey-level worker for the first four apprentices, then three journey-level workers for each additional apprentice. This ratio is by job site.
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Wage Scale
Wage scale
Wages are surveyed every fall, which helps set the wage for the next year. Changes are voted on in October and begin February 1 of each year.
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Fees
Fees
Training agents agree to train apprentices and pay a monthly fee to Chemeketa Apprenticeship. Training agents are billed quarterly by Chemeketa Business Services. See the fee schedule on the application for details.