Keystone Central Career & Technology Center announces first Registered Apprenticeship graduates

BALDL EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – Keystone Central Career and Technology Center, in partnership with Norcen and PMF Industries, on Thursday announced the first graduates of the KCSD CTC Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Registered Apprentice Program. They are Charles Karichner with Norcen and Christian Yoder with PMF Industries.

The consortium of local manufacturers, school districts, and career and technology centers collaborated with Advanced Central Pa. to develop a CNC Machinist Apprentice/Pre-Apprentice pathway. Developing opportunities built around apprenticeships provides valuable training for employees of local industry. The CNC Registered Apprentice program is a three-year program with related technical instruction taught at the local Career and Technical Schools. Keystone Central is an approved provider with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry with a Registered Apprenticeship in CNC programming.

In 2019, prior to receiving the PA Smart grant, Keystone Central Career and Technology Center (Keystone Central CTC) applied for and received a CNC Registered Apprenticeship. During the grant application process, six CTE schools created a consortium (CPAC-Central Pennsylvania Apprenticeship Consortium) to develop a CNC Machinist Pre-Apprenticeship.

Kurt Lynch, Director of Keystone Central CTC, points out the importance of linking the pre-apprenticeship to the registered apprenticeship so that a streamlined and sustainable pathway for students and businesses is created.
The successful regional collaboration of education, business and workforce development stakeholders has resulted in two positive outcomes for individuals, labor and industry and the community: 1) It created a pipeline to address the anticipated workforce shortage, and 2) It provides high school students a defined pathway to a sustainable career.

Lynch expects the practice to continue whether it be through additional funding or through CTE and business partnerships. Keystone Central CTC and partners plan to increase the business partnerships for this apprenticeship.

Because of the collaborative work among education partners, local businesses and Advance Central Pa., students now have a direct link to employment and further educational opportunities through the CNC pre-apprenticeship. There is a developing pipeline of skilled workers to help address the challenges associated with the aging workforce.