RTMA Apprentice Program

Our Apprentice Program Insures Renewal
“Standards of Apprenticeship” for the Rockford Chapter Apprenticeship Program were first certified by the U.S. Department of Labor in July, 1960. Hundreds of men and women have been started toward productive careers in Tool and Die Making and Precision Machining through participation in these programs.
The programs have recently been updated to incorporate the latest in appropriate technology. More class time is now spent on the “High Tech” aspects of our industry. This includes the areas of Metrology, Computer Numerical Control, AutoCAD, Geometric Tolerancing and Contemporary Manufacturing Processes.

Fall Apprentice Program
The RTMA Apprenticeship Program prepares Journeymen in the areas of Tool & Die Making, Precision Machinists and CNC Machine Operation. One method of finding an apprentice is to look in your own shop. If you have an employee with a good work ethic and they would like to work at a more challenging job, you may have a good prospect.
Another method is to look at our list of individuals that take the NTMA test in May and June. We ask permission of the participants that are looking for work as an apprentice, to send their names to our list of shops that may be looking for apprentices in the above areas. We recommend that you call in individuals from this list for interviews. Each person on this list will have the results of the NTMA tests. They will expect that you will request to see the results of this test.
If you would like to know more about the requirements of the Apprenticeship Program, contact Ken Barton at the numbers below.

NTMA Apprenticeship Tests
Apprenticeship classes begin the last week in August. The NTMA test is given in May and June. Call or fax reservations beginning in April. A fee of $30.00 per person will be collected at the door, or you can mail your check, made payable to RTMA, to: RTMA, P.O. Box 5029, Rockford, IL 61125-0029. Call Ken Barton for exact testing dates and location.
(Hand-held calculators are highly recommended to be used during the test.)
All prospective apprentices must also take the Rock Valley College Assessment Test. Call RVC at (815) 921-2380 for an appointment. This should be taken sometime during March or April. You may begin counting on-the-job hours anytime after the apprentice has completed the NTMA Test and RVC Assessment Test. The prospective apprentice is exempted from the Assessment Test if they have an ACT score of 19 or higher. Each first-time apprentice must also attend an Orientation session in August, before they can begin classes.
Ken Barton, RTMA Apprentice Administrator
Rockford Tooling and Machining Association
Rockford, IL 61125-0029 (815) 227-4125 / Fax (815) 227-4174
kenbart@aol.com

RTMA - P.O. Box 5029 - Rockford, Illinois 61125-0029