NTMA Apprenticeship Program

Competitive Engineering is a member of the Southern Arizona National Tooling and Manufacturing Association (NTMA). Together with other affiliated companies, we have established a machinist apprenticeship program, based upon NTMA guidelines, that combines extensive academic instruction with supervised on-the-job training to be completed over a 4-year period. A total of 8000 hours are required in all aspects of the manufacturing process.

Upon completion the apprentice will be classified as a journeyman machinist. To qualify for the apprenticeship program, applicants must have worked at Competitive for one year or must receive an approved waiver from the President of CEI.

Application Process

1. Applications must be made to the Apprenticeship Committee. The application shall consist of a typewritten page explaining why the employee should be chosen.
2. The applicant(s) will be scheduled to take the NTMA Test Battery. The Battery includes tests on Comprehension, Personnel, Aptitude, and Shop Math.
3. Upon receipt of test results, the committee will select the applicant(s) based upon the following criteria:
• Attitude
• Attendance
• Quality of Work
• Productivity
• Willingness and Ability To Learn
• Commitment To Competitive
• Seniority
• NTMA Test Results
  
  
4. The Apprenticeship Program Manager will compile scores and rank applicants, with final approval by the President of CEI.

Once accepted in the apprenticeship program, the Apprenticeship Program Manager will be the primary point of contact for coordination and management of all apprentice activity. These duties include but are not limited to:

• Crediting apprentice hours from previous experience
• Crediting apprentice hours from college courses
• Coordinating and scheduling apprentice academic activities
• Scheduling apprenticeship meetings
• Periodically validating and updating apprentice hours