Graduation and Certification Procedures
Summary: Youth apprentices who successfully complete the requirements of the Youth Apprenticeship Program will be issued a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency Level Two, for completion of the standard two-year program or Level One, for completion of the Level One program.
Checklist/Documentation Requirements
The School YA Coordinator should send or deliver the original Checklist to CESA #4. The Regional YA Coordinator at CESA #4 will sign it, email a copy to DWD, keep a copy in our files, and return the original complete with signatures to the School YA Coordinator to maintain in the student’s permanent, cumulative file. A copy should also be given to the student by the School YA Coordinator. Verification of work hours and a copy of the transcript with related instruction highlighted or otherwise marked must accompany the checklist.
Completer Follow Up Survey
Any student completing a Level 1 or Level 2 YA program must complete a Post Program Completion Survey form, which can be found on on the CESA #4 YA website page, or the DWD YA page.Every student completing the YA program this year should have one of these on file, whether they are a Level One or Two completer. (If they are in the first year of a Level Two, then they would wait until the end of next year.) The Post Program Completion Survey must also be signed by the mentor and should accompany the completed checklist when submitted to CESA #4.
Deadline for Submission
Completed checklists for MV Youth Apprenticeship students must be submitted to CESA #4 within 75 days after graduation. CESA #4 will review for completeness, then submit electronically to DWD. DWD will review student competency checklists for achievement of required competencies and hours, and will issue certificates for successful program completions. When students do not meet minimum requirements for certification, the checklist will not be submitted; instead, the student will be terminated using the YA Online System tool.
Early Graduation and Extensions
Students who are eligible for early graduation will receive Youth Apprenticeship certificates if they have completed all program requirements. Students still have 90 days after graduation to complete their YA program.
Procedures for Issuing Certificates
DWD will review student competency checklists for achievement of required competencies and hours. DWD will notify consortium coordinators if students’ checklists do not reflect achievement of competencies or the required hours. Checklists may be resubmitted within 30 days after notification for rescoring and reconsideration for graduation from the program. DWD retains the right to refuse to issue a certificate based on questionable validity of any student checklist.
If this situation occurs, once the Regional Coordinator receives notification from DWD, the Regional Coordinator will contact the applicable School YA Coordinator and determine how to proceed, understanding there is a 30-day timeline to meet DWD requirements.
Technical Incentive Grant Funds
DWD is now handling the Technical Incentive Grants, where a district can apply for funds in the amount of $1,000 (pro-rated if more applicants than total dollars allocated by legislature). A district does not have to submit a copy of the YA Certificate with the application anymore; however, it is best practice make a copy of the certificate and place it in the student’s YA file. CESA #4 does not apply for or provide documentation for this program - the local district must complete it. CESA #4 does not keep copies of the individual student YA Certificates on file at the agency. Forms for applying for Technical Reimbursement Funds for 2017 Graduates are now available on the DPI website.