BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC submitted comments this week to the US Department of Labor concerning their proposal to establish a process for recognizing standards recognition entities, which in turn would recognize industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.  

IPC welcomes the administration’s focus on workforce development. IPC is investing in education and training programs, with a goal of creating one million new skilled workforce opportunities over the next five years. The association plans to introduce new earn-and-learn programs.

IPC agrees the private sector is best suited to identify the occupational skills workers need to succeed. However, the qualifications for SREs are not sufficiently defined to ensure the most appropriate entities will be given that role. IPC recommends the standards-setting entities be limited to well-established, industry-recognized associations or non-profits.

IPC also calls for apprenticeship programs that require learners to acquire portable, competency-based, industry-recognized credentials, not just certificates of completion.

The DOL proposes to recognize standards-setting entities only in sectors that lack significant registered apprenticeship opportunities today. IPC is concerned about the exclusion of any industries from the program, which could result in uneven incentives and results.

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