Employer Services

Missouri State University-West Plains is approved as a sponsor for the following United States Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeships:

  • Industrial Maintenance Mechanic - Program Cost $3,480
  • Welder (Combination) - Program Cost $13,020
  • Production Supervisor (Operations Management) - Program Cost $4,040

Each of these registered apprenticeship programs provide the training related instruction (RTI) required by the Department of Labor.  On the job training is provided by the employer and arranged as needed by the participating company. 

What is an Apprenticeship?

Agreement between multiple parties:

  • Sponsor: MSU-WP Office of Workforce Development
  • Funding Source: USDOL or Missouri Workforce Development
  • Employer (Employer of Apprentices)
  • Apprentices (Incumbent employees enrolled in programs for training purposes)

Purpose of any apprenticeship:

  • Train incoming employees in the essential skills to perform jobs
  • Upskill incumbent workers to meet changing job requirements and be effective in their jobs or grow into new jobs (This is the nature of our current apprenticeship programs)

What is involved?

  • Academic training referred in this document as Required Training Instruction (RTI)
  • Identified competencies achieved in academic laboratories or by on-the-job and proven in workplace 

We work closely with local employers to develop courses relative to the local job market and we utilize current technology and processes in our classes.

Our technical advancement classes include specialty classes such as:

  • Applied Electricity & Electronics
  • Programmable Logic Controllers and Sensors
  • Mechanical Systems and Fluid Power
  • Print reading and Basic CAD
  • Welding

We work closely with local employers to develop courses relative to the local job market and we utilize current technology and processes in our classes.

For more information regarding the training related instruction or how to participate in a registered apprenticeship for your organization, please contact Garland Barton, with the Office of Workforce Development at 417-255-7785.