Security Sales & Integration October 2022 - 10

INDUSTRY PULSE
IN DEPTH
SILVER SPRING, Md.
- The Security Industry
Association (SIA) announces it is developing
a new apprenticeship program
to help address the security industry's
workforce challenges, diversify the talent
pipeline and foster career development
opportunities within the industry.
The initiative will launch in June 2023
as a one-year pilot program, for which
SIA will develop the curriculum, and
connect job seekers with security systems
integrators for paid apprenticeships featuring
on-the-job training, learning and
preparation for careers in the industry.
" SIA is thrilled to announce its apprenticeship
initiative, with a goal of building
a program model that can be scaled and
used by all integrators in the security industry, "
says SIA CEO Don Erickson.
" This new program, which complements
existing diversity, equity and inclusion
(DE&I) and workforce development SIA
initiatives, will help address the industry's
workforce challenges, equip job seekers
with the essential training and skills needed
to be hired with systems integrator
companies and grow the next-generation
security workforce. "
SIA says its program will focus on physical
security systems installation, device
networking and configuration, cybersecurity
and project management and target
security system installation technicians.
The curriculum is said to follow a competency-based
apprenticeship model and
require a minimum of 2,000 hours of onthe-job
learning and 100+ hours of related
technical instruction. Participants will
be paid on a progressive scale based on
the current industry average hourly rate,
with opportunities for increases throughout
the yearlong apprenticeship.
The pilot program will receive funding
from the American Institutes for Research
(AIR), as well as a group of major tech10
NEWS
ANALYSIS RESEARCH PEOPLE
SIA Unveils Apprenticeship
Program to Launch in 2023
Along with launching this apprenticeship program, the Security Industry
Association is joining the CompTIA Apprenticeships for Tech network, a DOL
standards-based registered apprenticeship program.
nology companies, including Meta, who
leverage third-party security systems integrators.
SIA will administer the program
and provide related technical training and
coursework. The initial employer partners
participating in the pilot program will be
security systems integrators working with
the mega-tech partners.
SIA notes the apprenticeship initiative
aims to promote growth in DE&I in the
industry and offer career pathways for
populations that are underserved and
underrepresented in security or may be
unfamiliar with career opportunities in
the industry.
" The timing is appropriate for the industry
to support an effort to recruit and
train new technicians into the security
industry - as our business has continued
to grow and evolve, we are seeing
significant gaps in mature technicians retiring
out and new technicians entering
our space. Programs like the SIA apprenticeship
program are being developed to
support closing this gap and providing a
space that focuses on recruitment, certified
training and industry support, " says
Meta Head of Global Technical PartnerSecurity
Sales & Integration OCTOBER 2022
ship Engagement Bobby Louissaint.
He continues, " With DE&I being a
core value in this program, SIA is looking
to offer training to young people right
out of high school or junior college levels.
It's an effort that will significantly impact
our industry and provide much-needed
jobs to capable young people who may
not be pursuing a college education while
also providing our industry a training
mechanism that supports new fresh talent
and DE&I. This program will take a
family approach to deliver, so all of us as
industry leaders need to play our part. "
Recruitment for apprenticeship participants
will be geared toward students and
recent graduates with trade/vocational
schools and community colleges, security
industry support staff interested in technology
and individuals in low-income
and underserved areas who may not have
access to traditional education.
SIA's program will be registered with
the U.S. Department of Labor's Office
of Apprenticeship, and more information
will be provided during National
Apprenticeship Week, taking place
Nov. 14-20, 2022.
securitysales.com
AUREMAR/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
http://www.securitysales.com
Security Sales & Integration October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Security Sales & Integration October 2022
