1. "What is ETP training?

"ETP" refers to the state's Employment Training Panel, a government agency that provides training for qualified companies. Every year between $70-100 million is derived from a special employer tax to fund this training.

2. "What types of training are available?"

Training is customized to help meet the goals and outcomes defined by the employer. Input from the employer helps to determine courses and topics to be included in the training. Typical courses include Vocation English as a Second Language with Continuous Process Improvement, Frontline Supervision / Lead Skills, Supply Chain Mgt, Computer Skills, Lean Mfg., Project Mgt., Communication Skills, Customer Service, Logistics, Construction / Mfg. Skills, and others.

3. "What constitutes a 'qualified' company?

A company must pay into the California Unemployment Insurance Fund and be issued a California Employee Account Number (CEAN) or a State Tax ID Number. It must be categorized by the NAICS code as one of several "targeted industries". These industries include Manufacturing, Construction, Engineering, Transportation / Logistics, Biotechnology, Software Development, or Publishing. In some special situations a Service industry may be approved.

4. "Who can participate in the training?"

Management of a qualified company will identify those employees designated for training. A "qualified employee" will: have been on the job at least 90 days; work at least 35 hours per week as a regular employee; earn an ETP-specified wage (determined by geographical location) within a given amount of time; attend and complete all class / lab training; and, remain on the job at least 90 days after the completion of training. No temporary or leased employees are eligible.

5. "Is there a cost for the training?"

As long as the company and participants are qualified and the participants meet the attendance / retention requirements, there is normally no charge for the training.

6. "Can we take more than one class at a time?"

The employer may arrange multiple classes of similar or differing subjects. However, individual participants may only take one class at a time, and must usually wait 90 days after training completion before commencing another class.

7. "What is the typical length of a class?"

Class length may vary according to the needs of the company. Most classes range between 48-68 hours, with additional length provided in special situations to 100-200 hours. Typically, an employer may schedule one or two training sessions per week, lasting 3-4 hours per session. Hours may vary according to the needs of the employer.

8. "Where are the classes held?"

90% or more of the classes are held on-site at the employers' location. Participating employees find it advantageous to be able to take the class right at work instead of driving to a campus or off-site location.

9. "When are the classes held?"

Classes are arranged around work and production schedules, according to employer determination. Classes may be offered in the morning, midday, evening or on weekends to allow all shifts to participate.

10. "Who does the training?"

SELACO WIB has its own trainers, in addition to partnering with UC Riverside, UC Irvine, CSU Long Beach, Kirkpatrick Enterprises Intl., and other top-notch training institutions. All trainers work with the employer to insure that the course topics are relevant and consistent with the needs assessment developed by both employer and trainer. Almost any class can be taught in a bilingual format.

11. "We'd like to do some special technical training. Can SELACO WIB help with that?"

SELACO WIB exercises a great deal of flexibility in designing curricula to meet company needs. The best bet would be to contact one of the account representatives to discuss eligibility and training specifics. They will search for available resources to accomplish the desired training outcomes.

12. "How do I contact an account representative?"

Simply call (800) 481-6555; ask for Gina De Haro. There is no charge or obligation.

13. "What if the employer or the employees don't qualify for the ETP-funded training? Can the company still access some of the training resources for their employees?"

Yes. All of the training resources can be accessed on a fee-for-service basis. In some cases an employer may be ETP-qualified, but not all of the employees designated for training are eligible for funding. In those cases many employers opt to pay a nominal fee for those not qualified, thus allowing the groups to train together, maintain group cohesion, and obtain the knowledge desired by the company.

In cases of non-qualifying employers, many choose to simply pay for a class, obtaining the same high quality of training available to ETP-funded companies.