The Security Industry Association (SIA) 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,” said 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’s program will focus on physical security systems installation, device networking and configuration, cybersecurity and project management and target security system installation technicians. SIA’s curriculum will follow a competency-based apprenticeship model and require a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-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 increase opportunities throughout the year-long apprenticeship period.

The pilot program will receive funding from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and major technology companies including Meta. 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.

Recruitment 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.

The announcement of SIA’s apprenticeship program comes during the federal government’s Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint, a national campaign to encourage employers, industry associations, labor unions and training providers to explore registered apprenticeship as a recruitment, training and retention strategy and connect with the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Office of Apprenticeship to develop new apprenticeship programs or quickly join existing programs. SIA’s program will be registered with the DOL Office of Apprenticeship, and more information will be provided during National Apprenticeship Week, taking place Nov. 14-20, 2022.

SIA has also joined the CompTIA Apprenticeships for Tech network, a collaboration between AIR and CompTIA and a DOL standards-based registered apprenticeship program. DOL selected AIR and CompTIA to serve as a national industry intermediary for expansion of apprenticeship in tech occupations.

“AIR and strategic partner CompTIA are partnering to expand apprenticeships for tech job roles through innovative acceleration strategies," said AIR Vice President of Workforce Development Beth Brinly. "We are fueled by a deep passion to help people find a pathway to a meaningful career in tech and to help businesses develop apprenticeship programs that will become a key source of talent to meet their workforce needs. We are delighted to help SIA bring the power of apprenticeship to their members.”

Following the pilot program launch in June 2023, SIA anticipates opening the apprenticeship program for participation to SIA member companies seeking talent in the target job roles.

SIA is seeking skills-based and product-specific training content from its manufacturer members to offer as part of the apprenticeship program. For more information, contact Dr. Elli Voorhees, SIA’s director of learning and development, at evoorhees@securityindustry.org.