Craft Instructor Curriculum Support through Corporate Sponsorship

A corporate-sponsored initiative to equip high school and junior college craft instructors with cutting-edge curriculum resources, professional development, and hands-on equipment training.

Key Components:

Components of the NCCER Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

The NCCER Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a required signed agreement between an Accredited Training Sponsor (ATS) and its affiliated Training Units (TUs). It establishes the formal relationship, ensures compliance with NCCER standards, and outlines shared responsibilities. While NCCER does not mandate a specific template, the ATS Guidelines (2022 Edition) specify key components that must be included. Below is a list of the main components, based on NCCER’s official guidelines, along with brief descriptions of their purpose and typical content.

1. Purpose and Scope Defines the agreement’s intent to allow the TU to deliver NCCER training under the ATS’s accreditation. Includes the roles of both parties, the types of training programs authorized, and alignment with NCCER’s competency-based curricula.
2. Parties Involved and Contact Information Identifies the ATS and TU, including names, addresses, and authorized representatives (e.g., Sponsor Representative for ATS and TU Representative for the unit). Ensures clear points of contact for oversight and communication.
3. Compliance and Standards Commits both parties to adhere to NCCER’s accreditation guidelines, policies, and procedures, including curriculum delivery, testing integrity, recordkeeping, and security of materials. Prohibits unauthorized alterations or translations of NCCER content.
4. Oversight and Auditing Requirements Outlines the ATS’s responsibility to conduct audits of the TU (initial and every three years) to verify compliance. Includes procedures for evaluations of instructors, proctors, and performance evaluators, ensuring they occur at least every three years.
5. Record-Sharing and Documentation Specifies protocols for sharing records (e.g., trainee forms, performance profiles, evaluations) between ATS and TU. Requires maintenance of documentation for at least three years, accessible for NCCER audits.
6. Training Delivery and Credentialing Details how training will be conducted at the TU, including use of NCCER’s Registry System for submissions, module tests, and credential issuance. Covers retest policies, accommodations for special needs, and prohibitions on cheating or unauthorized aids.
7. Facilities, Equipment, and Personnel Requires the TU to meet standards for commercial facilities, equipment, and certified personnel (e.g., instructors must have ICTP certification and field experience). Includes assignment of roles like TU Representative.
8. Special Considerations (e.g., International or Closure) For international TUs, mandates a Master Trainer as TU Representative and potential site visits. Addresses procedures for TU closure, changes, or transfers, including return of documentation to the ATS.
9. Ethical and Legal Commitments Includes agreements on non-discrimination (e.g., ADA, EEO compliance), confidentiality, avoidance of conflicts of interest, and internal policies (e.g., drug prohibition, grievances process).
10. Term, Termination, and Signatures Specifies the agreement’s duration, conditions for termination (e.g., non-compliance), and required signatures from authorized representatives of both parties.

This MOU ensures program integrity and is a prerequisite for TU registration with NCCER. Many sponsors use a standardized template provided by NCCER or adapt it based on guidelines. For a sample MOU, refer to NCCER’s support site or the ATS Guidelines document.