The Western Burglar and Fire Alarm Association Unilateral Apprenticeship and Training Committee (WBFAA UATC) has enrolled its 1,000th technician. The program recruits, trains and provides education services for technicians in California who are pursuing careers in the alarm industry.
The WBFAA UATC program was formed in response to the state of California adopting regulations that require fire/life-safety technicians to be certified by the state or enrolled in a state-approved apprenticeship program. It is the first statewide, state-approved apprenticeship program in California and the largest training organization in the United States for fire/life-safety technicians.
The member companies of the WBFAA UATC emphasize training under the apprenticeship model. The program codifies the training and practical experience to provide technicians the knowledge to comply with regulations.
New educational and apprentice tracks may be introduced in the future. The program has already been used as the basis for the new National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) apprenticeship program that received approval from the U.S. Department of Labor in September 2006.
