Following more than two years of effort, the New York State Apprenticeship Council approved the New York Burglar & Fire Alarm Association’s (NYBFAA) application for a unilateral apprenticeship and training program. The application was approved for the occupation of protective signal installer (fire/life safety and electronic security installer).

“It took 28 months from application to approval, but the ESA apprenticeship program was finally accepted,” said Ron Petrarca, former chair of ESA’s Apprenticeship Committee. “During our lengthy application process, we watched and applauded the ESA chartered chapters Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada as they obtained their registered apprenticeship programs. Their success also reinforced our conviction that this was an important effort for the future of our industry and gave us the incentive to continue with the job of securing a registered program in the state of New York.”

The approval of the apprenticeship program will provide New Yorkers working in the electronic security industry an opportunity to submit bids on construction work in New York. A series of local ordinances requires companies to have an apprenticeship program, whether prevailing wage or not. Because of the ordinances, large security and fire alarm jobs were previously beyond the industry's reach.