The Campaign for Historic Trades, a national workforce development program of Preservation Maryland, today announced that the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council (MATC) has approved the addition of two new occupations to its registered apprenticeship program: Traditional Roofing Technician and Traditional Mason.
The approval expands The Campaign’s registered apprenticeship program to five occupations, joining the existing Preservation Carpenter, Historic Window Technician, and Deconstruction Technician pathways which were formally approved in November 2023.
The new occupations were developed through months of collaboration between The Campaign, the Maryland Department of Labor, and industry partners, including Durable Slate, Wagner Roofing, Ruff Roofing, and the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center. Together, the partners created occupational standards that reflect the specialized skills and workforce needs of today’s historic trades industry.
“Every historic building depends on skilled craftspeople who understand traditional materials and techniques,” said Natalie Henshaw, director of The Campaign for Historic Trades. “By expanding our registered apprenticeship program to include traditional masonry and roofing, we’re creating more pathways into meaningful careers while helping ensure the knowledge required to preserve our nation’s historic places is passed on to the next generation of tradespeople.”
The expansion creates new opportunities for employers seeking skilled workers while giving apprentices additional career pathways in the growing field of historic preservation. The Campaign plans to begin enrolling employer partners in both trades this fall.
“As demand continues to grow for skilled craftspeople who can preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings, expanding our registered apprenticeship program helps ensure that the next generation of tradespeople has clear, accessible pathways into these rewarding careers,” Henshaw added.
Employers interested in participating in the registered apprenticeship program or hiring apprentices in any of the five approved occupations can learn more at historictrades.org/apprenticeships and historictrades.org/career-information, or by contacting info@historictrades.org.
About The Campaign for Historic Trades
The Campaign for Historic Trades is a national workforce development initiative of Preservation Maryland dedicated to expanding and strengthening careers in the high-demand field of historic trades. In late 2023, the Maryland Department of Labor approved the nation’s first group registered apprenticeship program focused specifically on historic trades. Today, the program includes five registered occupations and partners with employers to develop the skilled workforce needed to preserve America’s historic places.