Local machinist completes Tool and Die Maker Apprenticeship at Northeast Iowa Community College

Friday, February 28, 2020

The Metal Working Apprenticeship program at NICC comprises three advanced manufacturing occupations: Tool and Die Maker, CNC Set-Up Programmer-Milling and Turning, and Mold Maker.

Cody Bergfeld, of Peosta, received his US Department of Labor completion certificate on Feb. 25, signifying his completion of the Northeast Iowa Community College Tool and Die Maker Apprenticeship.

Since September 2015, Uelner Precision Tools & Dies of Dubuque has served as Bergfeld’s employer sponsor.

Bergfeld shared the most valuable parts of his apprenticeship program at the certificate ceremony.

“It takes a certain kind of person to complete this training, someone who wants to build their skills. Working on an angle plate that is used in grinding and taking the SolidWorks software courses in Dubuque were my favorite parts of the program,” he said. Bergfeld has now qualified for a promotion to tool and die maker at Uelner.

Uelner owners Tom and Jayne Uelner attended the certificate ceremony to celebrate Bergfeld’s accomplishment at NICC. Computer Numerical Control (CNC) instructor Jim Abitz, and Ed and Karen Bergfeld, Cody’s parents, also attended. Ed Bergfeld, Jr. is a 1983 graduate of the NICC Machinist program at the Peosta campus.

In fall 2015, the College launched the Metal Working Apprenticeship program and introduced a nationally-recognized, competency-based model designed for students at all levels of ability. The focus in the machining, metal working and computer numerical control (CNC) professions is shifting to this new customized approach and away from the historically more passive apprenticeship model that depends upon a standard number of training hours upon completion.

The NICC competency-based apprenticeship allows you as a student of any age to apply previous experience, start on a machining project in your comfort zone and work on individual projects under the direction of faculty and an employer sponsor.

The Metal Working Apprenticeship program at NICC comprises three advanced manufacturing occupations: Tool and Die Maker, CNC Set-Up Programmer-Milling and Turning, and Mold Maker. These Standards of Apprenticeship were developed in accordance with the basic standards recommended by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship.

For more information, visit www.nicc.edu/apprenticeship.