OSE Apprenticeship FAQ

Can I visit with you before applying?

Answer: We are not taking visitors right now as we are preparing for the apprenticeship. The date of the 'on site interview' is June 7, at which time applicants visit our facility and meet other applicants to the program.

Regarding visiting sooner - that is a good point and worth considering. However, the reality is that we are in a way starting from scratch, and there is in all honesty not much to see. We have built dozens of machines and prototypes - but those were exactly that - prototypes - and most have been decommissioned, deconstructed, modified, or recycled - with many ending up in our 'machine graveyard.'  With all these learnings, students in the Apprenticeship will actually be benefiting from the know-how gained to engage in full productization, based on design guides that capture our learnings. This will be taught in the design (Architectures of Civilization) aspect of the program - but we will be basically starting from scratch to build things that are no longer prototypes - but products that we will be using in actual construction and other activities. We plan to productize the tractor, backhoe, trencher, auger, bulldozer, CEB presss, and other construction machinery including 3D printer and shredder first.

A lot of the former experimental area is fenced off, as the facility space will consist only of the workshop, Rapid Learning Facility (the new production/education workshop), and Alpha - an experimental prototyping area for various infrastructure builds in the area of construction. Part of the Apprenticeship involves experimenting with all aspects of infrastructure - and students will be involved in building some additions to the campus. As our students gain skill and responsibility, they may actually be invited to build a microhouse village - and move in - for on-site accommodations and more direct dogfooding of the things we build.

To sum up - we would like your first visit with us to take form of the Video of Interest which is the first step of the application process.

What criteria are you looking for in apprenticeship applicants?

Please take a look at our OSE Apprenticeship Candidate Criteria.

What if I am 20 years too old to participate but I want to be involved?

It takes a global village to build a village to reinvent the world, and you can mentor or sponsor a candidate from your own community. It is ultimately up to the Apprentices as far as what they do after graduation - and one option is to replicate an OSE teaching-production campus in their own community. In which case - you will have the benefit of the apprentice doing good work in your community. Read more about what is in it for you at Bring an OSE Apprentice to Your Community.