Want help completing the AOT endorsement review?
The suggested responses below are provided as optional starting points. You may copy, paste, modify, expand, or replace the language to reflect your professional or organizational experience. Your submitted responses should reflect your own judgment regarding the proposed occupation.

Agroecology Operations Technician (AOT)

How to use this guide

These responses are suggested boilerplate language only. Copy, paste, modify, or replace them so the final response accurately reflects your own professional or organizational judgment. Do not use language that does not reflect your actual experience or determination.

Endorsement form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/KDDZEQz4b8

Question 10 - Briefly explain your apprenticeability determination

Based on our experience in [industry/sector], we support recognition of the Agroecology Operations Technician as an apprenticeable occupation. The underlying duties are commonly performed in agricultural businesses and require progressively developed practical, manual, mechanical, and technical skills best learned through structured, supervised on-the-job learning supported by related instruction. We believe the proposed 2,000-hour work process framework and 144 hours of related instruction provide an appropriate foundation for entry-level competence while allowing employers to provide commodity-, equipment-, facility-, and site-specific training.

Question 12 - Comments on the Work Process Schedule / Competencies

The proposed work processes reflect the interconnected nature of agricultural operations by combining raw materials production and land and watershed stewardship with processing, product quality, safety, business operations, and market-facing skills. The framework provides a common occupational foundation while allowing employers to adapt training to their commodities, equipment, facilities, production systems, and markets.

Question 14 - Comments on the Related Instruction Outline

The related instruction appropriately supports supervised on-the-job learning by providing technical knowledge in raw materials production and land and watershed stewardship, processing, workplace and food safety, product quality, resource management, business practices, and market-facing operations. It also allows employers and training providers to incorporate commodity-specific, regional, regulatory, and operational content.

Question 16 - If additional training is needed

If nothing material is lacking, this field may be left blank. If you wish to explain site-specific training: The proposed framework provides the core competencies needed for entry-level competence. Employers will still provide appropriate training related to their commodities, equipment, facilities, workplace hazards, production protocols, regulatory requirements, quality standards, and operating conditions. These elements complement rather than indicate a deficiency in the occupational framework.

Question 18 - Explanation of Supervision Ratio

If you selected 1:1: A 1:1 ratio of one qualified journeyworker, experienced employee, or designated mentor to one apprentice provides appropriate supervision for work involving equipment, vehicles, tools, animals, processing systems, agricultural inputs, food-safety requirements, and changing field or facility conditions. Individual mentorship supports demonstration, observation, feedback, safety oversight, and timely skill progression over one full growing season and calendar year.