MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Milwaukee Area Technical College and the Department of Workforce Development announced the creation of the state's first Commercial Building Inspector Registered Apprenticeship program.

The news came in a Friday, May 1 press release.

The one-year program, launching in fall 2026, will combine 288 hours of instruction with more than 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. Coursework will be delivered virtually and will cover electrical, plumbing, HVAC, construction and commercial building codes, preparing apprentices for both residential and commercial inspection licenses.

The program is said to be designed to address a shortage of qualified inspectors as experienced workers retire.

About 14,800 building inspector positions were projected to open annually on average from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as cited in the press release.

DSPS plans to announce apprentice recruitment in June.