Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) Credit

Oakton and The Technology Manufacturing Association (TMA) have created a partnership to encourage students and workers to obtain further training, credentials and apprenticeship. The partnership adds TMA Advanced Automation, a fourth pathway to college credentials in the manufacturing programs at Oakton for TMA students, and sets clear guidelines on how students can move credits between the two institutions, creating new training opportunities for TMA students and local employers. Both Oakton and TMA are committed to offering students job-seeking assistance after they complete their credentials.

  • Per this agreement Oakton will award credit up to 18 hours of college credit to students who have completed up to 5 specified courses taught at TMA. In turn, TMA will accept select Oakton courses as equivalent to their first year in four apprenticeship programs.
  • Apprenticeship pathways include: Tool and Die Maker, Mold Maker, CNC Programmer & Advanced Automation.
  • Students enrolled in CNC Programmer pathway will have an option to complete the second year of the apprenticeship at either TMA or Oakton.
  • As a member of the Northern Illinois Workforce Coalition (NIWC), all Oakton students pursuing an apprenticeship will receive in-district tuition rates, with their employer paying tuition.

  1. Complete the Oakton online application. Applicants who have completed TMA training will need to submit a TMA transcript (PDF) (23 KB). Students who were previously enrolled in Dual Credit OR Continuing Education Courses at Oakton, who may have previously earned credit that applies to this program, will need to be re-admitted as a credit student.

  2. Choose one of the following Computer Integrated Manufacturing programs:

    Manufacturing
    Mechatronics
    Supply Chain Automation
     

  3. Complete the Prior Learning Assessment for Professional Training form (PDF) (198 KB). Submit the form to Oakton's Registrar’s Office at registrarservices@oakton.edu.

    Students may earn a total of 18 credits via Prior Learning Assessment by completing the TMA courses below.

    TMA Course Oakton Course Oakton Credit Hours
    Introduction to CAD & Industrial Print  MFG 102 Industrial Drafting & Design 3
    Machine Shop Theory MFG 110 Introduction to Machining 3
    Introductory CNC Training Program
    (96 hours - Level 1)    		 MFG 141 CNC Machine Operation - NIMS 4
    Advanced G-Code Programming
    (96 hours - Level 2)    		 MFG 145 Advanced CNC Programming 4
    Basic CNC Programming
    (168 hours/2 semesters)
    (Year 2 of CNC apprenticeship pathway at TMA)    		 MFG 141 CNC Machine Operation - NIMS
    AND
    MFG 144 Introduction to CNC Programming    		 8

     *A minimum of half the credits required for a certificate of less than 30 hours must be earned at Oakton; a minimum of 15 credits required for a certificate of 30 hours or more and for an AAS degree must be earned at Oakton.

  4. Request for your TMA transcript to be sent to the Oakton's Registrar’s Office at registrarservices@oakton.edu.

  5. Oakton will review your TMA transcript and notify you when the credit is posted on your official Oakton transcript. Credit will be awarded for courses passed with a final grade of 70% or higher after the application and admissions process is complete.
  6. Once admitted, follow the next steps required in the MyOakton portal prior to registration. All certificate program students are required to complete online orientation.

For assistance completing the application process, please contact Enrollment Operations at esoperations@oakton.edu.

For technical assistance, please contact the IT Help Desk at helpdesk@oakton.edu or 847.635.1965.

Apprenticeship Pathways:

  • Tool and Die Maker
  • Mold Maker
  • CNC Programmer
  • Advanced Automation

Year one apprenticeship classes at TMA and Oakton are:

TMA Course Oakton Course Equivalent Oakton Credit Hours
Introduction to CAD & Industrial Print Reading MFG 102 Industrial Drafting & Design 3
Machine Shop Theory MFG 110 Introduction to Machining* 3
TMA Industrial Math II MAT 114 Applied Mathematics I** One-way transfer: Oakton courses accepted by TMA**
TMA Industrial Math III MAT 116 Applied Mathematics II OR ENG 120 Engineering Graphics**

Notes:

  1. For the *TMA Advanced Automation certificate and apprenticeship pathway, students complete MFG 112 Introduction to Automation (instead of MFG 110), which is only offered at Oakton. 
  2. TMA will accept **Oakton’s Math 114, Math 116 and ENG 120 courses to meet their requirements, but Oakton would require students to complete the Math course/s required for a certificate or a degree at Oakton.
  3. Apprenticeship students are not required to have any prior college credits

 

  • Per the Northern Illinois Workforce Coalition (NIWC) Apprenticeship Tuition Agreement, all apprenticeship students taking courses at Oakton will receive in-district tuition, regardless of their home address. Students will need to notify TMA of their participation in apprenticeship courses in order to 
  • In-district tuition rates for apprenticeship students can be applied to ANY Oakton course taken in addition to those required for the apprenticeship pathways offered by TMA.
  • Apprenticeship students will need to authorize their employer as a third-party MyOakton.

    • To authorize a third party:
      1. Login to myOakton.
      2. Within Quick Links, select Bill and Payment - EZ Pay
      3. Select Authorized Users
      4. Create an account.
  • Authorized third parties do not have access to restricted academic information such as the student’s personal information, class schedule, grades or additional financial aid information.
For assistance with third-party authorization, please contact the cashier at cashier@oakton.edu or 847.635.1639

TMA Work-Based Learning Navigator
apprenticeships@oakton.edu

Jack Krikorian
Senior Director of Training & Education
jkrikorian@tmaillinois.org

TMA Mainline
847.849.5334