Apprenticeship Training

Programs that provide a combination of paid, structured on-the-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a designated trade, craft or occupation under the supervision of a skilled craft worker. Apprenticeship programs vary in length from 3-5 years depending on the trade; may be operated by public and private sector employers, employer associations or joint labor/management sponsors; and may be formally registered with the U.S. Department of Labor (which maintains national standards for apprenticeship programs) and State Apprenticeship Councils which operate in 27 states, or less formal, unregistered programs. Individuals who complete their apprenticeship terms in a registered program become fully-qualified journey-level workers with portable credentials that are recognized nationally, often internationally.