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California Apprenticeship Initiative

The California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) is a grant opportunity offered by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office) to support the planning, implementation, and expansion of new and innovative pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs to create seamless pathways between education, training, and employment.

Foundation for California Community Colleges provides technical assistance to CAI grantees to increase individual and organizational capacity, student enrollment and completion, employer engagement, and a shared community of practice for all interested in the planning, implementation, and expansion of apprenticeship programming.

Program Support Contacts

California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
Apprenticeship Team
apprenticeship@cccco.edu

Foundation for California Community Colleges
CAI Technical Assistance Providers
apprenticeshipsupportnetwork@foundationccc.org

Sectors

Advanced Manufacturing
Global Trade AND Logistics
Advanced Transportation
Health
Agriculture, Water, and Environmental Technologies
Information and Communication Technologies/Digital Media
early care and childhood education
Life Sciences/Biotech
Energy, Construction, and Utilities
Retail/Hospitality/Tourism

Resources

Apprenticeship Funding Landscape Guidance Document
Navigating the landscape of funding sources for apprenticeship programs can be complex. While
funding is available, few sources are apprenticeship-specific and offer guaranteed, recurring
funding cycles. This document provides an overview of prominent funding sources and how they
can support various components of apprenticeship program development and implementation.

Apprenticeship Intermediary Guidance
This document is a practical guide for Local Education Agencies and stakeholders to understand, evaluate, and effectively partner with intermediaries in the development and operation of Registered Apprenticeship Programs in California.

Apprenticeship Partners Guidance Document
The development and expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) requires
coordination among partners across the apprenticeship ecosystem. This guidance document
identifies regional apprenticeship stakeholders and stakeholders within Local Educational
Agencies (LEAs), describes their role in the development, implementation, sustainability, and
expansion of apprenticeship pathways and outlines best practices for engaging new and existing
partners.

Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project Toolkit
This toolkit offers practical resources for California Community Colleges as they seek to build for-credit apprenticeship pathways through for-credit classroom instruction, On-the-Job Training, or Credit for Prior Learning.

Apprenticeship Statewide Supports
This document is a practical guide for Local Education Agencies and stakeholders to understand the support The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office), Foundation for California, Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) and the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network (LAUNCH) provide to expand and sustain apprenticeship opportunities statewide.

Apprenticeship Student Funding Resources Guidance Document
This guidance document is intended for counselors, advisors, and frontline staff at California community colleges and K-12 institutions who support students entering apprenticeship pathways. It outlines key considerations and strategies to help those working directly with students to provide clear, accurate information when exploring apprenticeship as a next step in their education and career journey.

CAI Apprenticeship Frequently Asked Questions
This document outlines common questions and responses related to the California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI), Related and Supplemental Instruction (RSI), and other general apprenticeship information received by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office) and the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) apprenticeship teams.

CAI Grantee Success Toolkit
This toolkit is intended to support California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) grantees in the
successful implementation and management of CAI-funded projects. The resources included
provide guidance related to grant administration, fiscal responsibility and reporting, compliance
requirements, partnership development, and strategies for implementing and expanding
apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

California Competes Tax Credit Guidance Document
The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an employer-based incentive that, while not a direct funding stream, can indirectly support apprenticeship expansion. This guidance document provides an overview of the CCTC and how employers and workforce partners can leverage it as part of a broader apprenticeship development strategy. Understanding how employer incentives function within the workforce system can help Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), including California community colleges and K-12 institutions, strengthen partnerships and expand apprenticeship opportunities.

Updated Guidance Document: Fiscal Reporting
The Fiscal Reporting Guidance Document has been revised to reflect updated invoice submission expectations for CAI grant recipients.
Recipients of the California Apprenticeship Initiative grant should review the guidance to ensure alignment with current program requirements and procedures.

Year 2 Apprenticeship Best Practices Toolkit
This document is designed for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and stakeholders who support
apprenticeship efforts through the California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) or the Related and
Supplemental Instruction Reimbursement Program (RSI Reimbursement). This toolkit supports
Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) and Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Programs across
California by providing practical tools, guidance, and resources that promote effective program
development, successful implementation, and long-term sustainability.

Apprenticeship Coding Guidance
This document provides guidance for how the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Management Information Systems (MIS) handles course- and student-level data for apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, particularly in relation to coding. It defines the required data element that supports tracking apprentices: the SB23 Student-Apprenticeship-Status element. It also discusses the optional use of cohort or attribute coding for additional local tracking and outlines two main approaches to course coding for apprenticeship programs.

Fiscal Reporting Guidance for California Apprenticeship Initiative
Fiscal reporting in NOVA refers to the process of entering, tracking, and submitting financial data for grants, including CAI grants, through the NOVA online platform, which is managed by the Chancellor’s Office. This document provides step-by-step instructions for fiscal reporting in NOVA, an overview of allowable expenditures, guidance on updating the system with programmatic and budgetary changes, and best practices to keep in mind.

Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI) Reimbursement Program
This guidance document provides an overview of RSI Reimbursement, including funding allocations, reimbursement processes, reporting requirements, and compliance expectations. It is intended to help providers administer RSI effectively while ensuring accountability and sustaining apprenticeship opportunities across California.

Apprenticeship: Earn, Learn, Succeed
This document provides an overview of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs available through California Community Colleges for students interested in this pathway. It explains what apprenticeships are, how they differ from internships, and the benefits they offer (such as paid work experience, classroom instruction, and industry-recognized credentials). It also outlines the various industry sectors and regions where apprenticeship programs are available, describes student support services, and provides guidance on how to get started with an apprenticeship

AB 235 Fact Sheet
This document showcases California’s commitment to expanding apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities, emphasizing quality, flexibility, and access across both traditional and emerging industries.

Annual Apprenticeship Best Practices
This document is designed for California Community Colleges and K-12 Local Educational Agencies that support apprenticeship efforts through the California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) or Related and Supplemental Instruction (RSI) Reimbursement program. It is intended to support the planning, implementation, and expansion of new registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across California.

California Apprenticeship Initiative Fact Sheet
This document highlights the initial $70M startup funding and the foundational goals of the California Apprenticeship Initiative. It remains a key reference for understanding the scope and high-growth industry targets of the original initiative.

Building New Apprenticeship Programs
A Briefing Paper for the California Apprenticeship Initiative Evaluation. This brief is part of SPR’s evaluation of the California Apprenticeship Initiative. The evaluation includes an additional four case studies and a pre-apprenticeship brief, which can be found at: https://caihub.foundationccc.org/Research-and-Reports.

Events

Designing Pre-Apprenticeship Pathways

Watch the Recording

April 21, 2026 | 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Sacramento

A half‑day Learning Lab for CAI grantees and partners focused on designing high‑quality pre‑apprenticeship pathways connected to Registered Apprenticeship.

Employer Training Panel (ETP)

Register Now

April 21, 2026 | 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Sacramento

For colleges planning to submit an ETP application this spring. ETP staff will provide a hands‑on technical assistance session to support application development.

Leveraging ETP for Apprenticeship Sustainability

Watch the Recording

March 17, 2026 | Virtual

Join the Foundation for California Community Colleges, Grow Apprenticeship California, and Employment Training Panel (ETP) for an informative webinar that explains how ETP can be used to support Registered Apprenticeship Programs in California. Participants will receive a preview of ETP’s apprenticeship strategy, learn about how ETP can be leveraged to support apprenticeship program sustainability, and get answers to common questions and misconceptions around access and eligibility.

Infrastructure Increases Impact

Registration Coming Soon

June 25-26, 2026 | 9:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Sacramento

A two‑day convening focused on building the infrastructure needed to design, implement, and scale Registered Apprenticeship Programs.