The apprenticeship program model is a hands-on, earn-and-learn strategy that combines classroom instruction with paid on-the-job training (OJT). Apprenticeship programs benefit individuals, employers, and communities. They are industry-driven quality career pathways that allow individuals to gain practical skills while earning a wage, preparing them for long-term career success, help employers develop and prepare their future workforce, and serve as an equity strategy for increasing economic mobility within communities.
Registered Apprenticeship Program
A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is industry-vetted and approved and validated by the US Department of Labor or the California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Current California RAP guidelines require 144 hours of classroom-based learning and 2000 hours of on-the-job training. Essential elements of quality RAPs include:
- Being industry-led and vetted
- Progressive wages that increase as apprentice skills increase
- Structured OJT and mentorship
- Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI)
- Diversity that reflects the community in which they operate
- Quality and safety
- Industry-recognized credentials
RAPs exist across different sectors – from traditional apprenticeship programs in the building, construction, and fire trades to non-traditional, new and innovative sectors like advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, education, and more.
More Resources
Learn more about apprenticeship in the resources below.
- Fundamentals of Apprenticeship: provides additional information on definitions, components, key stakeholders, benefits, common misconceptions, and resources related to apprenticeship programs.
- Apprenticeship Acronyms and Abbreviations: provides definitions for common abbreviations and acronyms used in the California apprenticeship ecosystem.
- Grow Apprenticeship California Resource Compendium: provides an condensed summary of key Grow Apprenticeship California resources to support the development of apprenticeship programs.
- K-12 Apprenticeship Factsheets: provides information about apprenticeship benefits and myth busting for K-12 educators, parents, and students
- Pathway to Apprenticeship One-Pagers: provide the basic roadmap for developing an apprenticeship program from the perspective of employers, education providers, and intermediaries.
- Fund Management Compendium: a valuable resource for community-based organizations and workforce development boards focused on braiding funds and enhancing program sustainability.
