How a Registered Apprenticeship Works
- A registered apprentice is an employee from day one, beginning a great career with one to six years of paid on-the-job and classroom training.
- The employer must designate a qualified mentor/supervisor to train the apprentice, and must track the apprentice's progress in both the on-the-job training and the classroom learning portions of the program.
- Once training is complete, the apprentice will receive a nationally-recognized and portable credential from the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship.
- Veterans may use their GI Bill benefits while completing an apprenticeship program.
- Registered apprentices may be eligible to earn college credit hours towards an Associate Degree while completing their apprenticeship.
Components of a Registered Apprenticeship Program
Registered apprenticeships have two main components:
- 1On-the-Job Training (OJT): An apprentice is typically required to complete a minimum of 2000 hours of structured OJT training, although longer programs could include as much as 6000 hours or more of OJT. Apprentices are paid wages while participating in OJT.
- 2Related Technical Instruction (RTI): Apprentices must also be engaged in classroom learning that supports their OJT activities. It is recommended that the apprentice complete at least 144 hours of related technical instruction each year. RTI can be provided at the worksite, by external education providers or through online instructional programs. Typically the employer pays the cost of the RTI, and often also pays wages for the time the apprentice spends in class.
Types of a Registered Apprenticeship Programs
There are three types of Registered apprenticeships:
- Time Based: An apprentice's progress is measured by the number of hours he or she spends in OJT and RTI;
- Competency Based: An apprentice's progress is measured by his or her demonstrated ability to apply the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and critical thinking skills to accomplish relevant job functions;
- Hybrid: In which part of the apprentice's progress may be measured in hours and part may be measured through the demonstration of competency.
