What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a flexible training strategy that can be customized to meet the needs of any business. Apprentices can be new hires, or businesses can select current employees who need skill upgrades to join the apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeship programs are a key asset for state and local workforce systems’ career pathway strategies. Apprenticeship can be a partner in the educational system and an integral part of career and technical programs in high schools. School or community- sponsored pre-apprenticeship programs can be valuable training approaches and serve as the start of a career pathway, which leads to apprenticeship opportunities for youth or low- skilled adult workers.

Apprenticeship programs pave the way for career-building, and lifelong learning through the attainment of stackable credentials. The foundation of the apprenticeship model is the continual building of skills and the ability for workers to obtain higher levels of employment in an occupation or industry. As a result, use of the apprenticeship model can provide companies with a competitive advantage by establishing a continual pipeline of qualified workers for local employers.