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Apprenticeship Primer

How apprenticeships work
Registered apprenticeship programs start with the formation of an apprenticeship committee made up of industry members—both business owners and workers. Committees develop program guidelines that include:

• Criteria for becoming an apprentice.
• Skill and proficiency requirements to reach journeyworker level.
• Number of apprenticeship openings.
• Wage rates and progressions based upon demonstrated competencies.
• Required course curriculum to complement on-the-job training.
• Supervision methods.
• Equal opportunity procedures.

Apprenticeship models
Companies can offer registered apprenticeships either as a training agent or as a sponsor.

Training Agent—As a training agent, you partner with an existing registered apprenticeship program that is already training apprentices for your trade or occupation. The apprentice will work for you, but the training will be provided by the existing apprenticeship program. This saves you the time and expense of creating a program to train your own apprentices, and provides you the flexibility of getting started almost immediately.

Sponsor—You create an apprenticeship program that is registered with and approved by the state.

Apprenticeship basics
Registered apprenticeships are made up of the following components:

Structured and supervised training

• Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training under the direction of experienced journeyworkers.
• Related instruction (minimum of 144 hours each year) is provided by Washington community and technical colleges.
• Apprenticeships last from one to six years.

Laws and regulations

• Registered apprenticeships are governed by federal and state laws.
• Parties enter into a written agreement called an apprenticeship registration that specifies length of training, related school requirements, an outline of the skills of the trade to be learned and wages the apprentice will receive.
• Apprentices earn wages during the term of their apprenticeship.
• Wages are a portion of the skilled wage rate and increase throughout the training program in accordance with a predetermined wage scale.

Credentials

• Successful completion of a registered apprenticeship program leads to a nationally recognized certificate of completion and official journeyworker status.

Responsibilities

• Apprentices manage their time, keep work records, attend classes and progress in their apprenticeship program. Apprentices may also be required to pay for tuition or books.
• Employers pay wages, oversee on-the-job training, monitor attendance at training classes and evaluate progress.