What
is a Modern
Apprenticeship?
A modern apprenticeship is an employee training program that combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction under the supervision of an experienced industry professional. It is a proven strategy for recruiting, training, and retaining employees - perfect for filling your pipeline with highly-skilled, diverse, and productive workers. Businesses of all sizes engage modern apprentices. Over 250 modern apprenticeship programs are currently registered in Kentucky, with over 3,500 apprentices across a broad range of industries. In fact, since the US Department of Labor started keeping track in 2007, more than 16,000 people of all ages (including newly employed and incumbent workers) have served Kentucky’s employers in an apprentice capacity.
Each modern apprenticeship program is custom fit to meet the particular needs of an industry. While on-the-job training occurs in the workplace, classroom settings include secondary or post-secondary institutions, employers’ worksites, union-sponsored institutions, and community colleges. We can help you find these partners.
The majority of modern apprenticeship programs are registered with the US Department of Labor. After completing a Registered Apprenticeship program, graduates receive a nationally recognized industry credential and the employer gains a well-qualified worker with know-how specific to their industry.
What Types of Occupations Can Be Developed into Registered Apprenticeship Programs?
The US Department of Labor has more than 1,000 occupations registered with its Office of Apprenticeship. These occupations are listed in industries like information technology, automotive, health services, the trades, banking and insurance, manufacturing, civil service, and beyond.
Creating
a Registered Apprenticeship Program and Where to Get Assistance
Businesses are encouraged to register their modern apprenticeship programs to ensure program components and competencies meet national standards for quality and rigor, and apprentice’s skills are well-honed and relevant.
Employers can turn to Kentucky’s own Apprenticeship Program Coordinators (within the state’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet) for guidance and technical support with the Registered Apprenticeship process. Coordinators can also provide information on potential financial incentives and funding opportunities.
What Types of Occupations Can Be Developed into Registered Apprenticeship Programs?
The US Department of Labor has more than 1,000 occupations registered with its Office of Apprenticeship. These occupations are listed in industries like information technology, automotive, health services, the trades, banking and insurance, manufacturing, civil service, and beyond.
How Can My Business Reduce Administrative Responsibilities?
In some industries, intermediaries (an employer of record) have been created to facilitate the modern apprenticeship process. For a small fee, intermediaries assume responsibility for apprentices’ wages, insurance, and other benefits. They also manage recruitment, enrollment, and apprenticeship training. Small- and medium-sized companies find intermediary services particularly helpful in saving time and money - while building their talent pipeline. Currently, Kentucky has four intermediaries in the automotive, insurance, telecommunications, and welding industries.
Registering
Your Apprenticeship Program - Identify. Document. Implement.
Once you have determined that you want to establish a Registered Apprenticeship training program, it’s time to reach out to an Apprenticeship Program Coordinator to assist you in filling out forms, developing standards, and establishing a protocol for recordkeeping. The Coordinator can also help you implement, track and confirm each step of the Registered Apprenticeship process. The steps to getting started are as follows.
Identify
Select an occupation and determine if a job is “apprenticeable”. If the position you are seeking to apprentice is one of over 1,000 occupations already registered with the Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, like-minded employers may lend you insight from their experience developing a successful apprenticeship program. You can also create a new apprenticeship career pathway of your own.
Select a person(s), education or technical institution or organization with experience in and comprehensive knowledge of the skills required for the job - and who can provide related technical instruction throughout the program. Registered Apprenticeships require at least 144 hours of related technical instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. Hence, graduates are the real deal in terms of talent and a tremendous asset to their employer.
Document
Outline candidate qualifications, core components, competencies and a training schedule for each job occupation. A scalable wage schedule (including pay increases in step with program advancement, starting at no less than minimum wage) and ratio of apprentice to experience worker on-site are Registered Apprenticeship requirements.
Once all of the information above is compiled into a document, the employer-sponsor and Kentucky’s Education and Workforce Development Cabinet will sign the Apprenticeship Standards and Work Processes.
Implement
You are ready to take the final steps in implementing a Registered Apprenticeship program. Not only will our Apprenticeship Program Coordinators facilitate your progress along the way, but they will also help you log it into the Federal Registered Apprenticeship database to track your progress including participation, retention and completion rates. Apprenticeship sponsors or employers of record will also maintain on-the-job training and related technical instruction records. Finally, your apprentices will sign an agreement with you as an employer, intermediary or another contracting party to ensure all understand the commitment and obligations.
Kentucky is an expert at making modern apprenticeships work for your business.
Earn
While You Learn
It pays off from the start to be hired into one of Kentucky’s Registered Apprenticeship programs. Becoming an apprentice is an exciting first step in mastering a highly marketable skill. A Registered Apprenticeship program typically leads to expertise in one of Kentucky’s fast-growing occupations in manufacturing, construction, health care, IT, transportation, civil service, and other high-demand industries across the state.
A
Bright Career Path
Registered Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare you for high-demand careers. While on-the-job training occurs in the workplace, classroom instruction is taught by experienced professionals in locations like high schools, union-sponsored institutions, the employer’s worksite and community colleges.
Get
a Great Qualification
Upon graduating from a Registered Apprenticeship program, you will receive a nationally recognized industry certification. These certifications are keepers. Equally important, these apprenticeship programs are low cost or no cost to you and you earn a competitive wage while you learn.
Starting
Early or Late
If you are not old enough to enter a Registered Apprenticeship program or want to further explore this career pathway in school, the Tech Ready Apprenticeships for Careers in Kentucky (TRACK) program is the route for you. TRACK offers students work-ready skills in the classroom - to get a taste of what’s to come.
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