Employer Playbook
Employer Playbook: How to start a Registered Apprenticeship program
The country has 714,000 active registered apprentices and a goal of 1 million. Here is how a company builds its own pipeline.
This is preview content for The Skilled Nation, ahead of Issue 1 on February 4, 2027.
Quick take
- Registered Apprenticeship pairs paid work with related instruction.
- Apprentices earn wage increases as they gain skills.
- Your state apprenticeship agency or DOL office helps you register.
U.S. employers spent $102.8 billion on training in 2025, according to Training magazine. Many of the companies that cannot hire the skilled workers they need have decided to train them. Registered Apprenticeship is the most structured way to do it.
There are 714,000 active registered apprentices in the country, against a national goal of 1 million, according to WorkShift.
What makes an apprenticeship “registered”
A Registered Apprenticeship program is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency. Programs share five core parts:
- Employer involvement. The business designs and runs the program.
- Structured on-the-job learning. A mentor trains the apprentice on real work.
- Related instruction. Classroom or online learning, often through a community college or training partner.
- Rewards for skill gains. Pay rises as the apprentice hits milestones.
- A national credential. Graduates earn a portable, industry-recognized credential.
Six steps to launch
- Pick the role. Start with one hard-to-fill job where you can name the skills a worker needs.
- Map the skills. List the tasks and competencies. Industry templates exist for many trades.
- Choose a training partner. Community colleges, union training centers, and private providers deliver related instruction.
- Set the wage schedule. Define starting pay and the raise at each milestone.
- Register the program. Contact your state apprenticeship agency or the Department of Labor. Intermediaries can handle the paperwork for you.
- Recruit. Work with local high schools, community colleges, workforce boards, and veterans organizations.
Funding to ask about
Many states offer tax credits or grants for apprenticeship, and local workforce boards can help cover training costs. Ask your workforce board what is available in your area.
Tell us your story
Employer Playbook features companies that are recruiting, training, and keeping skilled workers. If your program has results to share, write to editors@theskillednation.com.