Registered Apprenticeships: How Paid Training Leads to Well-Paid Careers

For many well-paid careers, the path in does not start with a four-year degree or student loans. It starts with a job. Registered apprenticeships pay you to learn a skilled occupation, combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, and finish with a credential employers across the country recognize.

What a registered apprenticeship is

A registered apprenticeship is a training program that has been approved by the US Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Approval means the program meets standards for training, wages, supervision and safety.

Every registered program has the same core parts:

• Paid work from day one. You are hired as an employee and earn a wage while you train.
• On-the-job learning. An experienced worker, often called a journeyworker or mentor, teaches you the job on real work.
• Related instruction. Classroom or online learning covers the theory behind the work. It may be delivered by a community college, a technical school, a union training center or the employer.
• Rising pay. Wages increase on a set schedule as you reach training milestones.
• A credential. When you finish, you receive a nationally recognized certificate of completion. Some programs also lead to college credit or a state license.

How long it takes

Program length depends on the occupation. Programs commonly run from one to six years. Many skilled trade apprenticeships, such as electrician programs, take about four years. Some newer programs in fields like IT are shorter.

Fields that offer apprenticeships

Construction and skilled trades remain the best-known, including electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, HVAC technicians, carpenters and elevator installers. But registered programs now cover a wide range of fields:

• Healthcare: medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, surgical technologists.
• Information technology: IT support, network administration, cybersecurity.
• Manufacturing: machinists, maintenance technicians, welders.
• Transportation and logistics: commercial drivers, aircraft and diesel mechanics.

Is it worth it?

The main advantages are that you earn instead of borrowing while you train, you gain real work experience employers value, and you finish with a recognized credential and often a job offer from the employer that trained you. In many skilled trades, experienced workers who complete an apprenticeship earn well above the median wage for all occupations.

The trade-offs are real too. Programs can be competitive, starting pay is lower than what a fully trained worker earns, and the work can be physically demanding. Many programs also require a multi-year commitment.

How to find and apply for a program

1. Search Apprenticeship.gov. The Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Job Finder lists open opportunities by occupation and location.
2. Contact local sponsors directly. Employers, industry associations and union training centers sponsor programs, and many accept applications only at certain times of year.
3. Visit your local American Job Center. Staff can point you to programs and sometimes to funding for related costs such as tools.
4. Prepare for the requirements. Many programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent, a minimum age, a valid driver's license and sometimes an aptitude test. Brushing up on math can make a real difference.
5. Consider a pre-apprenticeship. These short programs teach basic skills and can make you a stronger applicant, sometimes with a direct path into a partner program.

The bottom line

If you want a well-paid, in-demand career without taking on large debt, a registered apprenticeship is one of the strongest routes available. Start by searching for programs in your area and talking to people already working in the field.