Apprenticeship is one of the best ways for a worker to acquire the experience and training to get established in a career.
Apprenticeship also addresses industry's need to remain competitive by investing in the development and continuous upgrade of the skills of its workforce.
On this page:
Benefits to the worker
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Through the Apprenticeship Agreement, an apprentice, as an employee, receives supervised, structured on-the-job training combined with related technical instruction. The instruction, usually classroom study, in a specific occupation can be held at public secondary or post-secondary schools, employer or union-sponsored schools or community colleges.
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Some registered apprenticeship programs also have dual accreditation through post-secondary institutions which apply credit for apprenticeship completion towards an Associate Degree.
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A progressively increasing schedule of wages is based on the journeyworker's hourly wage of the apprentice's occupation. These increases occur with satisfactory progress in both related instruction and on-the-job training until wages reach 85 to 90 percent of the rate paid the journeyworker in the occupation.
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Upon completing a one to five year (2,000 hours to 10,000 hours) apprenticeship, the worker receives an Apprenticeship Completion Certificate and is recognized as a qualified journeyworker nationwide. This Certificate is one of the oldest, most basic, and most highly portable industry credentials in use today. The Certificate is issued by a federally approved State Apprenticeship Council or Agency or, in those States not having such an agency, by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
- Registered apprentices/trainees pay substantially reduced tuition fees for attendance at related instruction classes held in community colleges or technical colleges.
- Registered apprentices/trainees are covered by state industrial insurance while in attendance at related instruction classes.
- Eligible veterans receive VA educational benefits while participating in an approved program.
- Registration is a requirement to work as an apprentice/trainee on both state and federal public works’ projects.
- Registered apprentices/trainees have access to an appeal process in the event a serious problem arises during the course of training. That appeal process extends all the way up to the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.
- Individuals completing formal training through registration with this office will receive validated credentials as fully qualified journey level workers.
Benefits to the employer
- Attract adequate numbers of highly qualified applicants.
- Reduce absenteeism.
- Reduce turnover.
- Increase productivity.
- Reduce cost of training.
- Facilitate compliance with Federal and State Equal Employment Opportunity requirements.
- Improve community relations.
- Improve employee relations.
- Ensure availability of related technical instruction.
- Enhance problem-solving ability of craftworkers.
- Ensure versatility of craftworkers.
