Apprenticeships
The Campaign sponsors apprenticeships with the Department of Labor. Learn how to get involved as an apprentice, an employer, or as a training partner.
Overview
Apprenticeships are the traditional way to learn skilled trades. It allows people immediate employment and income combined with structured training and education. For millennia, new workers have learned skills under the tutelage and guidance of master craftspeople in a structured one-on-one, project-based setting. The Campaign has developed a suite of historic trades apprenticeships that apprentices, employers, and training programs alike can utilize. Scroll down to learn:
- About the Department of Labor’s system of Registered Apprenticeship Programs.
- How to become an apprentice.
- How to hire an apprentice.
- How to become a training partner.
In addition to the information on this page, you can learn more by joining one of our Information Sessions or watching one of the recordings.
The Campaign currently has apprenticeships for Preservation Carpenter, Historic Window Technician, and Deconstruction Technician.
Become an Apprentice
How It Works
The Campaign for Historic Trades sponsors a Group Program. This means that we have several apprenticeship occupations and coordinate with many employers. Prospective apprentices apply to the program. Those accepted to the program will be connected with our employer partners as candidates for their open positions. This may require additional hiring requirements, such as another interview or a drug test.
If the employer offers a paid position, you will be hired as an employee of that employer. The Campaign, the Employer, and the apprentice will sign an Apprenticeship Agreement. The Campaign will report your progress to the Department of Labor and help ensure you get the necessary training.
Employment is not guaranteed with acceptance to the apprenticeship program. The Campaign will retain your information for at least two years and continue to connect you with employers during that time.
If you are not accepted to the program, we will refer you to our training partners to help you gain experience and knowledge. This will increase your application score and help you enter the program as an official apprentice.
At this time, there is no cost to apply.
Why It Works
Apprenticeships are proven methods for effective training and employee retention. They provide apprentices with important transparency in training, job expectations, and wage progression. Here are some fast facts:
- RAPs provide immediate income with on-the-job learning and instruction.
- RAP graduates earn an average of $300,000 more over their career when compared to peers who do not register in apprenticeships.
- 90% of participants in Registered Apprenticeship Programs remain with their employer after completing their apprenticeship.
Requirements
The minimum qualifications for apprentices are as follows:
- Age: Must be 18 years or older.
- Education: Have a high school diploma or GED equivalency.
- Residence: Residency in a certain area is not required, but recruitment varies by project location and apprentices’ willingness and ability to relocate. Must be able to work legally in the United States.
- Physical Condition: Applicants will be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the apprenticeship program, with or without reasonable accommodation, and without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of the individual or others.
- Transportation: Have dependable means of transportation to the employer’s place of business and/or jobsite and to the place where classroom job-related instruction is conducted. Applicants may be required by the employer to have and obtain a valid Driver’s License to perform job duties.
- Other: Complete the Apprenticeship Application.
Good to Know
- If you already have related experience and education, you can earn up to 50% advanced standing in the apprenticeship program. The Campaign will help you determine this based on your application.
- You can earn a college degree while in the program with one of our partner colleges. This is dependent on acceptance to their program.
- Some states have financial supports for apprentices’ classroom hours, including college programs.
Employ an Apprentice
How It Works
Registered Apprenticeship Programs are a method to formally recognize and credential the learning and training employees do on the job. Employers hire apprentice as they do any other employees, with some extra paperwork submitted to the Department of Labor to register the apprentice. Additionally, Employers coordinate with The Campaign to report apprentice progress and ensure the apprentice receives necessary training and instruction.
The Campaign can assist Employers in a variety of ways:
- Provide apprentice applicants for open positions. Employers have hiring discretion from this applicant pool.
- Enroll existing employees in the apprenticeship program.
- Help provide training and instruction for the apprentices.
Starting in 2025, there will be a monthly fee for enrolled apprentices.
Why It Works
Apprenticeships are proven methods for effective training and employee retention. With the appropriate investment in apprentices, they provide employers with a mechanism to improve productivity and profitability. Here are some fast facts:
- 90% of apprentices retain employment after certification and stay with a company longer than non-apprentices, reducing turn-over.
- Provide employers a net return-on-investment correlating with their training duration.
- Read a Department of Labor Fact Sheet about Registered Apprenticeships’ benefits to employers: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/aai-infographic-employers-11-11-22.pdf
Requirements
Participating Employers need to have the following to hire apprentices:
- Position Descriptions for our apprenticeship occupations.
- At least one journeyworker in the occupation. The journeyworker is responsible for on-the-job training the apprentice.
- Wage and demographic information for your journeyworkers.
- Ability to hire the apprentice as a W-2 employee (not a 1099 Independent Contractor).
Good to Know
- Many states offer incentives for employers to participate in Registered Apprenticeships, such as tax credits or financial assistance for classes: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/investments-tax-credits-and-tuition-support/state-tax-credits-and-tuition-support.
- Employers can provide the Related Instruction for apprentices if they already have internal training programs. We can assess and qualify these classes to contribute toward required instruction.
Become a Training Partner
How It Works
The Campaign can qualify existing programs as Pre-apprenticeship Programs or Providers of Related Instruction. Becoming a Training Partner will not require any significant operational changes for programs. Training Partners will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with The Campaign and provide annual reporting data on their program.
Programs interested in partnering should fill out the interest form below. Our team will review it and follow up with any questions. At this time, there is no cost to apply or participate.
Why It Works
Apprenticeships are proven methods for effective training and the professionalization of careers. They are an articulatable yet flexible training model, inclusive of different programs’ structures and outcomes. Here are some fast facts:
- Work-based model can be instrumental in serving individuals who have been historically underserved.
- Alignment with federal standards can facilitate regulatory benefits.
- Participation in a RAP can leverage new funding sources for stakeholders.
- Read about the ways RAPs can support apprentices with wrap-around services: https://rise.articulate.com/share/fwwHxNV1TexghzHRw8UI4C18MkXOFVYs#/
Requirements
The Department of Labor offers guidance on quality pre-apprenticeship programs. This include:
- Partnership with registered apprenticeship program sponsors
- Sustainability through partnerships
- Meaningful training combined with hands-on experience replicating a workplace that does not displace paid employees
- Access to career and supportive services
- Increased access for underrepresented or underserved populations
The Sponsor approves training partners as Pre-apprenticeship programs and providers of Related Instruction. The Department of Labor will need to approve the addition of Related Instruction providers. The Campaign needs to assess programs for their the following characteristics:
- Curriculum and training relevance to the apprenticeships.
- Duration of training or educaiton for participants.
- Qualitative factors, such as positive participant experiences and outcomes.
- Ability to coordinate with The Campaign on reporting and career placements.
- Preferred – ability to collaborate with The Campaign on outreach, events, and shared projects and grant submissions.
Interested programs should fill out the form below. Our team will review the submission and assess how the program can participate in the apprenticeship program.
Good to Know
- Pre-apprenticeship Programs are approved by the RAP Sponsor — in this case, that is The Campaign.
- Currently, they are not regulated by the Department of Labor. The DoL does provide guidance on the elements of a quality pre-apprenticeship program, which The Campaign follows: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/employers/explore-pre-apprenticeship
- Related Instruction Providers are approved by the RAP Sponsor, added into our apprenticeship standards, and then review for confirmation by the Department of Labor.
- The Campaign has a robust development team that will pursue large grant opportunities with its apprenticeship training partners.
There are many ways for individuals, businesses, organizations, and philanthropic groups to support The Campaign. Find out how.