Apprenticeship

What is Registered Apprenticeship?
Registered Apprenticeship (RA) is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction provided under the supervision of a journey-level craft person or trade professional in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. After completing an RA training program, the worker's journey-level status provides an additional benefit of nationwide mobility. RA is a partnership between the apprentice, business, employers and the government that prepares American workers to compete in the global 21st century economy.

What occupations are considered apprenticeable?
An apprenticeable occupation is defined as a skilled trade or craft, which has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and which meets applicable local criteria. Apprenticeships can be found in all industries, from traditional sectors like construction and manufacturing to emerging sectors like energy and healthcare. A list of over 1,100 officially recognized apprenticeable occupations can be found at http://www.doleta.gov/OA/occupations.cfm.

What are the training requirements?
Apprenticeship training programs require a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year, supplemented by a minimum of 144 hours of related classroom instruction. Such instruction may be given in a classroom or through correspondence courses, self-study or other means of approved instruction. Apprenticeship training programs generally last from two to five years, depending on the complexity of the trade.

How do I find employers who sponsor RA training programs?
Approximately 16,000 employers nationwide sponsor RA training programs that enable their employees to obtain nationally recognized certification in trades and skills that can lead to rewarding careers in industries that stretch across the economic spectrum. To get advice on finding apprenticeship program opportunities, visit the CareerOneStop Apprenticeship Finder Tool https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-apprenticeships.aspx

Can I receive GI Bill^® benefits for participation in an RA training program?
Yes! This is one of the biggest advantages of participation in RA for GI Bill-eligible Veterans. You can collect a monthly benefit payment, in addition to regular full-time wages, for the duration of the apprentice training period. The amount of GI Bill entitlement depends on your GI Bill eligibility:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill:
• Payment rates for the Post-9/11 GI Bill are based on percentages of the applicable Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for an E-5 with dependents. The MHA is determined by the employer's ZIP code.
• All other GI Bill programs:
• Payment rates for all other GI Bill programs are based on a percentage of the full-time institutional rate of the benefit program being utilized.

If I were an apprentice for five years, how much GI Bill benefit would I collect?
If a Veteran eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100 percent rate were employed full time in a five-year RA training program with an employer located in Boston, MA (where the applicable MHA is $2,817), he or she would collect a total of $67,608 in Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, in addition to regular wages.

For all other GI Bill benefit programs, the total payment amount for a five-year RA training program, regardless of location, would be as follows:

How do I find a list of RA programs that are approved for GI Bill use?

• Visit http://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchInstitutionCriteria.do
• Leave the “Institution Name” field blank
• Set “Program Type” drop-down menu to “On-the-Job Training/Apprenticeship”
• Click your preferred state or territory for a complete list of approved programs

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