Registered Apprenticeship

The Virginia Registered Apprenticeship is a training system that produces highly skilled workers to meet the demands of employers competing in a global economy, through a combination of on-the-job training and theoretical classroom instruction. It is a "win-win" approach to workforce development for more than 13,000 apprentices (employees) throughout the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Registered Apprenticeship currently meets the needs of approximately 2,000 Virginia sponsors (employers) who use custom-designed programs to train their workforce. Employers provide on-the-job training for their employees in a variety of occupations, ranging from high tech to highly skilled trades.

The process of apprenticeship program registration with Federal and State government agencies is designed to ensure that working apprentices, program sponsors, and the general public can gain a clear understanding of the training content and the measures that are in place to ensure ongoing quality.

Employee Information

Eligibility and Requirements

• As a full-fledged employee of the sponsoring company, a registered apprentice completes a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training and a minimum of 144 hours of related classroom instruction for each year of apprenticeship.
• Apprenticeship terms are occupation specific, but the average term is four years.
• Successful completion of the registered Apprenticeship Program earns the apprentice nationally recognized state certification as a journeyperson.
• All apprentices are registered through a Department of Labor and Industry apprenticeship representative.

Finding a Program

• Speak with your employer to see if your place of employment is a registered apprenticeship sponsor or if there is interest becoming a sponsor.
• If you work for a registered apprenticeship sponsor, have your employer contact a local Virginia Department of Labor and Industry apprenticeship representative to register you as an apprentice.

On-the-Job Training

The apprentice's sponsor provides on-the-job training through qualified journeypersons.

Related Instruction

Related instruction may be provided through your local community college, a vocational and technical center or, in some instances, at your place of employment.