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.

Registered Apprenticeship –On-the-Job Learning -  Is a Registered Apprenticeship an option for you?  Click here to see more.

The Virginia Registered Apprenticeship program 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.

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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. To view a copy of the Virginia Registered Apprenticeship brochure Click here.

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.