Registered Apprenticeship Programs Revised

The National Apprenticeship System provides millions of American workers with rigorous, industry-driven job training and high-wage employment in the nation’s most competitive industries.

On October 29, 2008, the Labor Department announced that it has revised regulations to update labor standards for the nation's Registered Apprenticeship programs.

In order to keep pace with changes related to 21st century employment opportunities, the revised regulations take the workforce demands of new and emerging industries into consideration, and create more flexibility for apprentices and employers, providing them with increased choices to meet the needs of industries which have traditionally used Registered Apprenticeship programs.

The most significant change to the regulations is the creation of multiple training approaches that increase flexibility for employers to select which path best serves an apprentice’s or employer’s needs.
“These regulations have been revised for the first time since 1977 to advance Registered Apprenticeship’s strengths in developing a skilled, competitive workforce for the 21st century global economy,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Brent R. Orrell. “The changes we are instituting through these new rules will create more options for employers, and position Registered Apprenticeship to engage today’s growing industries, while ensuring the safety of apprentices and the quality of programs.”