“Let’s encourage businesses to become creators, not just consumers of talent by establishing an audacious goal of 500,000 earn-and-learn apprenticeships by 2029.”
– Governor Gavin Newsom
Lead
Joseph Stark
Regional Apprenticeship Director
Molly Ask
Project Manager
Overview
What are Registered Apprenticeship Programs?
Registered apprenticeship programs (RAPs) are considered a “gold standard” of workforce training, utilizing a proven “earn and learn” model combining theory and hands-on training. The apprentice acquires skills through classroom training, i.e., related supplemental instruction (RSI) while demonstrating competencies during on-the-job training (OJT).
RAPs provide a well-defined pathway into a career, supported by clear standards outlining apprentices’ job expectations. This ensures apprentices understand what they need to learn, while employers can chart a course for success within their organizations. Additionally, apprenticeships, though different from traditional classroom-based postsecondary education, can serve as a college pathway. In California, strong ties between the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) and the apprenticeship system make it both a workforce and postsecondary education strategy.
What are the Key Requirements for RAPs in California?
- One or more employers that will commit to creating apprentice training positions and hiring a certain number of apprentices (full-time trainees) for at least 1 year (2000 hrs of OJT). This includes offering starting wages at least 50% or greater of what a fully-certified individual would make AND at least one wage progression during the OJT period. The goal at the end of the apprenticeship is to become a fully-certified “journeyperson” making a sustainable wage.
- One or more local education agencies (e.g., community college) to certify and assist with curriculum development and delivery.
- Apprenticeship sponsor: this is the “owner” of the apprenticeship program who is responsible for registering the program & apprentices with DAS, tracking & reporting, etc.
- Approval from the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS).
What is Pre-Apprenticeship?
A Pre-apprenticeship program includes a short-term course (e.g., 2-16 weeks) that prepares students with receiving specific employer-identified training and skills necessary to transition successfully to a registered apprenticeship program (RAP). There must be a formal linkage agreement (e.g., MOU) with an existing RAP. There is a process to register the pre-apprenticeship program through the state Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS).
Funding
Start-up Funding
The state offers various funding options for education costs associated with apprenticeship. The California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI), is the primary funding stream for community colleges designed to bolster local and regional partnerships, facilitating the launch and expansion of innovative apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship initiatives. CAI funds are intended to cover costs associated with planning, implementing and expanding new and innovative apprenticeship programs.
Ongoing Funding
The Chancellor’s Office allocates related and supplemental instruction (RSI) funding to Community College Districts annually based on state budget funded amounts. In addition, the Chancellor’s Office separately reimburses attendance of apprentices enrolled in any class offered for community college credit (FTES) by a community college, via apportionment, in collaboration with an apprenticeship program sponsor. The current rate for RSI or FTES funding is $9.98 per hour of instruction. Other sources of federal and state apprenticeship funding are listed here.
Regional Support & Goals
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Regional Consortium (SDI RC) serves as an apprenticeship intermediary—as well as collaborates with other industry specific intermediaries—to convene key partners, assist with streamlining processes associated with registering programs, and scale, support and sustain efforts for the longer term. An intermediary serves as a central coordinating entity and “backbone” for apprenticeship initiatives. They gather the requirements of various employers, collaborate with educators to develop the program, and work with sponsors to officially register it with the state, and crucially, provide ongoing support to the colleges and employers throughout their experiences. To foster regional and sector-specific intermediaries in the region, the SDI RC is focusing on the following goals:
- Improving the coordination of federal and state funding to establish a financial framework and staffing infrastructure for expanding and maintaining apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs,
- Creating a regional directory of federal and state registered apprenticeship programs, and
- Providing a platform for meaningful, targeted employer engagement around apprenticeship and related work-based-learning strategies designed to be more responsive to evolving industry needs.
Regional Apprenticeship Planning Team (RAPT)
Formed in the fall of 2022, the goal of the RAPT is to provide a space for partners to find necessary resources and share best practices to support employers in working with the community colleges to develop and scale registered apprenticeship in the region. In addition, the RAPT is a space to present opportunities for deeper, intentional, and strategic collaborations related to regional funding and sustainability efforts directed at building and expanding apprenticeships with a focus on encouraging equity, transparency, and leveraging of existing resources to serve both employers’ and students’ needs. Additional information on RAPT can be found HERE.
Regional Contact
For more information on regional apprenticeship efforts, or if you are interested in becoming a partner with the community colleges to develop a new apprenticeship program, please contact Joseph Stark, Regional Apprenticeship Director, joseph.stark@gcccd.edu.
Resources
Click HERE for apprenticeship resources.