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Labor and Economic Opportunity

Apprenticeships

Registered Apprenticeship

Registered Apprenticeship

What is Registered Apprenticeship?

Registered apprenticeships are high-quality work-based learning and post-secondary earn-and-learn models that meet national standards for registration with the U.S. Department of Labor (or federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies). Apprenticeship combines classroom studies with extensive on-the-job training under the supervision of journey level craftperson or trade professional.

Workers who complete apprenticeship programs earn an average of $300,000 more over their career when compared to peers who don't.

What are the Advantages of Apprenticeship?

Benefits to career seekers:
  • Wages earned while training
  • Improved skills and competencies
  • Higher wages as skills increase
  • National, portable credentials
  • Career advancement
Benefits to employers:
  • Highly skilled employees
  • Reduced turnover costs
  • Lower investment in recruitment
  • Higher productivity
  • More diverse workforce

 

Five Core Components of Registered Apprenticeship 

  1. Employer Involvement - Employers are the foundation of every Registerd Apprenticeship program.
  2. Structured On-the-Job Learning - Apprentices receive on-the-job training from an experienced mentor for typically not less than one year.
  3. Related Instruction - Apprentices combine on-the-job learning with technical education at community colleges, technical schools, apprenticeship training schools, provided on-line or at the job site.
  4. Rewards for Skill Gains - Apprentices receive increases in wages as they gain higher level skills.
  5. National Occupational Credential - Registered Apprenticeship programs result in a nationally-recognized creditial - a 100% guarantee to employers that apprentices are fully qualified for the job.

Learn more about the five core components

Learn more about apprenticeships at Advance Michigan Center for Apprenticeship Innovation

Apprenticeship.gov, U.S. Department of Labor 

Veterans' Employment Services 

Program Overview

Have Questions? Contact Us

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
Office of Employment and Training - Workforce Development
Phone: 517-335-5858
E-Mail: LEO-apprenticeship@michigan.gov

Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinators
Contact your local Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinator assist companies and individuals with exploring apprenticeship opportunities. 

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Apprenticeship
Phone: 517-377-1747
E-Mail: davis.russell@dol.gov

Employers

Becoming an Employer Sponsor

Benefits to Employers

Employer Training ApprenticeYour company must be ready to compete in the global economy. By training apprentices you will create an employee pool that will contribute to your bottom line and meet your future workforce needs. Apprenticeship training is a key investment in your company’s future. Key benefits include:

  • Helps recruit and develop a highly skilled workforce

  • Improves productivity and the bottom line

  • Reduces turnover costs and increases employee retention

  • Creates industry-driven and flexible training solutions to meet national and local needs

 

Getting Started

US DOL Quick-Start Toolkit
Building Registered Apprenticeship Programs

Have Questions? Contact Us

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
Office of Employment and Training - Workforce Development
Phone: 517-335-5858
E-Mail: LEO-apprenticeship@michigan.gov

Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinators
Contact your local Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinator assist companies and individuals with exploring apprenticeship opportunities. 

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Apprenticeship
Phone: 517-377-1747
E-Mail: davis.russell@dol.gov

Becoming an Apprentice

Becoming an Apprentice

Benefits to Apprentices

  • A paycheck from day one
  • Hands on career training
  • An education and the potential to earn college credit
  • A career once you complete your apprenticeship
  • National industry certification


Learn more about these benefits

Apprenticeable Occupations
Apprenticeships can be found in all industries, from traditional sectors like Construction and Manufacturing to emerging sectors like Energy, Health Care, and Information Technology. 

Apprenticeship Opportunities

Have Questions? Contact Us

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
Office of Employment and Training - Workforce Development
Phone: 517-335-5858
E-Mail: LEO-apprenticeship@michigan.gov

Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinators
Contact your local Michigan Works! Apprenticeship Success Coordinator assist companies and individuals with exploring apprenticeship opportunities. 

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Apprenticeship
Phone: 517-377-1747
E-Mail: davis.russell@dol.gov

MI Network

Apprenticeship Resources

Apprenticeship USA State Expansion GrantPartnership

These grants are being used to bolster Registered Apprenticeship (RA) expansion in four ways: 1) through successful mobilization of sector strategies, 2) the expansion of existing state initiatives, 3) development and dissemination of resources and tools to assist in building state capacity, and 4) implementation of a tiered incentive program to increase the number of employers establishing new RA in targeted industries. Michigan’s Apprenticeship USA State Expansion Grants - Michigan ApprenticeshipUSA Industry Cluster Approach (MAICA) grant will assist potential employer sponsors and apprentices with effectively exploring, partnering, developing, registering, and launching RA.

Apprenticeship Success Coordinators (ASC)

MWAs support activities and will function as an ASC to assist employers with local projects to effectively launch, register, conduct, report on, and ensure successful completion of new Registered Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeship Success Coordinator Contacts →

Going PRO Talent Fund

The Going PRO Talent Fund (Talent Fund), formerly known as the Skilled Trades Training Fund, makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training funded by the Talent Fund must be short-term and fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer. Training must lead to a credential for a skill that is transferable and recognized by industry.

MAT2

MAT2 uses the German apprenticeship training program as a model for inspiration. The program represents a collaboration between global industry leaders and Michigan educators to provide a competency-based training program that addresses manufacturers’ needs for globally-competitive technicians in the areas of mechatronics and CNC. In 2015 Michigan became the first state in the United States to receive approval from the German Chamber of Commerce network for the alignment of its company consortium based apprenticeship mechatronics training program to German standards.

Through MAT2, students earn an associate’s degree in a high-tech, in-demand field, with tuition costs paid by their employer. Trainees receive on-the-job training with pay; a school stipend; and are guaranteed a job upon successful completion of the program. The state provides $5,000 grants to offset employers’ tuition costs. The program currently offers Mechatronics and CNC training programs.

Contacts

Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity - Workforce Development
Phone: 517-335-5858
E-Mail: LEO-apprenticeship@michigan.gov

View Programs and Advocacy Resources
Michigan has deployed a number of approaches to promote and support the apprenticeship training model.