Registered Apprenticeship for Job Seekers

Questions you may have asked yourself:

“How can I get a good job without experience?”

“How can I get experience in my chosen field without a job?”

“How will I ever pay for the training I need to land a good job?”

“How will this school subject help me in the future?”

“How can I make contacts in the career field I want to be in?”

An apprenticeship program that gives you an opportunity to earn while you learn could be your answer.

Apprenticeship is training for specific careers under the close tutelage of an experienced worker with classroom instruction to augment on-the-job learning. Apprenticeship is a model for career training that has been around for centuries in Europe and is growing in the U.S.—and in Arkansas—because it helps employers bring job candidates up to the level of skill they need for a technology-driven economy.

Registered Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship training programs that are registered by the U.S. Department of Labor always involve certain aspects:

Learning on the Work Site and in the Classroom

Apprentices divide their time between a classroom, where they’re taught specific skills for a real occupation, and the job location, where they’re shown the job by an experienced worker.

Employment from Day 1 of Training

Apprentices are employees of the company that hires them and places them in the program.

Relevant Curriculum

You know the subject matter you’re studying will help you on the job because your employing company helped compile it to meet its specific needs.           

No-cost School

In most cases, you don’t pay for training—the employer pays you to get it.

Steadily Increasing Pay

You typically start low, but your pay rapidly rises at regular intervals as you learn.

Industry-Recognized Credentials

You’ll want to work for the company that put you through the training, but when it’s time to move on, you’ll have a credential you can take anywhere in the U.S

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded ADWS three apprenticeship-focused grants currently in operation.

There are other registered apprenticeship programs in Arkansas. You can find information about them in the links on the right side of this page.

Apprenticeship Fits Niche Populations

Members of certain groups sometimes find they face added difficulties in finding lasting, self-sufficient employment. The evidence shows apprenticeships are an especially useful training alternative for minorities, individuals with disabilities, women and others. Many employers specifically target transitioning veterans to fill registered apprenticeship slots because of their unique experiences and skill-set.

Pre-Apprenticeship

A pre-apprenticeship prepares future workers to enter apprenticeship programs. Pre-apprenticeship programs supported by ADWS grants are growing exponentially around Arkansas. They allow young people to get a taste of what certain jobs are like so they can make informed, well-reasoned career choices. Pre-apprenticeship programs focus on general workplace expectations while giving an introduction to jobs in a particular industry sector. Contact the ADWS Discretionary Grants Outreach unit via email at discrgrants.outreach@arkansas.gov.