Center for Health Workforce at Mason

The Virginia Registered Apprenticeship program is an occupation-specific training model that produces highly skilled workers to meet the demands of employers competing in a global economy.   On-the-job training and related technical instruction create the perfect marriage of methods to provide work-based, paid job experience. It is a “win-win” approach for talent development in many industries and occupations.  Apprentices are employees and taxpayers.

The Virginia Registered Apprenticeship program currently meets the needs of approximately 2,000 Virginia Employers/Sponsors who use custom-designed programs to train their employees.   Employers provide on-the-job training for their employees in a variety of occupations, ranging from high-tech to highly skilled trades.

See how your business can benefit from a Registered Apprenticeship. Click here to see more.

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 technical 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 consultant.

Finding a Program

• Speak with your employer to see if your place of employment is a registered apprenticeship sponsor or if there is interest in becoming a sponsor.
• If you work for a Registered Apprenticeship sponsor, have your employer contact a local Virginia Department of Labor and Industry apprenticeship consultant to register you as an apprentice.

On-the-Job Training

The apprentice’s sponsor provides on-the-job training through qualified journeypersons.

Related Technical Instruction

Related instruction may be provided through your local community college, a vocational and technical center, electronically or, in some instances, at your place of employment.