Find registered apprenticeships through Apprenticeship.gov's job finder, your American Job Center, unions, employers and community colleges. Apprentices are paid employees whose wages increase as skills grow, combining on-the-job learning with related instruction. Fields include construction trades, electrical, healthcare, IT, manufacturing and more. Pre-apprenticeship programmes help people prepare to apply.
How it works
The short version, before the detail.
Registered apprenticeships are approved by the Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency. They include paid on-the-job learning, related technical instruction, mentorship, wage progression and a credential at completion.
Traditional fields include electricians, plumbers, carpenters and other trades, often through union joint apprenticeship programmes. Apprenticeships have expanded into healthcare, IT, cybersecurity, manufacturing, transportation and more.
Entry requirements vary: some need a high school diploma or equivalent and basic math; some have aptitude tests or waiting lists. Pre-apprenticeship programmes help people build skills and meet entry requirements.
WIOA funding can support apprentices' training costs or supportive services, and veterans can use GI Bill benefits during apprenticeships.
Every registered apprenticeship has a written standard that sets out the skills you will learn, the hours of on-the-job learning, the hours of related classroom or online instruction, and the wage schedule. Wages usually start at a percentage of a fully qualified worker's pay and rise in steps as you complete hours and pass assessments. By the end, apprentices often earn close to the full journeyworker wage - and have no student debt.
Getting in can be competitive, particularly for union trade programmes, which may accept applications only at certain times of year, require an aptitude test and an interview, and rank applicants. Pre-apprenticeship programmes - often run by community colleges, nonprofits or unions - teach maths, safety, tools and work readiness, and many have direct-entry agreements that give graduates a guaranteed interview or place. Women, people of colour and other under-represented groups can find dedicated pre-apprenticeship programmes in many trades.
Non-trade apprenticeships are growing quickly. Hospitals train pharmacy technicians, medical assistants and nursing assistants as apprentices; technology companies run apprenticeships in software development, IT support and cybersecurity; banks and insurers use them for customer service and finance roles. These often require less physical work and may start with shorter programmes.
Who usually qualifies
Factors the agency looks at. Only they make the final decision.
Requirements differ by programme and trade.
How to apply, step by step
Search Apprenticeship.gov
By field and location.
Contact unions and employers
For trade programmes.
Visit an American Job Center
For support.
Consider pre-apprenticeship
To prepare.
Apply and test
Meet requirements.
Use GI Bill or WIOA support
If eligible.
What to have ready
Missing one item is rarely a reason to wait - start now.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- ID
- Driver's licence (some trades)
- Transcripts
What happens after you apply
How it compares
Similar programmes, and which one fits which need.
| Programme | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Apprenticeship | Paid job with training and credential | Earning while learning a trade |
| WIOA training | Free career help and paid training | Job seekers, laid-off workers |
| Community college | Classroom credentials | Academic or technical degrees |
| Job Corps | Residential training | Ages 16-24 |
Real situations
How this plays out for people in common circumstances.
Wants to be an electrician
A 22-year-old applies to a union programme.
Paid training to journeyworker.
Healthcare apprenticeship
A worker becomes a pharmacy tech apprentice.
Paid while certified.
Veteran
A veteran joins a trade.
GI Bill supplements wages.
Needs math skills
A candidate fails entry test.
Pre-apprenticeship helps.
Career change at 38
A retail manager wants a more stable, better-paid career.
She completes a short pre-apprenticeship for women in the trades and is accepted into an electrical apprenticeship, earning from her first week.
What people miss
True, rarely explained, and it changes the outcome.
Paid from day one
Not tuition.
Beyond construction
Healthcare, IT.
GI Bill applies
For veterans.
Pre-apprenticeship
Prep.
Wages rise
As skills grow.
Common reasons people get stuck
Thinking only trades
Broader.
Missing application windows
Check.
Skipping prep
Use pre-apprenticeship.
Not asking job centers
They help.
Unregistered programmes
Check registration.
How it differs by state
State apprenticeship agencies and industries vary.
Key terms explained
The words on forms and letters, in plain English.
- Registered apprenticeship
- An apprenticeship programme approved by the US Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency, meeting national standards.
- Journeyworker
- A fully qualified worker in a trade. Apprentices train under journeyworkers and reach journeyworker status on completion.
- Related technical instruction (RTI)
- The classroom or online part of an apprenticeship, alongside on-the-job learning.
- Wage progression
- The schedule of pay increases as an apprentice gains skills and hours.
- Pre-apprenticeship
- A preparation programme teaching basic skills and work readiness to help people qualify for an apprenticeship.
- Joint apprenticeship training committee (JATC)
- A union-employer committee that runs many construction trade apprenticeships.
Questions people ask
What is a registered apprenticeship?
How do I find an apprenticeship?
Do apprentices get paid?
How long is an apprenticeship?
Can I use the GI Bill for an apprenticeship?
What is a pre-apprenticeship?
How much do apprentices get paid?
Do I have to pay for an apprenticeship?
Can women join construction apprenticeships?
Can I do an apprenticeship if I am over 30?
Do apprenticeships lead to a degree?
What is the difference between an apprenticeship and an internship?
Can I get unemployment benefits during a pre-apprenticeship?
Are there apprenticeships in IT and healthcare?
How long does it take to get into a union apprenticeship?
Can I get financial help for tools and work boots?
Can veterans use the GI Bill for an apprenticeship?
Is an apprenticeship better than college?
What is a direct-entry pre-apprenticeship?
Can I start an apprenticeship without a high school diploma?
Numbers to call
Free lines. We are not affiliated with any of them.
Official sources
Current figures and applications live here.