Apprenticeship Community – Employer Associations, Labor Unions, 

Apprentices, State Apprenticeship Agency

 ACA – Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship

DOL engages the Apprenticeship Community 

Using the ACA’s recommendations, DOL developed and published a Notice 

of Proposed Rule Making, (NPRM) to solicit comments from the public on 

proposed changes.

Apprenticeship Community comments to DOL

DOL received 2,660 comments about the proposed changes. All comments 

were reviewed, discussed and resulted in several changes. 

DOL collaboration with ACA

The Secretary of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA) 

developed recommendations to revise the National Apprenticeship System 

regulations Title, 29 C.F.R. part 29. The ACA submitted the recommendations 

to DOL. 

DOL publishes fi nal rule for Apprenticeship Community 

DOL issued the fi nal rule to update the regulations that implement the National 

Apprenticeship Act of 1937.

 Apprenticeship Community receives fi nal rule from DOL

21ST CENTURY 

APPRENTICESHIP

How the Revised Regulations 

Strengthen the National 

Apprenticeship System

In 2006, the Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA) and 

other stakeholder groups submitted recommendations to DOL 

regarding revisions to Title 29 CFR part 29. Based on these 

recommendations, DOL developed a proposal to update the 

regulations. On December 13, 2007, DOL’s Employment and 

Training Administration (ETA) published a Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking to solicit public comment on the proposed 

regulatory revisions. After the comment period closed on March 

12, 2008, DOL reviewed all comments and in many cases, 

modified the revised regulations to accommodate commenter 

concerns before issuing the final rule.

Regulations Development Process Web Resources

DOL is committed to helping stakeholders 

understand and implement the changes outlined 

in the revised regulations. More information about 

the changes to the National Apprenticeship System 

regulations, as well as information on training and 

additional guidance, can be found online at the 

following sites:

http://www.doleta.gov/oa/regulations.cfm – 

A comprehensive guide to the new regulations and 

what they mean to you. 

http://www.doleta.gov/OA – The official site of 

DOL’s Office of Apprenticeship.

www.regulations.gov – The source for all 

rulemakings issued by U.S. government agencies.

You also can reach the Office of Apprenticeship 

at (202) 693-2796 or via email at Regs.

Apprenticeship@dol.gov.

Regulations Effective Date

The revised regulations take effect on December 

29, 2008, and provide State Apprenticeship 

Agencies (SAAs) with up to an additional two 

years from the effective date to implement 

necessary changes. 

United States Department of Labor

200 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20210

www.dol.gov
The changes outlined in 

the revised regulations 

benefit and strengthen the 

apprenticeship model by 

creating a system that can 

grow and adapt to the needs 

of an evolving economy. 

In doing so, the System 

builds on its rich history of 

putting Americans on the 

path to stable, high-salary 

employment and expands its 

role as a highly successful 

training and career option.

Apprenticeship Completion

Three methods for apprentices to 

progress through an apprenticeship 

program to completion.

Provides program sponsors with the option to offer any of 

three different pathways which best serves the apprentice’s or 

employer’s needs: 

The traditional, time-based approach, which requires the 

apprentice to complete a specific number of On-the-Job Learning 

(OJL) and Related Technical Instruction (RTI) hours; 

A competency-based approach, which requires the apprentice to 

demonstrate competency in defined subject areas and requires 

OJL and RTI.

A hybrid approach, which requires the apprentice to complete 

a minimum number of OJL and RTI hours and demonstrate 

competency in the defined subject areas.

Interim Credentials

Provides for Registration Agencies 

to issue interim credentials to 

active apprentices for recognized 

components of an apprenticeable 

occupation. Programs that choose 

to issue interim credentials must 

clearly identify those credentials in the 

program standards. 

Offers portable recognition of apprentices’ accomplishments. 

Enables apprentices to demonstrate to employers their proficiency 

in particular required skills and competencies.

Meets the needs of high growth industries that value and utilize 

certifications.

Technology-based Learning

Defines electronic media and explicitly 

allows for its use in the provision of 

related technical instruction.

Provides for flexibility in the delivery of related technical instruction. 

Supports distance learning and broader uses of technology in 

related technical instruction.

Program Performance Standards

Establishes a new section on 

performance standards to increase 

program quality and enhance 

accountability.

Introduces completion rates as a critical factor in evaluation of 

program quality. 

Emphasizes the existing process of using quality assurance 

assessments and Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance 

Reviews to evaluate program performance. 

Provisional Registration

Introduces provisional registration. 

After one year, provisionally approved 

programs are reviewed for quality, and 

may receive full recognition, continue 

provisional registration through the first 

training cycle, or be recommended 

for derecognition if not operating or 

conforming to regulations. 

Increases quality and success rates by providing for newly 

registered programs to be reviewed at the end of the provisional 

registration year. 

Provides program sponsors with enhanced opportunities for 

technical assistance during provisional registration. 

For over 70 years, the National Apprenticeship 

System has provided millions of Americans 

with rigorous, employer-driven job training 

and concurrent employment in a variety of 

industries. In 1977, the Department of Labor 

(DOL) promulgated regulations for operation 

of the System. Since then, the evolving 21st 

century economy, with its technological advances 

and shifting demographics, requires updated 

regulations to support a more flexible National 

Apprenticeship System. The newly revised 

regulations position Registered Apprenticeship 

to expand employment opportunities for millions 

of workers by providing the skills and training 

needed to succeed in today’s growing and 

emerging industries. 

The revised regulations:

Increase the flexibility within the Registered 

Apprenticeship model and align the National 

Apprenticeship System with the interests of a 

new generation of workers and the demands 

of a broad range of employers from traditional 

industries to emerging occupations.

Protect the welfare of apprentices while 

offering flexible career pathways and longterm economic security.

Promote apprenticeship as a critical talent 

development strategy, improving the nation’s 

economic competitiveness and furthering the 

growth of today’s regional economies.

Provide consistency and continuity across 

administration and management of the 

System to enhance program quality and 

performance.

For program sponsors, a flexible, modernized apprenticeship system: 

Program sponsors can now offer three different approaches for 

apprentices to complete a program: competency-based, time-based 

and a hybrid of the two approaches. The regulations also explicitly 

incorporate the use of electronic media and other tools to support 

technology-based and distance learning options. The regulations 

streamline the program registration and review process by establishing 

provisional registration and 90-day time frames for registration 

agencies to process sponsor requests. 

For apprentices, increased program quality and portable interim 

credentials: 

The revised regulatory framework protects the welfare of the apprentice 

by enhancing performance evaluation methods and standards that 

focus on improving overall program quality. The regulations also align 

with the needs of new workers by providing for interim credentials, 

which offer active apprentices recognition of accomplishments and 

enable them to demonstrate to employers their proficiency in critical 

skills and competencies. 

For the National Apprenticeship System, enhanced consistency 

and accountability: 

The revised regulations include provisions that increase consistency 

across the National Apprenticeship System and establish clear 

accountability between the DOL and the state agency that oversees 

apprenticeship for Federal purposes. These measures create a stronger 

framework for the use of the Registered Apprenticeship model in 

emerging high-growth industries across various geographic regions. 

For the public workforce system, a framework that supports 

expanded partnerships: 

The evolving 21st century economy demands new approaches to 

build a skilled, competitive workforce. The revised apprenticeship 

regulations respond to these demands by providing flexible options 

to both employers and workers that emphasize developing industrydriven, transferable skills. With this increased flexibility, the revised 

regulations provide for more integration of apprenticeship with the 

public workforce system to expand career opportunities in changing 

economic conditions. 

How the Revised Regulations Benefit 

Registered Apprenticeship 

New Regulation

Highlights