Apprenticeship 

Works

for You:

A GUIDE FOR 

INDIVIDUALS 

EXPLORING 

INCLUSIVE 

CAREER PATHS

#ApprenticeshipWorks

OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DOL.GOV/ODEP/APPRENTICESHIP 

TO GET AHEAD IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET, YOU NEED 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE. NOW, MORE AND MORE JOB 

SEEKERS AND WORKERS ARE DISCOVERING A PROVEN 

STRATEGY FOR GAINING BOTH: APPRENTICESHIP. 

Apprenticeship programs offer the opportunity to earn a salary 

while learning the technical skills necessary to succeed in exciting, 

high-demand professions. Combining classroom instruction with 

on-the-job training, apprenticeships may also count toward college 

credit, in some cases even leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s 

degree paid for by your apprenticeship sponsor. 

What’s more, apprenticeships now exist in not only traditional fields, 

such as construction, but also high-growth industries, such as health 

care, information technology, transportation, energy, and many 

others. Now more than ever, apprenticeships can open the door to 

long-term, rewarding careers for everyone, including people with 

disabilities and those with diverse backgrounds, varying skill levels, 

and educational experiences. 

In short, Apprenticeship Works... 

for individuals,

for employers, 

for opportunity, 

for inclusion,

FOR YOU.

Hear More About Apprenticeship

Interested in learning more about apprenticeship 

as a career path? You may want to view 

“#ApprenticeshipWorks,” a video produced 

by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of 

Disability Employment Policy. This video features 

interviews with four diverse apprentices and 

former apprentices in a range of fields, including 

information technology, health care information 

management, and shipbuilding. It is one in a twopart series; the other video focuses on the value of 

apprenticeships to employers through interviews 

with apprenticeship sponsors. To view either 

video, visit www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/

Apprenticeshipworks-video-series.htm.



#APPRENTICESHIPWORKS

OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DOL.GOV/ODEP/APPRENTICESHIP
What is an apprenticeship? 

An apprenticeship is a job that allows you to earn money while

gaining skills and experience through both technical instruction

and hands-on training. As an apprentice, you start working on

day one and receive pay increases as you learn new skills and take

on more responsibilities. In fact, the average starting wage for an

apprentice is $15.00 per hour. When researching apprenticeships,

it’s important to look for whether a program meets established

standards that make its credentials transferrable and recognizable

to employers across the country.

What occupations can I train for through apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship offers access to thousands of career paths. Some

of the top occupations for Registered Apprenticeship programs

include carpenter, chef, construction craft laborer, dental assistant,

electrician, software engineer, mechatronics technician, elevator

constructor, fire medic, law enforcement agent, over-the-road

truck driver, and pipefitter. But really, these examples just scrape

the surface of the opportunities available in a wide range of

exciting industries, including those predicted to grow significantly

in the coming years.

Who can become an apprentice?

People eligible for apprenticeship programs are as diverse as

the opportunities available. Because entry requirements vary by

program, apprentices reflect a range of backgrounds and educational

experiences. The eligible starting age for Registered Apprenticeship

can be no less than 16; however, in certain occupations, you need to

be at least 18. Each apprenticeship program’s sponsor also develops

its own minimum qualifications related to education and the ability 

to perform essential job functions. The U.S. Department of Labor is 

currently in the process of partnering with industry groups, 

companies, nonprofit organizations, unions, joint labor-management

organizations, and many others to help them design apprenticeship 

programs that fit their unique industry needs.

Some apprentices start their journey in pre-apprenticeship 

programs. These programs prepare people to enter and 

succeed in apprenticeships by enhancing their qualifications and 

expertise. Like apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships involve both 

classroom instruction and the chance to apply new skills in the 

real-world environment.

Do apprenticeships offer a disability-inclusive career path?

Yes! Apprenticeship is a tried and tested career pathway for 

all people, including people with disabilities. Individuals with 

disabilities can offer employers a competitive edge, helping 

diversify and strengthen their workplaces through varied 

perspectives on how to confront challenges and get the job done. 

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor protects applicants and 

current participants in Registered Apprenticeship programs from 

discrimination on the basis of disability. 

If you are a person with a disability and are qualified for the 

program, your apprenticeship sponsor must provide you with 

a reasonable accommodation to allow equal employment 

opportunity, unless to do so would cause undue burden. An 

applicant for an apprenticeship may also require a reasonable 

accommodation to assist in applying and interviewing for an 

apprenticeship. Generally, the individual with a disability must 

inform the sponsor that an accommodation is needed. Also, 

Registered Apprenticeship programs are taking proactive 

steps to recruit people with disabilities. This is why you may be 

asked to self-identify as a person with a disability, both during 

the application and hiring process and once enrolled in an 

apprenticeship program.

Apprentices and their employers who need help determining 

effective accommodations can use the Job Accommodation 

Network (JAN). A free service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s 

Office of Disability Employment Policy, JAN is the leading 

source of free, expert, and confidential assistance on workplace 

accommodations. It offers one-on-one guidance over the phone at 

(800) 526-7234 or (877) 781-9403 (TTY) or via email or live chat.

JAN’s website, AskJAN.org, also offers a wealth of information,

including an A to Z guide of disabilities and accommodations.

How long are apprenticeship programs?

The time it takes to complete an apprenticeship varies depending 

on a number of factors, including the occupation and nature of 

program. They range from one to six years, with most being 

somewhere in the middle. During this time, you participate in both 

on-the-job training and classroom-based instruction, which may 

count toward college credit. Sometimes these two components 

happen in tandem. For instance, you might spend three days a 

week on the job and two days in the classroom, or you might have 

a few weeks or months of instruction followed by continuous time 

in the workplace. Either way, apprenticeships are designed to 

meet the needs of the occupation, including the number of hours 

apprentices spend in the classroom and on the job each year.

What’s life like after an apprenticeship? 

Completion of an apprenticeship program results in a portable, 

industry-recognized credential that serves as the foundation for 

a long-term career with a competitive salary and little, if any, 

educational debt. In fact, the average salary for a fully skilled 

worker who completes an apprenticeship program is $60,000. 

Apprenticeship alumni often work for their employers for years to 

come, moving into management or, if entrepreneurial in spirit, starting 

businesses of their own later down the line. Many also become 

educators or trainers, helping build their industry’s future workforce. 

They are innovators and leaders, in not just their workplaces, but also 

the local communities in which they work and live.

How can I learn about apprenticeship opportunities near me?

Apprenticeship programs exist in communities across the U.S., 

many sponsored by some of the nation’s most well-known 

companies. To learn more, visit the Apprenticeship Finder 

(www.dol.gov/featured/apprenticeship/find-opportunities), 

which allows you to search for available opportunities by state and city. 

On this page, you can also read about the experiences of apprentices 

and former apprentices working in a wide range of occupations. 

You can also learn more about apprenticeship programs, as well 

as other opportunities for training and employment, by contacting 

your nearest American Job Center (www.servicelocator.org). 

If you are a person with a disability, your state’s Vocational 

Rehabilitation agency (www.rsa.ed.gov/people.cfm) may also 

be able to help you explore the options available. 

REGISTERED 

APPRENTICESHIP 

PROGRAM 

SPOTLIGHT: 

NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING 

“You can get paid to go to 

school and learn a craft or 

a skill. It’s something that 

you’ve earned. It’s something 

that will always be with you.” 

- Kristee Arceo, Marine Engineering

Apprentice, Newport News

Shipbuilding

The Apprentice School at Newport 

News Shipbuilding in Newport 

News, Virginia, offers multi-year 

Registered Apprenticeships in a 

wide range of shipbuilding fields as 

well as advanced programs of study. 

These apprenticeships offer the 

opportunity to simultaneously learn 

a trade, receive competitive pay, 

and earn college credit. They also 

provide Newport News Shipbuilding a 

continuous supply of employees with 

the skills and knowledge necessary to 

grow and succeed in the years ahead.

REGISTERED 

APPRENTICESHIP 

PROGRAM 

SPOTLIGHT:

URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT

“If you are considering an 

apprenticeship, I would 

definitely go for it.”

- Derek Schwartz, Information

Technology Apprentice, Central

High School, Philadelphia

The Computer Support Specialists 

Information Technology (IT) 

apprenticeship program run by the 

Urban Technology Project trains 

individuals for IT careers, allowing 

them to gain technical skills and put 

them to work in Philadelphia high 

schools. In addition to providing 

much needed IT support for these 

schools, apprentices gain leadership 

skills by organizing after-school 

computer clubs and participating in 

other community-building activities. 

Upon completion of the program, 

many alumni go on to work for the 

school district, while others pursue IT 

jobs at firms in and around the city.

REGISTERED 

APPRENTICESHIP 

PROGRAM 

SPOTLIGHT: 

MEDPARTNERS 

“The apprenticeship 

definitely gave me the 

confidence that I didn’t have 

before. It gave me the tools 

to understand what I am 

doing. It gave me the tools 

to look at something in a 

different way.” 

- LaTasha Hall, Health Information

Management Professional,

MedPartners

MedPartners’ apprenticeship 

program is designed to bridge 

education and employment in 

health information management, 

often referred to as medical 

coding. The company developed 

the program in collaboration with 

the American Health Information 

Management Association as a way 

to build a pipeline of professionals 

with the skills needed to keep pace 

with rapid changes in the field. 

Apprentices serve MedPartners’ 

client hospitals and other health 

care facilities across the nation, 

and the computer-based nature of 

the work means they may have the 

opportunity to work from home.