Apprenticeship 

Works

for Inclusion:

A GUIDE TO 

HELPING PEOPLE 

WITH DISABILITIES 

EXPLORE INCLUSIVE 

CAREER PATHS

#ApprenticeshipWorks

OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY 

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

TO GET AHEAD IN TODAY’S ECONOMY, AMERICA’S 

WORKERS NEED SKILLS AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE. 

LIKEWISE, EMPLOYERS IN ALL INDUSTRIES NEED A 

HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE TO GROW AND TO THRIVE. 

THE SOLUTION FOR FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF BOTH? 

APPRENTICESHIP. 

Apprentices earn a salary while gaining the skills necessary to 

succeed in exciting, high-demand professions. In many cases, 

they can also earn college credit, even an associate’s or bachelor’s 

degree, paid for by their employer. Combining classroom instruction 

with on-the-job training, apprenticeships also help businesses, both 

large and small, bridge skills gaps and bring new and more diverse 

talent into the workplace. 

What’s more, apprenticeship programs now exist in not 

only traditional trades, such as construction, but also highgrowth industries, such as health care, information technology, 

transportation, energy, and many others. Because of this versatility, 

apprenticeship is a smart, long-term career strategy for many 

people, including those with disabilities and others with diverse 

backgrounds and educational experiences. 

In short, Apprenticeship Works... 

for individuals,

for employers, 

for business,

for opportunity, 

FOR INCLUSION.

Hear More About Apprenticeship

Educators and service providers interested in learning 

more and educating individuals and employers about 

the benefits of apprenticeship may want to access the 

two-part “#ApprenticeshipWorks” video series produced 

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

Employment Policy. This video series features interviews 

with four diverse apprentices and former apprentices in a 

range of fields, including information technology, health 

care information management, and shipbuilding, as well as 

representatives from the organizations that sponsor their 

apprenticeship programs. To view the videos, visit 

www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/Apprenticeshipworksvideo-series.htm



#APPRENTICESHIPWORKS

OFFICE OF DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT POLICY 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DOL.GOV/ODEP/APPRENTICESHIP
Why apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a job that allows an individual to both earn 

money and learn through a combination of technical instruction 

and hands-on training. Apprentices start working on day one and 

receive pay increases as they 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, individuals should look for

whether a program meets national standards that make its

credentials transferrable and recognizable to employers across

the country. This may also mean the program strives to include

people with disabilities and other diverse populations.

Completion of an apprenticeship program lays the foundation 

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

any, educational debt. The average salary for a fully proficient 

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.

What industries offer apprenticeships? 

Whatever someone’s interest or career aspirations, there’s likely 

a path to achieving it through apprenticeship. 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. 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 are good candidates for apprenticeships?

Because of the diversity of opportunities available, apprenticeships

are a good option for people from a wide range of backgrounds

and educational experiences, including people with disabilities,

minorities, and individuals from other at-risk, underserved, and/

or underrepresented populations. The eligible starting age for

Registered Apprenticeship can be no less than 16; however, in

certain occupations, individuals must be 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.

In some industries, there also may be opportunities for preapprenticeships, which prepare people to enter and succeed in 

apprenticeships by enhancing their qualifications and expertise. 

Like apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships involve both instruction 

and hands-on training.

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 help 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.

For a qualified apprentice with a disability, an apprenticeship 

sponsor must provide 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 individuals 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, educators, employment service providers, and 

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, apprentices participate 

in both on-the-job training and classroom-based instruction, 

which may be delivered by training centers, technical schools, 

community colleges, or even through online learning. Registered 

Apprenticeship programs have certain annual requirements for 

the number of hours apprentices spend in each, and time in 

the classroom often counts toward college credit, based on the 

program design.

Where can I learn about apprenticeship opportunities for my 

students or customers?

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

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

companies. To learn more, interested individuals can visit the 

Apprenticeship Finder (www.dol.gov/featured/apprenticeship/

find-opportunities), where they can search for available 

opportunities by state and city. On this page, they also can read 

about the experiences of apprentices and former apprentices 

working in a wide range of occupations. 

American Job Centers (www.servicelocator.org) are also a good 

source of information about apprenticeship programs, as well 

as other opportunities for training and employment. For people 

with disabilities, state Vocational Rehabilitation agencies (rsa.

ed.gov/people.cfm) also may be able to help in exploring the 

options available. 

Educators and service providers in a position to help people with 

disabilities, especially young people with disabilities, explore 

apprenticeships and other career paths may also want to check 

out several resources available from the U.S. Department of 

Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (www.dol.gov/

odep). Examples include the Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft 

Skills for Workplace Success curriculum and video series (www.

dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills) and Youth with Disabilities 

Entering the Workplace through Apprenticeship toolkit and 

accompanying research report (www.dol.gov/odep/topics/

youth/Apprenticeship.htm).

REGISTERED 

APPRENTICESHIP 

PROGRAM 

SPOTLIGHT: 

NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING 

“Our apprentices typically 

spend two days a week in 

academics and three days 

a week down on the job. 

They’re getting paid the entire 

time.” 

- David Tilman, Manager, Product

Training, The Apprentice School,

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

“On-the-job training is a 

tried and true practice on 

building expertise. The 

young people we work with 

are diverse. They come 

from our underserved 

and underrepresented 

communities.”

- Edison Freire, Director, Educational

Technology, School District of

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.