98P-06 Report Summary Introduction Apprenticeship is a form of skill training. Apprentices learn by working under the supervision of a mentor or master craft worker. The education acquired through work experience is supplemented with training provided through classroom instruction or corre-spondence course work.
Apprenticeships usually last four years, but can range from one to five years.
As apprentices gradually learn the mechanics of the trade, they receive higher pay and perform their work under less supervision. Completion of an apprenticeship program leads to journeyman status in a skilled trade. In Montana, the apprenticeship system is administered by the Department of Labor and Industry. There are currently 564 employer-sponsors and 896 apprentices registered with the department. Employer and apprentice participation in a registered apprenticeship system is voluntary.