The Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP) is organized to improve workplace safety, address industry workforce needs, and provide employment and advancement opportunities. TIRAP is a program of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) which is responsible for managing and staffing it. It is recognized by the US Department of Labor (DOL) as the official Industry Intermediary for federally-approved and supported apprenticeship programs. DOL has supplemented WIA’s investment in TIRAP with financial support through awarded grants and contracts. With an Advisory Committee, TIRAP develops program input from business and industry. With this input, TIRAP helps to develop career paths with standards for on-the-job training as well as learning that can be done in a variety of ways- with a company’s in-house trainer, in a class (at a college or university or at an OEM course for example), or online.  Each Employer Sponsor company selects which apprenticeship occupations to support and directly engages apprentices. Almost 80 companies are now official TIRAP Employer sponsors.