Start an apprenticeship program

Why become a registered apprenticeship program sponsor or employer?

• Build your own workforce.

• Create a pathway for a new generation of skilled workers.

• Reduce employee turnover.

• Increase safety in the workplace

Registered vs. non-registered programs

The main difference between registered and non-registered apprenticeships is structure, government support and industry-recognized credentialing. Registered programs have systems in place to protect both the apprentice and the employers.

What is needed to create a registered apprenticeship program?

Our development team will meet with any interested employers and sponsors to discuss what is needed to develop an apprenticeship program to recruit and retain your workforce.

Program sponsor 

The sponsor is the entity that registers and operates the apprenticeship programs. Responsibilities of the program sponsor include working alongside the Department of Labor and Industry to register the program and tracking apprentice hours and progress. The apprenticeship program sponsor can be the employer hiring apprentices, or a third party. Reach out to Apprenticeship Minnesota for more information about how to become a program sponsor.

Employer

The employer puts the “earn” in earn-while-you-learn and is the entity responsible for employing and proving apprentices with on-the-job training. Employers may sign up as a signatory employer for existing programs, or create and run a program to build their own workforce. The number of apprentices each employer can host can vary depending on the employers’ workforce needs and capacity to train new apprentices. 

Related instruction provider 

The related instruction provider provides the classroom training to supplement their on-the-job learning. Related instruction can be provided by a community college, third party education provider or even curriculum created by the employer. 

Journeyworker

The journeyworkers are the foundation of on-the-job learning, they serve as a mentor and subject matter expert to apprentices throughout their program. They are there to support apprentices as they grow their skills by passing on industry knowledge and their wealth of experience.
 
Journeyworker is a broad term to describe any person who is already licensed, certified or trained in the field the apprentice is learning.

Apprentice

If journeyworkers are the foundation of your program, apprentices grow into your future workforce. Participants of a registered apprenticeship program are earning wages and, on the job, learning with their employer and participating in related coursework.

Occupations with registered apprenticeship training programs

Industries that benefit from apprenticeship: 

• Construction 

• Manufacturing 

• Health Care 

• Utilities 

• Transportation 

• Information technology 

• Hospitality 

If you’re interested in how apprenticeship can work for your business, reach out to dli.apprenticeship@state.mn.us.