Apprenticeship Training Program Administrator's Guide

Part E: Common Terms

Apprenticeship Agreement

An apprenticeship agreement is a signed commitment between the apprentice and the employer sponsor. The apprentice agrees to perform the work and complete the related study. The employer agrees to make every effort to keep the apprentice employed and to comply with the standards established for the registered apprenticeship training program.

Office of Apprenticeship

Office of Apprenticeship is the federal agency responsible for the administration of national apprenticeship standards in the United States. Office of Apprenticeship encourages and helps industries develop, expand, and improve registered apprenticeship training programs. Through its field staff in Texas, Office of Apprenticeship works with local employers, employer groups, labor-management organizations, and state and federal agencies in the registration process of programs that meet national apprenticeship standards.

Locally Approved Apprenticeship Training Program Standards

Locally approved apprenticeship training program standards are partially characterized under 29 C.F.R. Part 29.5, as follows:

• full and fair opportunity to apply for apprenticeship;
• a schedule of work processes in which an apprentice is to receive training and experience on the job;
• the program includes related classroom instruction designed to provide apprentices with knowledge in technical subjects related to their trade (e.g., a minimum of 144 hours per year is normally considered necessary);
• a progressively increasing schedule of wages;
• proper supervision of on-the-job training with adequate facilities to train apprentices;
• apprentice's progress, both in job performance and related classroom instruction, is evaluated periodically and appropriate records are maintained; and
• no discrimination in any phase of selection, employment, or training.

On-the-Job Training

On-the-job training is structured, supervised training consisting of at least 2,000 on-the-job hours depending on the occupation. Every apprentice participating in a registered apprenticeship training program enters into an apprenticeship agreement. The employer sponsor and the apprentice agree to the terms of the apprenticeship standards incorporated as part of the agreement. The actual on-the-job training is set forth in the apprenticeship standards. Skilled journeyworkers (one or more) supervise the apprentice. The apprentice's supervisor reviews, evaluates, and maintains records relating to the apprentice's job performance. As the apprentice demonstrates satisfactory progress in both on-the-job training and related classroom instruction, he or she advances in accordance with the wage schedule provided in the locally approved apprenticeship training program standards.

Related Classroom Instruction

Related classroom instruction provides apprentices with required components of registered apprenticeship training programs and supplements on-the-job training. A minimum of 144 hours per year is normally considered necessary for each occupation. Related classroom instruction may be given through trade, industrial, or correspondence courses of equivalent value, or other forms of self-study approved by Office of Apprenticeship.

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