What is a Registered Apprenticeship Program?
Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.
How do apprenticeship programs work?
Hundreds of apprenticeship roles and job titles are approved, establishing program standards for businesses around the state to start a registered apprenticeship. Program standards include a written commitment to:
- The way you will recruit apprentices
- Teach apprentices with a comprehensive curriculum
- Pay your apprentices and offer a schedule of raises
- Keep apprentices safe on the job
- Stay in good standing with the state
If your industry is new to apprenticeships, we may not have a job description or set of job standards. In that case, you’ll work directly with DAS to create and document your proposed registered apprenticeship program.
If you need financial assistance to establish a registered apprenticeship program, talk to DAS about applying for state and federal grants. Once you apply and your program is approved, we’ll work with you to ensure your program and apprentices thrive in the Massachusetts economy.
Submit your program application
When you’re ready to submit your application:
- Go to the ePLACE portal to see if your occupation is already an option
- Choose the occupation you want to open for apprenticeships. If your occupation is not on the list, you’ll work with DAS to propose a job title and program standards for your application. You can go to Apprenticeship.gov for examples of additional occupations to help you get started.
- Find and select a related instruction training provider, usually a community college, vocational/technical school, or private training provider, to provide the classroom instruction portion of the apprenticeship. If you’re using your in-house instruction, you will need to provide us with a training plan and classroom curriculum.
- Submit and complete your application through the ePlace portal.
It takes an average of six weeks for program approval. DAS will reach out if they need any further information for your application.
If you’re an organization working with multiple employers to help match and place apprentices, you’re required to register with an apprentice co-sponsor agreement. This formalizes the employer’s agreement to hire from your organization.
After your application is approved
- Recruit and hire apprentices.
- Register your new apprentices in ePLACE portal.
- If you’re eligible, sign up for the registered apprentice tax credit (RATC).
- Pay annual fees for apprentice ID cards.
What is the ePLACE portal?
The ePLACE portal is the digital home for everything employers and sponsors need to manage their apprenticeship program. There, you can do many tasks such as:
- Apply for your apprenticeship program
- Add occupations to your program
- Submit program standards and on-the-job training information
- Update apprentice information
- Pay fees
- Complete and upload apprenticeship agreements
Please reach out to staff by email at apprenticeship@mass.gov with any questions or concerns.