In Fiscal Year 2006, more than 450,000 apprentices, received training in more than 29,200 registered programs. There were more than 187,521 new apprentices registered. It is estimated that more than 454,500 apprentices will receive training during fiscal year 2007, and more than 459,000 in Fiscal Year 2008.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Under the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) apprenticeship training programs and apprentices are registered in 23 States.

OA also provides technical assistance and works closely with State Apprenticeship Councils/State Apprenticeship Agencies (SACs/SAAs) in the remaining 27 States, the District of Columbia, and three territories that register programs and apprentices in accordance with Federal standards.

OA provides information on existing and recommended standards of training in registered apprenticeship as well as on other types of industrial skill improvement programs.

The wage rates of apprentices in registered programs (Federal and State) are exempt from the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act.

Registered Apprenticeship is the combination of learning on-the-job and related technical and theoretical instruction in a skilled occupation.

Registered programs are driven directly by the demands of the labor market.

The training is industry-driven, voluntarily sponsored by individual employers, employer associations, and/or by joint employer-employee groups.

OA brings these entities together, as appropriate, to formulate registered apprenticeship training programs which meet the federal standards.

Various educational institutions and sponsors provide theoretical and related instruction.

Special efforts are being made to introduce the apprenticeship concept of training into high-growth industries and occupations.

The Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, representing employers, labor, vocational education, and others with an interest in skill training, advises the Secretary of Labor on apprenticeship and training issues.

Special grants are provided to eligible organizations to assist employer and labor unions in placement and retention of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Employers,a group of employers, or an association of employers, or individual employers with or without in each case the participation of a labor union.

For grants: community based organizations, which may be faith based - see announcement of solicitation for grant applications.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Individuals applying for acceptance into an apprenticeship training program must be at least 16 years old and must satisfy the apprenticeship program sponsor that they have sufficient ability, aptitude, and education to master the rudiments of the trade/occupation and to satisfactorily complete the related theoretical instruction required in the program.

Credentials/Documentation

Along with the completed application form, each prospective apprentice may be required by the sponsor to submit a transcript of school subjects and grades, proof of age, an honorable military discharge (if applicable), and a high-school diploma or equivalency certificate (if applicable). References from all previous employers may be required.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Prospective program sponsors must meet with an OA or SAC/SAA field representative, as appropriate, to draw up a set of apprenticeship training program standards. These include the age and educational background of apprentices, and a schedule of the work processes and related theoretical instruction subjects to be covered during the training program. The program will be registered if it meets Federal requirements covering (a) the apprenticeability of the occupation(s) and (b) the suitability of the training standards for providing apprentices with sufficient knowledge to become skilled workers. Grants for projects are awarded on a competitive basis, announced in Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGAs) in the Federal Register and also on ETA's Internet website at http://www.doleta.gov. To compete for a grant, organizations develop a proposal and budget that demonstrate how the organization will provide services to a targeted population. The SGA provides all of the necessary information for applying for federal assistance.

Award Procedures

Not applicable for advisory services and counseling type of assistance. Procedures for grant projects are specified in the applicable request for proposals. Generally, the procedure is as follows: A technical review panel composed of staff from ETA program offices as well as peer reviewers evaluates eligible submitted applications. The panel prepares a report for the ETA Grant Officer identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the application and the cumulative rating. Once selections are made by the Grant Officer, an Award Notification is sent through the appropriate congressional channels for notification. After awardees are notified, the list of awardees is posted on the ETA website at www.doleta.gov. If an application is rejected, a letter is sent to the applicant as notification that they were not selected as a recipient of the grant.

Deadlines

For grants, specified in the applicable request for proposals, but generally 45 to 60 days from announcement.

Authorization

National Apprenticeship Act of 1937, as amended, Public Law 75-308, 50 Stat. 664, 57 Stat. 518, 29 U.S.C. 50, 50a, 50b.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

For grants, from 45 to 90 days.

Appeals

OA refusal to register programs and OA deregistration of existing programs may be appealed to the Secretary of Labor as provided in Title 29 CFR Part 29. For grants, procedures for each project are specified in the applicable request for proposals.

Renewals

Not applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not applicable.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The program sponsor reports new apprentice registrations, suspensions, cancellations, completions, and program status to the OA or SAC/SAA field representative.

For grants, quarterly financial and performance reports are normally required.

See SGA for further information.

Audits

Not applicable for advisory services and counseling type of assistance. For grants, subject to audits by the Department of Labor or other authorized Government agencies. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Apprenticeship selection records showing compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements set out in 29 CFR Part 30 are required to be kept for 5 years.

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-0172-0-1-504, 16-0174-0-1-504.

Obigations

(Federal salaries and expenses) FY 07 $21,000,000; FY 08 est $21,000,000; and FY 09 est $23,000,000. (Project grants) FY 07 $1,000,000; FY 08 est $1,000,000; and FY 09 est $1,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Further information concerning the program may be found in 29 CFR 29: "Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs"; 29 CFR 30: "Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training".

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Regional or Local Office Persons are encouraged to communicate with the Regional Directors of the Office of Apprenticeship (OA), as appropriate. The Regional Directors are the following: Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands), Mr. Joseph T Hersh, , Boston Acting Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, 170S. Independence Mall West, Suite 825 East, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3314, Telephone (215) 861-4830, FAX (215) 861-4833, E-mail: hersh.joseph@dol.gov; Region II (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia), Mr. Joseph T. Hersh, USDOL/ETA/OA, 170 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 825 East, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3314, Telephone (215) 861-4830, FAX (215) 861-4833, E-mail: hersh.joseph@dol.gov.; Region III (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee), Mr. Garfield G. Garner, Jr., Atlanta Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Room 6T71 Atlanta, GA 30303-8938, Telephone (404) 302-5478FAX (404) 302-5479, E-mail: garner. garfield@dol.gov., Region IV (Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming), Mr. Steven D. Opitz), Dallas Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, Federal Building, 525 Griffin Street Room 303, Dallas, TX 75202, Telephone (972) 850-4681, FAX (972) 850-4688,E-Mail: opitz.steve@dol.gov.; Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin), Mr. Terrence Benewich, Chicago Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, 230 South Dearborn Street Room 656 Chicago, IL 60604-1505; Telephone (312) 596-5500, FAX (312) 596-5501, E-Mail: benewich.terrence@dol.gov.; Region VI (Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington), Mr. Michaael W. Longeuay, San Francisco Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, 90 Seventh St., Suite 17-100, San Francisco, CA 94103- 1516,Telephone (415) 625-2230, FAX (415) 625-2235, E-Mail longeuay.michael@dol.gov.

Headquarters Office

Office of Apprenticeship (OA), Anthony Swoope, OA Administrator, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-5311, Washington, DC 20210 Telephone: (202) 693-2796 Fax: (202) 693-2808.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.