Final Federal Rule for Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it had issued a final rule to encourage companies, trade associations, colleges, unions and other entities to establish industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs).

IRAPs are high-quality apprenticeship programs, recognized as such by a third-party entity under standards established by the DOL’s new rule. Through these programs, the goal is that individuals will be able to obtain workplace-relevant training and progressively advance skills that result in an industry-recognized credential while being paid to work. 3/23/2020