Registered Apprenticeship and Other Training (17.201)

Program

17.201 Registered Apprenticeship and Other Training

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Labor
Office: Employment Training Administration

Authorization

National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 (Fitzgerald Act), Title 29, Part 29, Public Law 075-75-308, 50 Stat. 664, 29 U.S.C 50-50a-50b.

Program Number

17.201

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To stimulate and assist industry in the development, expansion, and improvement of Registered Apprenticeship and other training programs designed to provide the skilled workers required by U.S. employers, ensure equal employment opportunities in Registered Apprenticeship and other training programs, and ensure the quality of all new and existing Registered Apprenticeship programs.

Types of Assistance

Training

Uses and Use Restrictions

Under the Office of Apprenticeship (OA), apprenticeship training programs and apprentices are registered in 25 States. OA also provides technical assistance and works closely with State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs) in the remaining 25 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/emerging industries and occupations and also to build a pipeline of skilled workers, particularly in the health care, green jobs, and advanced manufacturing sectors. 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 employers and labor unions in placement and retention of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.

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 equivalence certificate (if applicable). References from all previous employers may be required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Prospective program sponsors must meet with an OA or 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 Procedure

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

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

For grants, from 45 to 90 days.

Appeals

From 15 to 30 days. OA refusal to register programs and OA de-registration of existing programs may be appealed to the OA Administrator as provided in Title 29 CFR Part 29. For grants, procedures for each project are specified in the applicable request for proposals.

Renewals

Reinstatement of program registration is set out in Title 29 CFR Part 29.9.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

For grants, procedures for each project are specified in the applicable request for proposals. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: For grants, procedures for each project are specified in the applicable request for proposals.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. The program sponsor reports new apprentice registrations, suspensions, cancellations, completions, and program status to the OA or SAA field representative. Quarterly financial reports are normally required for grants. See SGA for further information. Quarterly performance reports are normally required for grants. See SGA for further information.

Audits

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. For grants, this program is subject to audits by the Department of Labor or other authorized Government agencies. Not applicable for advisory services and counseling type of assistance.

Records

Apprenticeship selection records showing compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements set out in Title 29 CFR Part 30 are required to be kept for 5 years. Also, recording and maintenance of all records concerning apprenticeship as may be required by OA or recognized SAA and other applicable law as provided in Title 29 CFR Part 29.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Quarterly Workforce System Results Website: http://www.doleta.gov/performance/results/Archive_Reports.cfm. Fiscal Year 2009: Quarterly Workforce System Results Website: http://www.doleta.gov/performance/results/Reports.cfm?#etaqr. Fiscal Year 2010: Budget Performance Information is available at www.dol.gov/dol/aboutdol/main.htm#budget.

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-0172-0-1-504 - Federal Salaries and Expenses; 16-0174-0-1-504 - Project Grants.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $22,000,000; FY 09 est $21,000,000; FY 10 est $28,000,000. (Project Grants) FY 08 $1,000,000; FY 09 est $1,000,000; FY 10 est $1,000,000 - WANTO.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

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

Related Programs

17.207 Employment Service/Wagner-Peyser Funded Activities; 17.260 WIA Dislocated Workers; 17.303 Wage and Hour Standards

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. 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), Ms. Jill Houser, Boston Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, JFK Federal Building, Room E 370, Boston, MA 02203, Telephone (617) 788-0177, FAX (617) 788-0304, E-mail: houser.jill@dol.gov; Region II (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia), Mr. Joseph T. Hersh, Philadelphia Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, 170 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 820 East, Philadelphia, PA 19106, 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, SW, Room 6T71, Atlanta, GA 30303, Telephone (404) 302-5478, FAX (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, Room 303, 525 S. Griffin Street, 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. Dean Guido, Chicago Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 656, Chicago, IL 60604, Telephone (312) 596-5500, FAX (312) 596-5501, E-Mail: guido.dean@dol.gov; Region VI (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington), Mr. Michael W. Longeuay, San Francisco Regional Director, USDOL/ETA/OA, 90 Seventh St., Suite 17-100, San Francisco, CA 94103,Telephone (415) 625-2230, FAX (415) 625-2235, E-Mail longeuay.michael@dol.gov.

Headquarters Office

Anna Velez USDOL/ETA/OA, Room N-5311
Frances Perkins Building
200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20210 Email: velez.anna@dol.gov Phone: (202) 693-3812 Fax: (202) 693-3799

Web Site Address

http://www.doleta.gov/oa

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Six grants have been awarded under the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) program, which is jointly administered by the Women�s Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration�s Office of Apprenticeship. Three grants were awarded in June 2007 and another three in June 2008. The total amount awarded was $2 million dollars among the six grantees. The Department emphasized training women for jobs in the construction industry. The purpose of WANTO grants is to increase the number of women entering and remaining in apprenticeships associated with non-traditional occupations. Grant funds are provided to eligible community-based organizations that, in turn, provide technical assistance to help employers and labor unions place and retain women in apprenticeships that are in nontraditional occupations. Fiscal Year 2009: NA. Fiscal Year 2010: NA.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.