Apprenticeship
Department of Labor and Industries, Apprenticeship Section
Telephone: (360) 902-5320
General email: apprentice@lni.wa.gov
Website: www.lni.wa.gov/TradesLicensing/Apprenticeship/
- Apprenticeship Registration and Tracking System (ARTS): www.lni.wa.gov/arts
- Participation: 13,046 participants were served by apprenticeship programs between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015.
- Who is served: Participants must be at least 16 years old and meet all minimum qualifications established by industry standards included in written apprenticeship agreements.
Program Description
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is the administrative arm of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. The Council’s primary goal is to promote development and implementation of apprenticeship programs in the state. These programs provide individuals with the ability to progress from entry-level to fully qualified journey-level workers through structured on-the-job training programs supplemented with related theoretical instruction. The Apprenticeship Agreement or Standards of Apprenticeship include a progressive increase in scale of wages. Completion standards include minimum total work hours (2,000-10,000 hours, depending on occupation) and annual minimums for related and supplemental instruction (144 hours). L&I also develops, approves, and monitors on-the-job training programs for occupations requiring less than 2,000 hours of work experience.
Program Characteristics
Apprenticeship programs are developed by business and labor and are constantly reviewed by these entities to ensure apprenticeship training standards respond to workforce needs. L&I systematically reviews approved apprenticeship programs (including adequate participation of females and minorities). Apprenticeship Consultants assist in the development of more than 15 new apprenticeship programs each year.
Program History
The federal Fitzgerald Act of 1937 established an apprenticeship program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship. The office sets labor standards for apprentices, registers apprenticeship programs, and certifies states to register apprenticeship and training programs. Washington adopted an apprenticeship law in 1941. The Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council sets the program’s policy.