Iowa's Registered Apprenticeship Programs

For job seekers, becoming a Registered Apprentice means you’re on the path to a rewarding career where you’ll earn a paycheck from day one - your chance to earn and learn. For businesses, starting a Registered Apprenticeship Program means you’ll build a talented workforce equipped with the skills that specifically fit your company.

Registered Apprenticeship programs are valuable models that employers can use to recruit and develop well-trained workers in highly skilled occupations.

Iowa has been a national leader in Register Apprenticeship programs and has utilized an earn-while-you-learn model to reach success across the economy. However, Iowa also faces significant challenges with establishing long-term pipelines and building the Future Ready workforce needed to keep the state competitive.

To accelerate the growth and development of Registered Apprenticeships across Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed legislation to establish the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA). The transition will move Iowa to become a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA), positioning the state to better promote innovation and allowing us to create a more efficient process to help high school students, job seekers, and employers find more opportunity in Registered Apprenticeship.

Once finalized, Iowa will become the 27th state in the U.S. to become an SAA.

Establishing the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship (IOA) will help keep the state competitive, responsive, and innovative by doing the following:

• Creating more efficient ways for Iowans to obtain portable and transferable credentials linked to fast-growing and high-demand careers.
• Creating more opportunities for in-school youth through apprenticeships and credential-attainment.
• Creating multiple points of entry into the workforce for adults who require competency-based credentials to work or upskill in their careers.

Employers can use Registered Apprenticeships as an effective human resources strategy to recruit quality candidates, train employees to the specific needs of their businesses, and retain a highly-skilled workforce. Registered Apprenticeships can also be used to upskill a current workforce or to accelerate the productivity of new hires. Through the use of standardized training curricula, employers can ensure their employees have a comprehensive understanding of both the practical and theoretical components for particular occupations. Registered Apprentices are provided with opportunities for incremental wage increases, industry-recognized credentials, and a defined career path.

New industries are offering opportunities including: information technology, financial services, healthcare, transportation, energy, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality. A Registered Apprenticeship is an appropriate option for all job seekers including women, minorities, youth, people with disabilities, and veterans.

Visit earnandlearniowa.gov to further explore Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in Iowa or dol.gov/apprenticeship to learn more about Registered Apprenticeships from the Department of Labor.

The State of Iowa continues work to expand Registered Apprenticeship as a rewarding career option for Iowans and as a talent development program for employers.   To keep track and monitor progress of Registered Apprenticeship in Iowa, Iowa Workforce Development acquires quarterly data extracts from the U.S. Department of Labor.  This data is used to track growth on a variety of topics: demographics, industry, occupation, programs, employment, and wages.  Many of the insights into these topics are covered in Iowa's Registered Apprenticeship Programs Report.

For more info on Registered Apprenticeship in Iowa view: Iowa's Registered Apprenticeship Programs Report 2020

A form for Iowans interested in Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the state.

Link to Iowa Registered Apprenticeship: General Interest Form

A form for Iowa employers who are interested in sponsoring a new RA program.

Link to Registered Apprenticeship: Employer Form