Apprenticeship is a voluntary, industry-driven program which is sponsored by employers, employer associations, and jointly by management and labor. An apprentice, as an employee, receives supervised, structured, on-the-job training combined with related technical instruction in a specific occupation.

Apprenticeship is open to anyone age 16 or older, however, an employer may set a higher entry age. Individuals must be age 18 to apprentice in specified hazardous occupations.

The Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council is the registration agency for apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship sponsors who seek the approval of the Council must develop "Standards of Apprenticeship" which include an organized written training plan, the terms and conditions of employment, attendance at related instruction, an equal employment opportunity pledge, and proper supervision of the apprentice(s) in an apprenticeable occupation. Since its inception, the Apprenticeship and Training Council has approved and registered 230 occupations, and more than 28,512 apprentices have completed training.

On-the-job training for apprentices takes place at the work site under the direction of a highly skilled journeyperson(s). An approved training plan outlines the work process in which the apprentice will be trained and specifies an approximate length of time to be spent in each major process. A training program must be at least 2,000 hours in duration to be considered as an apprenticeable occupation.  Because of the growing importance of advancing technology, many trades have lengthened both on-the-job and related instruction hours to encompass the changes taking place throughout industry.  Most apprenticeships take three or four years to complete.  Successful completion of a registered apprenticeship leads to a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship attesting to the individual's skills and knowledge of a journeyperson.

Frequently Asked Questions

References:
Code of Maryland Regulations 09.12.43
Labor and Employment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, Section 11-401

Publications available:
Apprenticeship - Maryland Is Training For Tomorrow
Registered Apprenticeship - High Wage, High Skill Career Opportunities in the 21st Century
Registered Apprenticeship (Employer/Sponsor) - Building Skilled Workforce in the 21st Century

For additional information, contact:
Division of Labor and Industry
Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program
1100 North Eutaw Street - Room 606
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 767-2246
Fax: (410) 767-2220
e-mail:  matp@dllr.state.md.us