This resource equips American Job Center (AJC) case managers with clear tools, strategies, and resources to help veterans transition successfully into Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs. It covers everything from intake and priority-of-service under WIOA, military skills assessment, and collaborating with Veteran-specific programs, to understanding how to verify VA-approved RA providers and ensure veterans receive all eligible benefits such as the GI Bill’s housing allowance. Case managers will find actionable steps to strengthen employer partnerships, guide veterans in developing career plans, and improve employment outcomes through Registered Apprenticeship pathways.

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This resource outlines and describes the key components of workforce system alignment with Registered Apprenticeship (RA). The document highlights six strategies for strengthening system alignment: adopting supportive policies that prioritize apprenticeship and streamline funding; embedding RA experts in American Job Centers to guide staff and job seekers; training Business Services Representatives to promote programs and engage employers; aligning data systems to improve sharing and policymaking; convening employers, educators, and partners to drive sector-based expansion; and, in some cases, having workforce boards or agencies directly sponsor apprenticeship programs to accelerate adoption and create more career pathways.

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The Center produced this report to showcase how states are strategically aligning Career and Technical Education (CTE) with Registered Apprenticeship (RA). The report highlights trends such as funding initiatives, employer incentives, credential alignment, and data systems to strengthen talent pipelines and bridge education-to-employment gaps. By spotlighting innovative state policies and actionable examples, like tax credits and wraparound supports to stackable credential pathways, this resource equips apprenticeship stakeholders with practical models to scale robust, education-workforce aligned apprenticeship programs

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Recognizing the importance of strategic rollout and adoption of National Guideline Standards (NGS), this tip sheet provides guidance on how to transition from approval to implementation. It offers practical steps for raising awareness, connecting with key stakeholders, and supporting partners in registering new Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs using NGS. The tip sheet outlines best practices for marketing, partner engagement, and sustained support to increase the utilization of NGS as a scalable workforce development tool.

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This resource explores group Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs and how they can significantly enhance the reach and effectiveness of RA programs. Learn what a group RA program is and the benefits including efficiency, peer collaboration, and cost effectiveness when meeting workforce goals. Employers and organizations committed to building career pathways for students and career seekers are urged to use this resource to find a group sponsor or become a sponsor of a group RA program. 

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Chamber of Commerce members are employers who all share on common ongoing needs core to their business success: attracting, recruiting, hiring, training, and upskilling workers. This Guide outlines the core components of Registered Apprenticeship, explains its benefits for chambers and member businesses, and provides actionable strategies for chambers to become active facilitators in their regions. It includes real-world case studies from Chambers across the country—including the Charleston, South Carolina Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, and the German American Chamber of Commerce—to highlight successful approaches and scalable practices. The document concludes with practical next steps to help Chambers assess their members’ workforce development needs, align with apprenticeship systems, and create strategic partnerships that maximize impact. Through these efforts, Chambers can expand their role as vital workforce development leaders.

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Center of Excellence on Strategic Partnerships and System Alignment hosted “Building Stronger American Workforce and Education System Support for Apprenticeship,” a national virtual Town Hall on advancing alignment of America’s apprenticeship, education, and workforce systems. This special event featured U.S. DOL leaders, Megan Baird, the Acting Administrator from the Office of Apprenticeship (OA), and Robin Fernkas, the Deputy Administrator from the Employment and Training Administration Office of Workforce Investment (OWI). 

OA and OWI leadership was joined by the Center lead, Safal Partners, and its five partners - the National Association of Workforce Professionals, Coalition on Adult Basic Education, National Disability Institute, Wireless Infrastructure Association, and FASTPORT – in sharing insights from the field, lessons learned from the Center’s work over the past four years, and recommendations for future work.

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The Transportation, Distribution & Logistics industry employs 1 in 14 working Americans offering a wide range of career opportunities and making it challenging for employers to fill open positions. This webinar provided Business Services Representatives (BSRs) with effective strategies to promote Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs to employers in this industry. The session highlighted how RA programs offer tailored solutions to meet specific workforce needs, can be seamlessly integrated into existing training and HR development plans, and deliver clear benefits such as a skilled talent pipeline, improved retention, and reduced recruitment costs.

This webinar, presented by the Center of Excellence in partnership with FASTPORT, was presented by Dave Harrison and Scott Ellsworth. Scott Ellsworth, the Principal and Owner of Scott Ellsworth Consulting and Sherpa Management Solutions, works as a contractor with numerous workforce organization assisting employers in developing and implementing effective RA programs. Dave Harrison, Executive Director of Workforce Development and Government Relations for FASTPORT, is a highly accomplished subject matter expert in RA, workforce development, government relations, and veteran employment initiatives. Dave brings extensive expertise in transportation, logistics, financial services, information security, and artificial intelligence sectors, where he has assisted employers and workforce development professionals in meeting evolving industry needs with innovative workforce development solutions. 

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Case managers play a critical role in workforce development, connecting jobseekers to quality training and employment opportunities. As Registered Apprenticeship (RA) continues to prove effective for career advancement, this webinar equipped case managers with practical strategies to present RA to jobseekers across various populations. Participants learned how to communicate the value of RA, articulate career pathways, and implement outreach methods for large-scale recruitment through events, platforms, and partnerships. The webinar also featured real-world examples of how organizations effectively use RA to recruit and engage talent.

This webinar, presented by the Center of Excellence in partnership with Fastport, featured guest presenters Dave Harrison and Scott Ellsworth. Dave Harrison, Executive Director of Workforce Development and Government Relations for Fastport, is a highly accomplished subject matter expert in RA, workforce development, government relations, and veteran employment initiatives. Scott Ellsworth, the Principal and Owner of Scott Ellsworth Consulting and Sherpa Management Solutions, works as a contractor with numerous workforce organization assisting employers in developing and implementing effective Registered Apprenticeship programs. 

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The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals 41st Annual Conference provided the opportunity for workforce development professionals to connect, innovate, and advance their work through interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities. The conference attracts leaders and professionals from various workforce development organizations, including workforce boards, community colleges, private sector businesses, vocational rehabilitation, economic development, community and faith-based organizations, and more.  

The Center of Excellence presented the workshop, Aligning Workforce and Registered Apprenticeship: Key Components for Success, during the conference focusing on the crucial partnership between the workforce system under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs, demonstrating how their integration can drive success. Participants explored six key components for aligning and integrating RA programs into local workforce systems, using a tool developed by Safal Partners, Key Components of Workforce System Alignment with Registered Apprenticeship, providing a roadmap for local Workforce Development Boards to strengthen their collaboration with RA programs.

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The SelectUSA Investment Summit, the highest profile event in the United States, is designed to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations, and industry experts. This event, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, fosters collaboration between companies considering U.S. expansion and economic development organizations. The event was attended by hundreds of economic development organizations, service providers, industry experts, representatives from 50+ states and territories, companies from 90+ markets, and government officials. Katie Adams, Safal Partners’ Chief Delivery Officer presented “Growing Your Workforce in America: A U.S. Department of Labor Overview of the Workforce System.” Adams provided an overview of the workforce system, employer services at a local level, and Registered Apprenticeship, as well as explaining the business case for apprenticeship. Over 120+ participants attended the presentation, requiring some attendees to stand. Participants also represented foreign companies looking to expand operations to the United States. 

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The National Youth Employment Coalition conference unites youth practitioners, policymakers, youth leaders, and stakeholders dedicated to improving the lives of youth and young adults. By creating a collaborative space to share best practices, innovative ideas, advocacy strategies, and practical solutions to common challenges, the Forum works across geographies and sectors to empower each other in their mission to connect youth and young adults to workforce and educational opportunities.

Center Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, hosted an interactive workshop, Building a School to Apprenticeship Pipeline for Opportunity Youth, on May 12th at the Forum. Attendees heard about how to establish Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs, conduct effective outreach to Opportunity Youth, and gain practical tools to bridge social services and the education system with the apprenticeship system. Attendees also learned how youth’s engagement in RA can improve WIOA grantees’ performance metrics and funding utilization. 

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The Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association (PWDA) serves as the voice of the Pennsylvania workforce development system and a clearinghouse for workforce development information statewide. They provide development and capacity building opportunities to workforce development professionals, local workforce development boards (WDBs), and other stakeholders while continuing proactive advocacy efforts on behalf of Pennsylvania’s workforce development system. 

Safal Partners' Apprenticeship Senior Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, presented, "Career and Technical Education and Registered Apprenticeship (RA) for Pennsylvania." This session explored strategies for aligning RA with CTE pathways, ensuring that students gain hands-on work experience while gaining the necessary related instruction. Attendees learned how leveraging RA can enhance CTE programs by providing students with structured career pathways and heard best practices for building partnerships between educational institutions, workforce agencies, and employers to create seamless RA pipelines. 

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WORKCON 2025, hosted and designed by the California Workforce Association (CWA), showcased innovative and strategic collaborations, partnerships, programs, ideas, and principles that highlighted the remarkable work of California's Workforce Development Boards, Community-Based Organizations, Educational entities, WIOA partners, and all those who are invested in the success of their local communities and the people who live in them. 

Center SMEs Katie Adams and Melissa Aguilar-Southard hosted an interactive workshop on “Aligning Workforce and Registered Apprenticeship: Key Components for Success.” Participants learned about the key components of workforce system alignment with Registered Apprenticeship (RA), the benefits of aligning workforce systems with RA programs, and practical strategies and actionable ideas to build or strengthen workforce system integration with RA. 

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Based on research and assessments conducted by the Center of Excellence, Center Subject Matter Expert, Alan Dodkowitz, provides a deep dive into understanding Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and workforce system alignment, the knowledge gaps that exist, and an analysis of how states are aligning their Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plans with RA.  

In addition, James Disbro, Senior Director of Regional Alignment and Programs Development for CareerSource Suncoast, and Brandon Butler, Executive Director of the Maryland Workforce Association, discuss Florida's and Maryland's apprenticeship expansion efforts. Mr. Disbro focuses on elements of integration such as a Local Workforce Development Board serving as a RA program sponsor, collaboration with U.S. Department of Labor intermediaries, ways to increase RA programs within the area, engagement with post-secondary institutions, and funding opportunities to support RA. Mr. Butler speaks about Maryland’s approach to RA, challenges faced in implementing apprenticeship programs, and Maryland’s overall RA strategy.

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