How to Be an Apprentice

An apprenticeship is a structured method of training, which develops workers who have a wide range of skills within a craft.

The system of apprenticeship includes specified hours of on-the-job training and classroom-related instruction or other approved supplemental training. Apprenticeships usually range from one to five years, depending on the occupational trade. The on-the-job training is under the supervision of a skilled and seasoned journey worker. Each component reinforces the other and produces a journey worker, who has thoroughly learned a craft  and can adjust to technological change in a variety of jobs.

An apprenticeship is not just a job, it is a career. Graduates, who successfully complete their apprenticeship training, receive nationally recognized completion certificates. In this regard, an apprenticeship is considered "the other four (4) year degree." In addition, apprentices earn a salary while learning their craft.

Qualifications for Apprenticeship

Although there are variations among the crafts, general qualifications for apprenticeship selection are as follows:

• Age 18 and above and physically able to do the work of the trade.
• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) is required for most trades.
• Some apprenticeship programs require the administering of a general aptitude test with a qualifying score for the specific trade.
• Transportation is required for most apprenticeship programs, particularly in the construction field, due to the mobility of the industry.

In many cases, employers grant qualified applicants credit toward their apprenticeship training for prior experience in the trade.

Contact Information

For more information on apprenticeship training and how to apply, you can contact the DC Office of Apprenticeship, Information and Training at (202) 698-5099.

You may also visit or contact any of the following Department of Employment Services' American Job Centers that are available to assist you Monday through Friday at the hours indicated for the particular center.

More Information

• Non-Union Apprenticeship Sponsor List [PDF]
• Union Apprenticeship Sponsor List [PDF]