APPRENTICESHIP DETAILS FOR
Employers & Sponsors
Apprenticeships are a proven tool for recruiting and training a skilled and diverse workforce. If you're an employer or sponsor, you may want to register new apprentices or sponsor a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
A RAP is a career path that offers paid work experience and a nationally-recognized credential. All RAPs are:
Paid, with wage increases as the apprentice progresses
Eligible for college credits
Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor and State Apprenticeship Agency standards
BPA has developed the Energy Specialist RAP to help expand the clean energy workforce and build a pipeline of highly qualified talent.
Download Our Program Outline
BPA has developed the Energy Specialist RAP to help expand the clean energy workforce and build a pipeline of highly qualified talent.
The Basics
An apprenticeship is a structured education and training program that takes place in the workplace and includes formal on-the-job (OTJ) and classroom-based, related technical instruction (RTI).
An apprentice must complete 2,000 hours of OTJ and 144 hours of RTI, which can take 2-5 years to complete. An apprentice is a full-time employee of the employer or sponsor and is paid a wage that is subject to minimum wage regulations. As the apprentice hits milestones along the training path, their wage increases according to program standards.
Some employers choose to administer their own program in-house, so they have full control of the program, while others find it helpful to partner with another entity to handle the program management and administration—that entity is considered a program sponsor.
Apprenticeships are designed by, and for, the employer. They are highly specialized to meet the unique needs of a specific job.
RAPs Benefit Employers by:
Reducing employee turnover
Increasing productivity
Improving safety
Creating a pipeline of qualified employees
Meeting licensing requirements
Covering costs through tax credits and grants
Let Us Help
BPA is working within the ACE Network—a consortium of apprenticeship specialists—that is ready to extend its expertise to clean energy companies, training providers, academic institutions, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders throughout the process of designing, registering, implementing, and scaling Registered Apprenticeships for clean energy occupations.
WE OFFER:
Outreach and Education
Learn about the benefits of RAs, explore options for creating new programs or joining existing ones, understand the steps involved in registering and administering RA training programs to develop a skilled and diverse workforce, and prepare to manage programs in compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Website, webinars, and workshops
- Networking and peer learning
- Tools and resources
Technical Assistance
Obtain personalized support to navigate the apprenticeship landscape, build successful programs, and recruit and retain diverse apprentices.
- Program design and registration
- Occupational analysis
- Curriculum design
- Stakeholder convening and partnership development
- Identifying and securing financial incentives
- Recruitment and retention of diverse candidates
- Compliance and record keeping
Financial Assistance
Limited direct financial assistance is available to clean energy employers to help mitigate costs associated with recruiting, training, and mentoring diverse apprentices.
Download Our Energy Specialist Apprenticeship Outline
Learn about the BPA-sponsored Energy Specialist Apprenticeship program with this informative outline. View our recommendations for workforce and training program management, complete with a detailed sample schedule of 140+ hours of related technical instruction. Download Here.
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