Delivering Apprenticeships Virtually

Access helpful tools and resources that you can use to deliver apprenticeship programs virtually. 

• Season 4 Episode 2 of the American Association of Community College's Community College Voice Podcast discusses how community colleges are providing more virtual options for students.
• The Virtual Library of Virginia compiled a crowdsourced list of Open Education Community and Contributed Resources that provides real-time feedback from faculty and includes online lab resources.
• The CTE Coalition maintains a portal for industry-driven remote learning content to include hundreds of classes, videos, and instructional materials in areas such as machining, welding, mechatronics, industry 4.0, and programming.
• Inside Higher Ed considers the upside and downside of remote learning.
• Learning Light allows you to explore learning management platforms to find the right fit for your program and organization.
• SkillsCommons offers a library of over 400 open courseware, complete curriculum, evidence-based interactive training and support materials organized by sector, as well as instructor trainings.
• TRANSFRVR offers leading-edge virtual reality training that gives individuals the skills they need to get hired and find a career they’re passionate about. This technology is powering remote training programs and becoming an embedded part of the broader workforce development ecosystem.
• Discover research focused on how virtual reality is playing a role in vocational education and training.
• Apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship intermediaries have had to rethink how they provide high-quality classroom instruction and training while shifting to an online format. Read "Creating Inclusive Virtual & Hybrid Apprenticeships," from the Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship (PIA) and Apprenti.

Apprenticeship Sponsorship: Steps to Consider

1. Review your apprenticeship standards and work process schedule.
2. Coordinate with your Related Training Instruction (RTI) provider to determine if some courses may be front-loaded in the program.

3. Contact your local apprenticeship training representative (ATR) to discuss making alterations to the program implementation. Registered Apprenticeship Programs have a determined set of required RTI and on the job-learning so sponsors should reach out to the ATR to begin the discussion. (Requirements include 144 hours of RTI and 2,000 hours of OJT.)

4. Consider using a learning management system or other online platforms to provide instruction to apprentices, where appropriate.

Related Training Instruction: Steps to Consider

1. Review your course offerings and determine which ones can be delivered online (Note: Labs are not always readily transferable). 
2. Coordinate with the apprenticeship sponsor to determine which courses need to be front-loaded for the program.
3. Use a learning management system (LMS), or other online platform to deliver the instruction.
4. Continuously monitor the progress of apprentices through the transition journey from in-person to online learning.

Virtual Apprenticeship is supported by guidance in Bulletin 2020-51: Flexibilities Available for the Delivery Method of Related Instruction, where apprenticeship sponsors have the option of delivering classroom instruction online. Learn how apprenticeship partners are successfully conducting and delivering components of apprenticeship in a virtual setting:

• Apprenti, a technology apprenticeship intermediary, elected to transition to an online training model as their business partners moved to remote-based work to protect their employees’ health in March 2020. With the shift to a virtual model, Apprenti has served as an example of how programs can actively transform their business models to recruit and support apprentices with disabilities.  

• El Camino Community College recently transitioned related training instruction for their aerospace technician apprenticeship program in machining and electronics into an online format. 

• Mississippi Gulf Community College is offering related training instruction for the Bank Branch Manager Registered Apprenticeship Program online. With apprentices located across two states and 22 locations, this makes online learning the optimal delivery method. The college uses Canvas, a software  delivery platform, to track apprentices’ hours and progress.

• Monroe Community College is developing four online classes in Tooling and Machining, including Machine Shop Theory, Blueprint I, Blueprint II and Applied Machinist Math.

• Net.America Institute is leveraging technology platforms to deliver a public health apprenticeship program offered by Access to Wholistic and Productive Living Inc., a nonprofit organization located in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

• Raytheon is using a blend-learning model that merges virtual and in-person components to diversify their apprenticeship training delivery.

• Trident Technical College is translating and integrating the following occupations into an online format: accounting (Bookkeeping/Pre-Accounting Apprenticeship);  cybersecurity;  networking;  computer programming; medical office assistant; hotel operations; and criminal justice (Security/Pre-Law Enforcement Apprenticeship).

• Urban Institute is working with a variety of employers to implement an online platform that allows apprenticeship programs to track apprentices’ on-the-job and related instruction online, and also support mentorship.