Three Options to Integrate AI in Registered Apprenticeship Programs

Three Options to Integrate AI

Option 1:

Join an existing National Registered Apprenticeship program.

Option 2:

Create a new Registered Apprenticeship program for AI-leading roles.

Option 3:

Update an existing Registered Apprenticeship program with AI skills.

Option 1: Join an Existing Registered Apprenticeship Program

There are several "group" or multi-employer National Registered Apprenticeship programs that employers can join instead of sponsoring their own program. Click on the program sponsors below to learn more about their group programs.

National Program Sponsors for AI-Centric Occupations
ACI Learning Tech Academy	Franklin Skills
Apprenti	JobForward
Apprentice Now	Learning Alliance Corporation
Blind Institute of Technology	OpenClassrooms
BuildWithin	Safal Partners
CareerWise	Step IT Up America
Emerging Technology Apprenticeship Program	Transition Overwatch

Option 2: Create a New Program

If your organization is interested in developing their own program, Federal Office of Apprenticeship staff and State Apprenticeship Agency staff are available to assist you. DOL has also invested in Industry Intermediary contractors who can help you develop your program using existing Registered Apprenticeship Standards or use Standards Builder, our online registration tool to quickly build your own customized program. If the occupation you're interested in using for training your workforce through apprenticeship doesn't exist, contact Federal Office of Apprenticeship or State Apprenticeship Agency staff to explore creating a new occupation.

Option 3: Update an Existing Program

Several organizations, including Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, now require and/or encourage workers to use AI tools to keep up with the pace of technology and remain competitive. Office of Apprenticeship staff and our AI liaisons can help you modify your already-approved program standards to incorporate AI skill-building. They can work with you to:

Add AI-enabled tasks to your on-the-job learning (OJL) outline, such as using AI tools to draft documentation, summarize reports, or support customer communications.
Integrate basic AI literacy and occupation-specific AI training into your Related Training Instruction (RTI) outline so apprentices understand how and when to use AI tools appropriately.

Your program coordinator should review the current OJL tasks with hiring managers to determine where and how AI could support apprentices’ work. Common examples include using AI tools to:
- Summarize documents, meeting notes, or technical materials.
- Organize information, such as logs or forms.
- Analyze data to inform decision making.
- Conduct research.
Documenting AI-enabled tasks
Once you identify AI-enabled tasks, document them in your OJL plan. For each task, you will:
- Describe the AI-assisted activity.
- Specify the expected standard (accuracy, alignment with your policies, etc.).
- Indicate how many hours or how often apprentices should perform the task over the program.
- Once updated, send your revised OJL plan to your Apprenticeship Training Representative to review, approve and update your standards.
Need help? Email us at AIApprenticeship@dol.gov to be connected to our Office of Apprenticeship AI liaisons
Deciding how to modify your current RTI plan will depend on how integral AI is to your program's occupation. For example, Data Analyst apprentices may require extensive AI courses as part of their RTI, while Electrical apprentices may need relatively minor RTI changes to learn the fundamentals of safely using their organization's AI tools.
Options for incorporating AI into your existing RTI plan
- Adding new academic certificate or degree programs from 2- or 4-year college and university RTI provider partners.
- Incorporating short-term non-credit workforce training on AI from a community college.
- Adding online instructional modules on basic AI concepts to your organization's internal LMS or learning/training platforms.
- Covering your organization's rules for appropriate AI use and data protection, consistent with the "Use AI Responsibly" dimension in TEN 07-25, during in-house training.
- Incorporating general AI and workplace tool-based AI training as noted in the AI Skills and Literacy section.