About Us

The apprenticeship system consists of two types of entities responsible for registering and overseeing Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). These entities include the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies (SAA). Both the Office of Apprenticeship and SAAs provide technical assistance and support to program sponsors, answer questions about the apprenticeship model, guide partners on each phase of developing a program, connect businesses to training providers, and advise partners on available funding sources to  support apprenticeships. While both entities function similarly, there are some key differences that may apply:

Office of Apprenticeship

• Registers and oversees programs in states without a recognized SAA through state field offices. In some circumstances, OA may register a program in a state with an SAA
• Staff members are U.S. Department of Labor federal employees
• Registers all programs through standard documentation

• Utilizes the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS) system for registration, oversight, and tracking of apprentice progress and apprenticeship compliance.

State Apprenticeship Agencies

• Recognized by OA to act on behalf of the federal U.S. DOL to register and oversee programs in their recognized state
• Staff members are state employees

• May utilize the standard federal paperwork and documentation, or may use documentation specific to that state
• May utilize the same RAPIDS system as OA, or may use a separate system unique to that state.

Use the information below to determine which U.S. states and territories operate with an OA field office or a recognized SAA.