Overview

California has developed a broad statewide approach to apprenticeship that combines registered apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, community college pathways, employer and labor partnerships, state funding, and targeted initiatives intended to expand apprenticeship into additional industries and populations. California's apprenticeship system is not administered through a single program. Rather, several state agencies and education systems have distinct roles:

• The California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Apprenticeship Standards administers state apprenticeship law, registers and oversees apprenticeship programs, and establishes apprenticeship standards.
• The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office supports apprenticeship through grant programs, related instruction, technical assistance, and pathways connecting apprenticeship with college credentials and degrees.
• The California Workforce Development Board supports workforce and apprenticeship pathways through initiatives such as High Road Construction Careers.
• Employers, labor organizations, educational institutions, workforce agencies, intermediaries, and community organizations also serve as program sponsors and partners.

California's approach has increasingly emphasized apprenticeship beyond the traditional building and construction trades, including health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, education, public service, and other occupations and industries.

Statewide Apprenticeship Goal

California established a goal of serving 500,000 earn-and-learn apprenticeships by 2029. The goal has been incorporated into state apprenticeship planning and into programs administered by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

California reporting distinguishes between the broader category of earn-and-learn opportunities and registered apprenticeships. In June 2026, the Governor's Office reported that more than 674,735 earn-and-learn opportunities had been completed statewide since 2019, including more than 245,000 registered apprenticeships. The state reports have exceeded the original 500,000 goal when the broader earn-and-learn category is used, while continuing efforts to expand registered apprenticeship. This distinction is important because an earn-and-learn opportunity is not necessarily a registered apprenticeship. Registered apprenticeship is a defined employment and training model operating under apprenticeship standards approved by the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Statewide Strategy

In 2022, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Department of Industrial Relations, and Division of Apprenticeship Standards released Advancing Apprenticeship in California: A Five-Point Action Plan. The plan outlined strategies for expanding apprenticeship toward the state's 2029 goal, including:

• supporting regional and industry intermediaries that can organize multi-employer apprenticeship partnerships
• developing policies and processes that make apprenticeship more accessible in industries where the model has not traditionally been used
• addressing barriers to participation in established apprenticeship sectors
• building a statewide youth apprenticeship framework
• increasing the use of apprenticeship by state and local government employers.

The strategy reflects a transition from treating apprenticeship primarily as a model associated with construction and skilled trades toward using registered apprenticeship across a wider range of occupations and workforce systems.

Major California Apprenticeship Initiatives and Funding Programs

California supports this statewide strategy through several related initiatives:

• Apprenticeship Innovation Funding
  • Launched in 2022 to help sustain and scale registered apprenticeship programs outside the building and fire trades.
  • Uses a formula-based funding model rather than relying entirely on competitive grants.
  • California has allocated $95 million to the program, which supports apprenticeship in areas such as health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and education.
• Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project
  • Launched by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office in 2023, developed approaches for connecting apprenticeship with college credit, certificates, associate degrees, and community college baccalaureate pathways.
  • Includes the use of credit for prior learning to recognize apprenticeship classroom instruction and on-the-job learning.
  • In 2026, the Chancellor's Office reported that the demonstration project was transitioning into a statewide model.
• California Apprenticeship Initiative
  • Created in fiscal year 2015–16 and is administered by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.
  • Supports the development and expansion of registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, particularly in priority and emerging industries where apprenticeship has not traditionally been established.
• California Apprenticeship Council Training Funds
  • Support registered apprenticeship programs in the building and construction trades.
  • In April 2026, the Division of Apprenticeship Standards announced $18.6 million for 160 registered programs serving more than 55,000 apprentices.
• California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant
  • Supports apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs serving young people who face barriers to employment or education.
  • Program awarded $31 million in its first round, $15.4 million in its second round, and $13.2 million in continuation funding in 2026.
• Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship Grant
  • Provides funding intended to expand participation in construction apprenticeship, including recruitment, childcare assistance, mentoring, and worksite supports.
  • The second funding round for 2025–2027 awarded approximately $26.2 million.
• High Road Construction Careers
  • Administered by the California Workforce Development Board
  • Supports partnerships among building and construction trades, workforce boards, community colleges, and community-based organizations to prepare workers for construction careers and entry into apprenticeship
• Related and supplemental instruction funding and other workforce and education funding mechanisms
  • The Division of Apprenticeship Standards maintains a statewide guide to apprenticeship-specific funding sources.

Pre-Apprenticeship

California distinguishes registered pre-apprenticeship from registered apprenticeship. The Division of Apprenticeship Standards describes registered pre-apprenticeship programs as programs that prepare individuals to enter and succeed in registered apprenticeship. A registered pre-apprenticeship must be formally associated with at least one registered apprenticeship program sponsor and combines industry-based training with classroom instruction. Pre-apprenticeship can therefore function as an entry pathway for individuals who need additional occupational preparation, academic skills, career exposure, or other supports before entering a registered apprenticeship.

This relationship is reflected in California Apprenticeship Initiative grants, which can support both registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. Current California Community Colleges grant requirements call for implementation projects to become registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Youth Apprenticeship

California has been developing a statewide youth apprenticeship structure. The California Youth Apprenticeship Committee, established through state legislation, was charged with developing definitions, principles, and recommendations for expanding youth apprenticeship.

The committee's California Youth Apprenticeship Model recommends defining youth apprenticeship as a registered apprenticeship that combines paid employment and classroom instruction for individuals ages 16–24. The model includes connections with career and technical education (CTE), dual enrollment, community colleges, and existing apprenticeship programs. The Division of Apprenticeship Standards notes that these recommendations constitute a framework for further development rather than, in all instances, adopted state policy.

The California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship Grant complements this work by funding apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities for young people ages 16–24 who face barriers to education and employment.

Community Colleges and Apprenticeship

California Community Colleges play several roles in the state's apprenticeship system:

• Colleges can provide the related classroom instruction associated with apprenticeship
• Serve as local education agency partners and develop and administer apprenticeship programs
• Connect apprenticeship learning with college credentials.

Two statewide efforts:

• California Apprenticeship Initiative provides funding to create and expand apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs
• Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project focuses on making apprenticeship learning count toward college certificates and degrees. The Apprenticeship Pathways work is particularly connected to learning mobility. It has tested approaches for awarding college credit for apprenticeship-related instruction, on-the-job training, and prior learning and for establishing pathways from apprenticeship into certificates, associate degrees, and applied baccalaureate programs.

Other State Approaches

California is one of several states developing apprenticeship as a multi-part statewide workforce and education strategy:

• Maryland
  • Operates a state Office of Apprenticeship within its Department of Labor
  • Has expanded apprenticeship through registered apprenticeship, high school-level apprenticeship, employer incentives, public-sector apprenticeship, and an Industry Apprenticeship Accelerator aimed at industries where apprenticeship is underused.
  • Apprenticeship Maryland Program connects high school students, school systems, and employers.
• New Jersey
  • Operates the New Jersey Apprenticeship Network and a state Office of Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning.
  • The state supports registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship, expansion into nontraditional occupations, connections with secondary and postsecondary education, and grant programs such as Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors and Pre-Apprenticeship in Career Education.
  • Since 2018, New Jersey reports investing more than $125 million in apprenticeship and work-based learning grant programs.
• North Carolina
  • Houses its State Apprenticeship Agency, ApprenticeshipNC, within the North Carolina Community College System.
  • ApprenticeshipNC works with employers, educational institutions, and community partners in all 100 counties to develop registered apprenticeship and registered pre-apprenticeship programs.
  • North Carolina also operates youth apprenticeship efforts.
  • In 2026, established additional recurring state funding for its apprenticeship infrastructure.
• Washington
  • Combines registered apprenticeship with a broader career-connected learning strategy.
  • Career Connect Washington brings together employers, labor, education, government, and community organizations and includes Career Explore, Career Prep, and Career Launch programs.
  • Registered apprenticeships automatically qualify as Career Launch programs, while other programs combine paid work experience with college-level learning and credentials.
• Michigan
  • Developed a statewide infrastructure for expanding Registered Apprenticeship through the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s State Apprenticeship Expansion initiative.
  • Works through the Michigan Works! network, including regional Apprenticeship Success Coordinators and apprenticeship intermediaries, to help employers develop, register, and administer programs and connect workers to apprenticeship opportunities.
  • State and federal investments have supported expansion beyond traditional skilled trades into fields such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, education, supply chain, and other high-demand sectors.
  • Registered Apprenticeship is identified as a priority in Michigan’s statewide workforce strategy.
  • In 2025, Michigan had more than 24,000 active registered apprentices, ranking 4th nationally, as well as more than 800 active Registered Apprenticeship programs.
• Wisconsin
  • Operates statewide registered apprenticeship, certified pre-apprenticeship, and youth apprenticeship systems through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
  • Youth Apprenticeship Program, created in the early 1990s, combines paid employment and related instruction for high school students and is administered through local partnerships involving school districts, employers, technical colleges, workforce organizations, and other partners.
  • For 2026–2027, Wisconsin awarded approximately $13.4 million in grants to support local youth apprenticeship consortia.

These states demonstrate that statewide apprenticeship strategies can be organized in substantially different ways: through labor agencies, community college systems, education-workforce networks, or combinations of these structures.

Resources

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. (2026). Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project. California Community Colleges resource

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. (2026). California Apprenticeship Initiative. California Apprenticeship Initiative

California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards. (2022). Advancing apprenticeship in California: A five-point action plan. Five-Point Action Plan

California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards. (2026). Apprenticeship Innovation Funding. Apprenticeship Innovation Funding

California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards. (2026). California youth apprenticeship. California Youth Apprenticeship

California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards. (2026). Pre-apprenticeship program registration. Pre-Apprenticeship Program Registration

California Workforce Development Board. (2026). High Road Construction Careers. High Road Construction Careers

Maryland Department of Labor. (2026). Office of Apprenticeship. Maryland Office of Apprenticeship

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. (2026). Apprenticeship. New Jersey Apprenticeship Network

North Carolina Community College System. (2026). ApprenticeshipNC. ApprenticeshipNC

Washington Career Connect. (2026). Career Connect Washington. Career Connect Washington

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. (2026). Apprenticeship. Wisconsin Apprenticeship