The Illinois Workforce Innovation Board's Apprenticeship Committee created the Apprenticeship Illinois Framework to address employers' and participants' varying degrees of knowledge and/or comfort with apprenticeships. The goal is to provide a variety of options for participation.

In addition to the well-known options of (1) Registered Apprenticeship, (2) Pre-Apprenticeship, and (3) Youth Apprenticeship, the Apprenticeship Illinois Framework includes a fourth option: (4) Non-Registered Apprenticeship – Industry Recognized Credential Programs.

Similar to high-quality on-the-job training, this option requires all five characteristics associated with DOL Registered Apprenticeship be present:

• Business involvement,
• Structured on-the-job training,
• Related instruction,
  
• Rewards for skill gains, and
• Industry recognized credential(s).
  

Click here to see key elements for each type of apprenticeship and click here to learn more about the State's common definitions in the Illinois Career Pathways Dictionary.

Registered apprenticeship data supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that Illinois has 16,648 registered apprentices, with 442 active Registered Apprenticeship Programs and 296 sponsors (as of August 2019). Sponsors are entities such as businesses, employer associations, community colleges and local workforce areas.

See highlighted Apprenticeship success from apprentices and companies throughout Illinois here.

• ​The Benefits and Costs of Apprenticeship: A Business Perspective (PDF)
  
• From Medieval to Millennial: Building and Marketing Modern, Youth-Oriented Apprenticeship Programs (PDF)
  
• Why Apprenticeships Are Taking Off (PDF)
  
• The New, White-Collar Apprenticeship
• Why a Major Hotel Chain is Offering Apprenticeships