Apprenticeship: A Strategy to a Career Pathway



What is Apprenticeship


An apprenticeship is a work-based learning training model. For employers, apprenticeships are good for business - they help fill a skills gap or workforce need. For apprentices, they provide a pathway to a career.

Workers train on-the-job – earning wages and doing productive work – while also taking courses, learning in a classroom environment. The employers determine the apprentice's work schedule. When someone completes an apprenticeship, she or he will have valuable work experience and a recognized industry credential(s) that allows her/him to continue in the field and advance her/his career over time.

  • Apprenticeship Plus Flyer (PDF)
  • Apprenticeship Program: Quick Start Action Planner (PDF)
  • 5 Reasons Employers Should Consider Apprenticeships and FAQs (PDF)
  • 8 Reasons to become an Apprentice FAQs (PDF)
  • Online Tutorial Apprenticeship 101 Videos (PDF)

What Is Apprenticeship Chart

Illinois Apprenticeship Plus Framework
  • ​What is Illinois' Apprenticeship Plus Framework? (PDF)

Illinois Apprenticeship Plus Framework


Illinois Apprentices and Apprenticeships


Debunking Apprenticeship Myths
  • Debunking Myths (PDF)

Debunking Myths About Apprenticeship



Apprenticeship Week


​November 12-18, 2018: National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is a National Celebration that offers business, labor, education, and other critical partners a chance to show their support for Apprenticeship. It also gives apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices in their community. This highlights the benefits of Apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries.


Apprenticeship Profiles


Registered apprenticeship data supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that Illinois has 13,754 registered apprentices, with 486 active Registered Apprenticeship Programs and 296 sponsors. 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.

Governor's Support


The Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Youth chose the Apprenticeship Plus initiative as one of its inaugural projects to provide youth and students with the opportunity to learn about and have the ability to obtain high-quality, industry-recognized credentials utilizing work-based learning models within a specific career pathway that will lead to self-sufficiency.


Governor Rauner with thyssenkrupp Youth Apprentices

Alignment with Education System


Alignment with the Education System Diagram