Starting an Apprenticeship

Spreadsheets strain growth. Craft automates compliance, dashboards, and evaluations, enabling scalable, secure apprenticeship programs.

Guide to mapping CTE coursework to RAP Appendix A, identifying overlaps, and closing gaps through minor adjustments and partnerships.

A five-part blueprint to turn CTE pre-apprenticeships into real RAP pathways—curriculum, exposure, mentorship, services, and sponsor linkage.

The post explains how to map CTE pathways to a RAP’s Appendix A by translating competencies, RTI, and OJL into familiar CTE terms, gathering course artifacts, and running a curriculum crosswalk. It then shows how to close gaps with a pre‑apprenticeship design and validate alignment with sponsors, creating a clear, defensible path from CTE to apprenticeship‑ready programs.

This post turns the Apprenticeship Masterclass Playbook into an Awareness → Alignment → Action roadmap for CTE teams. It helps you inventory existing assets, compare them to RAP components, and pick a single, realistic starting point—like an Appendix A crosswalk or a pre‑apprenticeship—aimed at a 90‑day pilot that moves students into real pathways.

This post turns the Apprenticeship Masterclass Playbook into a first‑meeting framework for CTE leaders and RAP sponsors: prepare checklists and crosswalks, exchange info, map alignment, and define a pilot. It emphasizes starting with existing strengths, clarifying roles for RTI/OJL, and using Craft to track competencies, hours, and mentor feedback for a smooth launch.

This post shows districts how to turn existing CTE assets into registered apprenticeships through a clear five-step blueprint: audit what already exists, formalize work-based learning as supervised OJL, secure an anchor partner, embed stackable credentials/dual enrollment, and pilot before scaling. The Tennessee healthcare and teaching models prove most schools already have 70–80% of requirements, making pathways equitable, portable, and easier to implement.

This piece shows how near-failing apprenticeship pilots recovered by identifying existing strengths, aligning curriculum with employer competencies, and starting small with one cohort and partner. It adds high‑value practices—CPL, stackable credentials, and competency‑based education—and a focused 90‑day turnaround to build momentum and confidence.

This post outlines a 90-day roadmap to launch a CTE apprenticeship pilot using the Apprenticeship Masterclass Playbook. It covers three phases—Foundation, Design, and Launch Prep—with checklists, templates, and worksheets to assess readiness, align curriculum to RAP standards, and finalize operations with partners for Day One implementation.

This post outlines a shift from time-based apprenticeships to a value-based model centered on skills and outcomes. It details three core strategies—Credit for Prior Learning, stackable credentials, and Competency-Based Education—with practical implementation tips to reduce redundancy, improve flexibility, and guarantee job readiness.

This post explains how districts can braid Perkins V and WIOA funds to strengthen both classroom instruction and work-based learning within apprenticeship-aligned CTE pathways. By mapping existing courses to apprenticeship competencies, leveraging workforce dollars for OJL, and partnering with local workforce boards, schools can scale sustainable pathways without creating new programs.

This post outlines common apprenticeship challenges—time management, mentorship gaps, unclear progression, theory-practice disconnect, administrative burden, and mental health pressures—and practical fixes for each. It highlights structured communication, clear milestones, and supportive networks, while showing how Craft Connect’s tracking, dashboards, and reporting reduce friction and keep apprentices on track.

Four myths prevent organizations from launching apprenticeships. Learn why CTE programs are apprenticeship-ready, college credit is possible, and starting small works.

Workforce development is full of acronyms that can make anyone's head spin. This glossary breaks down 17 essential terms so you can confidently navigate apprenticeships.

Discover how the Craft Apprenticeship Masterclass Playbook helps CTE leaders bridge the gap between existing programs and formal apprenticeships—unlocking funding and student success.

Discover expert answers to top questions on employer partnerships and apprenticeships. Learn frameworks, case studies, and actionable strategies for sustainable workforce programs.

Learn how to build audit-ready rubrics that connect daily tasks to competencies, simplify compliance, and boost apprenticeship program outcomes.

Post Summary: Learn how to celebrate Workforce Development Month, track outcomes, and use tools like Craft to show real impact for job seekers and programs.

Intermediaries help small employers access apprenticeships, standardize training, and automate compliance, driving workforce growth and measurable success.

Learn how to choose between USDOL and SAA apprenticeship registration. Explore timelines, compliance, and support to find the best fit for your program’s goals.

5 signs your apprenticeship program has outgrown spreadsheets: version control chaos, reporting nightmares, security risks & more. See how Craft helps programs achieve 95%+ rates.

EPPs need more than basic tracking. Our buyer's guide reveals 5 essential features for apprenticeship platforms - from compliance automation to zero-cost onboarding. See why Craft delivers.

Craft Connect revolutionizes cross-state apprenticeships with unified data, automated compliance, and scalable tools, empowering programs like Talent Together to thrive.

Craft Education: Fast setup, free access, and AI for DOL forms. Launch your apprenticeship program with less hassle.

The recently released America’s Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age lays out an ambitious plan to transform how the U.S. prepares its workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Discover why apprenticeship programs choose Craft over spreadsheets for better data integrity, compliance, and outcomes. Book a demo today!