Narrative: b. 2.

Registered Apprenticeship: Registered apprenticeship has been revitalized in Maine with new agencies acting as sponsors who manage the paperwork and coordinate related instruction on behalf of the employers that hire the apprentices and provide on the job learning.

Title IB partners are aware of apprenticeship as an acceptable WIOA training pathway and understand how their funds can be used to support the cost of related instruction, on the job learning, and how to identify and document successful outcomes of competency-based tests and completion of segments of apprenticeship as measurable skill gains.

A recent partnership between the Maine Hospitality Association, the Maine Apprenticeship Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation has been launched to support individuals with disabilities to enter employment as apprentices in the restaurant industry.

The Maine Apprenticeship Program has worked closely with high-growth industry sectors in Maine and have been instrumental in establishing career pathways for the healthcare sector that move apprentices from entry level positions, such as Certified Nurse Assistant, to attain stackable credentials that allow them to work in specialty areas, such as dementia, pediatrics, intensive care, and surgical areas.

Resources from the Maine Apprenticeship Program tuition assistance fund, the Title 1-B programs, the Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, the Maine Quality Centers program, and industry partners have all been accessed to support workers entering registered apprenticeship. These programs have also incorporated integrated education training modules that link work readiness, occupational skills, and academic skill development into a single, cohesive program co-designed with the employer.

Registered apprenticeship is promoted to employers who partner to provide on-the-job or customized training opportunities for participants.