Changes Proposed to the National Apprentice System (1/4/2008)

The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (72 Fed. Reg. 71019) to update the regulations implementing the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 (29 CFR Part 29). This is the first major overhaul of the regulations since they were promulgated. In the NPRM, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) stated that the new proposed regulations would enable the National Apprenticeship System to:

Keep pace with changes in the economy and corresponding workforce challenges, continue apprenticeship’s vital role in developing a skilled, competitive workforce, and further promote registered apprenticeship as an important talent development strategy offered through the public workforce investment system.

The Apprentice System regulations set labor standards, policies and procedures for the registration, cancellation and deregistration of apprenticeship programs, and apprenticeship agreements. They also provide for the recognition of a State Apprenticeship Agency as an agency authorized to register local apprenticeship programs for Federal purposes, and for the revocation of such recognition.

The major proposed revisions are supposed to enhance flexibility in the requirements for provision of related technical instruction, permit competency-based progression through an apprenticeship program, establish requirements for education and training of apprenticeship instructors that align with developments in the workforce and education systems, and strengthen oversight of program performance. The proposed rule also updates 29 CFR Part 29 to incorporate gender neutral terms and technological advances in the delivery of related technical instruction.

ETA is inviting interested persons to submit comments on this proposed rule. To ensure consideration, comments must be in writing and must be received on or before February 11, 2008. See the full Federal Register notice for more information on how to submit comments at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-24178.pdf.
Author: CWP