In this section, we’ll discuss the types of sponsorship available for employers. To review, see the US Department of Labor website, What is an Apprenticeship Program Sponsor?

Any employer, association, committee, or organization that operates a Registered Apprenticeship Program. This entity assumes the full responsibility for administration and operation of the apprenticeship program. Sponsors can be a single business or a consortium of businesses. Alternatively, the sponsor can be a workforce intermediary, such as an industry association or a labor-management organization. Community colleges and community-based organizations can also serve as sponsors of apprenticeship programs.

Across all sponsorship types, a sponsor, first and foremost, is responsible for the administration and oversight of an RA. Sponsors design and execute apprenticeship programs, provide jobs to apprentices, oversee training development, and provide hands-on learning and technical instruction for apprentices. Depending on the sponsorship type and the organization that assumes the sponsor role, an employer Sponsor could also provide the jobs to apprentices, oversee training development, and provide the hands-on learning and RTI. The programs operate on a voluntary basis, and they often receive support by collaborating with community-based organizations, educational institutions, the workforce system, and other stakeholders.

There are four sponsor types for employers to consider when registering an apprenticeship:

Individual joint
Individual non-joint
Group joint
Group non-joint

Individual versus group depends on the number of employers. Joint versus non-joint depends on whether or not the employer is associated with a union.