New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development |
Jon Corzine, Governor |
David J. Socolow, Commissioner |
The Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program:
The New Jersey Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program offers a one-time financial incentive to manufacturing industry employers of up to $5,000 for each new or current employee sponsored as a registered apprentice. The $5,000 incentive will be paid out in two payments: The first payment of $2,500 will be issued after the apprentice completes 26 weeks of employment; the second payment of $2,500 will be issued after the apprentice completes 52 weeks of employment.
Offers manufacturing employers financial resources to upgrade the skills of employees working in the direct production of goods in a manufacturing environment through the federal Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Is administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development in conjunction with the United States Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
Links the New Jersey Customized Training Program and the federal Registered Apprenticeship Program.
Establishes a simple grant application process for employers to use to apply for financial incentives for sponsoring registered apprentices.
Offsets for the employer such apprenticeship training related costs as on-the job training; classroom instruction; supervision by a journey person; or remediation of basic skills.
Assists employers in establishing registered apprenticeship training opportunities for employees through an established network of Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training Area Representatives and local County Apprenticeship Coordinators.
Included as a part of the local mix of programs and services available through One-Stop Career Centers, Workforce Investment Boards and Youth Councils, schools, and employment and training programs that employers, workers and young adults can utilize to upgrade job skills.
Targeted to Manufacturing Industry
The intent of the program is to provide individual manufacturing employers, seeking to upgrade or retain jobs, with an alternative process for applying for Customized Training Program funds under the Workforce Development Partnership Program. This option is targeted to small or medium- sized employers of up to 450 employees that may not need to establish training for a group or large numbers of employees. The Registered Apprenticeship model is well-suited to individual skills upgrading and training opportunities for this type of employer. Employers will be assisted with establishing training for employees through an existing network of Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training Area Representatives and local County Apprenticeship Coordinators.
In order to be eligible for financial assistance under this program, employers must sponsor apprentices in Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training-approved apprenticeable occupations that are involved with the production of goods in a manufacturing environment. Apprenticeable occupations in the manufacturing industry may include, but are not limited to, occupations such as computer operator or programmer, maintenance electrician, instrument maker, machinist and tool programmer. A list of Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training apprenticeable occupations can be obtained from Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training Area Representatives and local County Apprenticeship Coordinators or by clicking here.
The manufacturing industry includes businesses engaged in the mechanical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products. These establishments are usually described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and materials handling equipment. Establishments engaged in assembling component parts of manufactured products are also considered manufacturing if the new product is neither a structure nor other fixed improvement.
Manufacturing industry groupings are:
Food Products |
Rubber and Plastic Products |
Background Information on Apprenticeship
An "apprenticeship" is a relationship between an employer and an employee during which the employee, or apprentice, learns a highly skilled occupation. Apprenticeship training programs are operated on a voluntary basis by a "sponsor." A sponsor can be an individual employer or an association of employers. When a union is present, the sponsor will be a "joint apprenticeship committee" (JAC) made up of both employer and union representatives. The sponsor plans and administers the apprentice training program for that sponsor's employees.
Apprenticeship programs are commonly registered with the Federal Government. These are called "registered apprenticeship programs."
Registered apprenticeship programs meet federally approved standards relating to job duties, related classroom instruction, wages, and safety and health conditions. These standards are contained in the Federal Register section referred to as the Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs (Title 29 CFR Part 29) and the Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training (Title 29 CFR Part 30). The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), which is part of the United States Department of Labor, is the national administrative agency that carries out the objectives of the law. This document refers to registered apprenticeship programs only.
The New Jersey Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program has a number of benefits for the employee and employer.
Employee benefits:
- Registered apprenticeships include employee wage progressions over the period of the apprenticeship;
- Training is long term and can last from 2 to 6 years, depending on the occupation in which the employee is being trained;
- Apprentices who complete the program are provided with a nationally recognized credential certifying the completion of a United States Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship program.
Employer benefits:
- Targeting government resources to the manufacturing industry;
- Financial assistance for employee skills training and upgrading;
- Streamlined grant application process for individual or small groups of employees;
- Improved retention of employees as a consequence of the employee benefits described above.
The following steps represent a process by which an employer may request a grant under the New Jersey Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program.
Step 1. |
An employer sees information about the program on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Internet site. |
Step 2. |
The local County Apprenticeship Coordinator is contacted for more information on the Registered Apprenticeship Program. |
Step 3. |
The employer decides to upgrade the skills of a current employee and sponsors the individual as a registered apprentice. The employer and apprentice enter into an apprenticeship agreement and sign-off on an Apprenticeship Standards/Apprenticeship Agreement Joint Approval form. |
Step 4. |
After 26 weeks of employment with the employee as a registered apprentice, the employer submits a grant application to: |
Registered Apprenticeship Incentive Program
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Office of Grants Operations
PO Box 915 5th Floor
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0915
The grant application is reviewed for the following criteria:
- proper completion of Grant Application form;
- applicant is a small or mid-sized New Jersey manufacturing company;
- employer’s Unemployment Insurance/Disability Insurance tax contribution payments are up-to-date;
- the complete Apprenticeship Standards/Apprenticeship Agreement Joint Approval form including the appropriate signatures is attached; and
- confirmation is received separately from the Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training that the apprentice is in an approved registered apprenticeship.
Step 5. |
If the Grant Application is approved, the Assistant Director of Office of Grants Operations authorizes an incentive payment of $2,500. The applicant is sent notice of grant approval along with two State Invoices. The applicant submits one State Invoice for $2,500. |
Step 6. |
After 52 weeks of employment of the employee as a registered apprentice, the employer submits the second and final Grant Application for this apprentice to the Office of Grants Operations. The applicant submits the second State Invoice for $2,500 along with a second Grant Application. |
The Grant Application is reviewed as described in Step 4. If approved, Assistant Director of the Office of Grants Operations authorizes the second and final incentive payment of $2,500 for this apprentice.
Directory of Registered Apprenticeship Program Staff
For more information on the Registered Apprenticeship Program call-
Joann Tomenchok |
Ana Montero |
or the County Apprenticeship Coordinator at the county vocational school.
ATLANTIC COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Phone: (609) 625-2249 x 1209
BERGEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Phone: (201) 986-0008 x 8402
BURLINGTON COUNTY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Phone: (609) 654-0200 x 406
CAMDEN COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
Phone: (609) 767-7002 x 5299
CAPE MAY COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL CENTER
Phone: (609) 465-2161 x 666
CUMBERLAND COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL CENTER
Phone: (609) 451-9000 x 258
ESSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Phone: (973) 243-2926 ext. 257
GLOUCESTER COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Phone: (609) 468-1445 x 2720
HUDSON COUNTY AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
Phone: (201) 631-6345
HUNTERDON COUNTY POLYTECH SCHOOLS
Phone: (908) 625-6164 x 11
MERCER COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Phone: (609) 586-5146
MIDDLESEX COUNTYVOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS
Phone: (973) 257-3300 x 21
MONMOUTH COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Phone: (732) 431-7245 x 2636
MORRIS COUNTY
Phone: 973-627-4600 x 245
OCEAN COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS
Phone: (732) 473-3159
PASSAIC COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Phone: (973) 389-4101
SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Phone: (609) 769-0102 x 346
SOMERSET COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Phone: (908) 526-8900 x 7279
SUSSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Phone: (973) 383-6700 x 352
UNION COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Phone: (908) 889-2926
WARREN COUNTY VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Phone: (908) 689-0122
Last Updated May 8, 2009
