According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) APPRENTICESHIPUSA and Bureau of Labor Statistics—as well as other reliable pubic- and private-sector sources—the most common occupations for Registered Apprenticeships (RA) are concentrated heavily in the construction and skilled trades.
However, a new DOL program—targeting customer-service methodology; not carpentry; labor-market information, not lathing; and principles of communication, not plumbing—offers a Registered Apprenticeship for Workforce Development Professionals as a direct pathway to earning the Certified Workforce Development Professional (CDWP) credential.
According to a National Association of Workforce Development Professionals’ (NAWDP) post, the DOL now provides a direct pathway to earning certification through a model that aligns training investments with national-occupational standards; blends real-world workforce experience to grow talent; creates a reliable pipeline of trained, credential-ready workforce professionals; and supports employee retention, professional growth, and service quality.”
Aligned with the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards, developed by NAWDP for the occupation of Workforce Development Professional, “Registered Apprenticeship offers a structured, high-quality pathway into the workforce development profession now intentionally aligned with CWDP certification. For prospective apprentices, this pathway provides paid, on-the-job learning with experienced mentors, structured instruction aligned with nationally recognized workforce competencies, and a clear, supported route to earning the CWDP.
KRA believes DOL Registered Apprenticeship is a valuable addition to the professional-development options available to workforce-services professionals. By combining paid, structured on-the-job learning, mentorship, competency-based instruction, and a clear pathway to CWDP certification, the model gives individuals another practical route to build skills and advance their careers.
At the same time, it gives employers a nationally recognized framework for developing, retaining, and strengthening a credential-ready workforce—helping elevate workforce development as a profession. Ultimately investing in the people who deliver workforce services strengthens the quality of services delivered to our clients, our jobseekers, and our employer partners in the community.
Read entire post here: Registered Apprenticeship for Workforce Development Professionals – NAWDP
Read about NAWDP’s National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards for the Workforce Development Professional occupation.