This page is intended for:
- Sponsors of Registered Apprenticeship Programs to submit their employer partners’ information to be displayed on the Certified Contractor List
- Employer partners of Registered Apprenticeship Programs to submit their information to be displayed on the Certified Contractor List
What is the Certified Contractor List?
Apprenticeship Colorado is required in statute (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 40-3.2-105.5; 40-3.2-105.6; 40-42-107) to maintain a Certified Contractor List to verify contractors (Registered Apprenticeship Program employer partners) in applicable occupations for eligibility for certain contracts and rebates. The Certified Contractor List is a designation to verify employer participation in quality RAPs for eligibility to bid on state, electric utility, and gas DSM contracts and for certain energy rebates.
Certified Contractor List Eligibility
In order for employer partners of RAPs be eligible for inclusion in the Certified Contractor List, employers must meet the following criteria for each registered occupation for which they provide on-the-job learning to registered apprentices:
- Have a proven record of completing a minimum of 15% of apprentices within applicable occupations for at least 3 of the past 5 years
- Note: Beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, the minimum completion rate will increase to 20% of apprentices
- Register all employer partners impacted by the Certified Contractor List in RAPIDS
- Have a signed Employer Agreement (Appendix D) for each employer providing on-the-job learning to registered apprentices uploaded to RAPIDS no later than December 31, 2024
Sponsor & Employer Actions
- What Sponsors Need To Do
Registered apprenticeship program (RAP) Sponsors that determine the Certified Contractor List applies to their occupations or employer partners are encouraged to submit a Sponsor Certified Contractor List Form or contact their Quality Assurance Specialist to submit their information. The Certified Contractor List Form allows Sponsors of RAPs to submit a list of their employer partners to Apprenticeship Colorado so that their employer partners can be included in the Certified Contractor List.
Please contact your assigned Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist for assistance, or email apprenticeship@state.co.us to be connected to the Quality Assurance Team.
- What Employers/Contractors Need To Do
Registered apprenticeship program (RAP) employers/contractors may request to include their information on the Certified Contractor List. The Employer Certified Contractor List Form allows employers/contractors of RAPS to submit their name, contact information, and eligibility status to Apprenticeship Colorado (State Apprenticeship Agency) to be included in the Certified Contractor List.
Certified Contractor List Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Certified Contractor List?
The Certified Contractor list is a designation to verify employer participation in quality Registered Apprenticeship Programs and apprentice completion for the purposes of eligibility to bid on state, electric utility, and gas DSM contracts and for certain energy rebates.
- What incentives and competitive contracts are available as a result of qualification for the Certified Contractor List?
Applicable incentives for qualified contractors are described in different sections of state law, including Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) Sec. 24-92-115, 40-3.2-105.5, 40-3.2-105.6, and 40-42-107. Some incentives apply to plumbing, mechanical, and electrical contractors. Only C.R.S. § 24-92-115 applies to sheet metal, fire suppression, and sprinkler fitting contractors. The State Apprenticeship Agency does not have oversight of applicable incentives or contracts.
- Does Apprenticeship Colorado oversee the applicable projects or incentives and determine criteria for those projects?
No. Apprenticeship Colorado only qualifies employers for inclusion in the Certified Contractor List based on their participation in a high-quality, Registered Apprenticeship Program and the completion of registered apprentices.
- What industries and occupations does the Certified Contractor designation apply to?
The Certified Contractor list includes qualified contractors in different sections of state law, including Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) Sec. 24-92-115, 40-3.2-105.5, 40-3.2-105.6, and 40-42-107. Some incentives apply to plumbing, mechanical, and electrical contractors. Only C.R.S. § 24-92-115 applies to sheet metal, fire suppression, and sprinkler fitting contractors.
- Can Registered Apprenticeship Programs in other industries and occupations list their employer partners on the Directory?
Yes, all Registered Apprenticeship Programs can list their employer partners on the Directory, however the “Certified Contractor List” designation only applies to employers in plumbing, mechanical, electrical, sheet metal, fire suppression, and sprinkler fitting occupations that have met the criteria outlined in statute.
- What is the qualification process for the Certified Contractor List?
- Data Verification - Sponsor data is based on the data available in the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS). This system is used by the State Apprenticeship Agency and RAP Sponsors to process all new apprentice registrations, cancellations, and completions. Apprenticeship Colorado uses apprentice data maintained by RAP Sponsors to calculate RAP completion rates. These completion rates are used to verify if employer partners meet the minimum completion rate requirements for inclusion on the Certified Contractor List. RAP Sponsors are responsible for accurately maintaining their RAPIDS account.
- Completion Rates are calculated at the occupational level for each RAP Sponsor by the State Apprenticeship Agency. Program Sponsors are required to maintain accurate and timely apprentice data in RAPIDS. The quality of this data will impact the accuracy of the completion rates.
- Employer Participation - In order for the employer to be considered for inclusion on the Certified Contractor List, the State Apprenticeship Agency must verify that an employer is participating in a RAP by confirming the following information:
- The employer has a signed Employer Agreement with a RAP Sponsor, and
- The Sponsor has registered the employer in RAPIDS.
- Data Verification - Sponsor data is based on the data available in the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS). This system is used by the State Apprenticeship Agency and RAP Sponsors to process all new apprentice registrations, cancellations, and completions. Apprenticeship Colorado uses apprentice data maintained by RAP Sponsors to calculate RAP completion rates. These completion rates are used to verify if employer partners meet the minimum completion rate requirements for inclusion on the Certified Contractor List. RAP Sponsors are responsible for accurately maintaining their RAPIDS account.
- How Often will the Certified Contractor List be updated?
The State Apprenticeship Agency will conduct outreach to Sponsors and update existing programs annually, at a minimum. New employers/contractors affiliated with Registered Apprenticeship Programs can request to be added to the Certified Contractor List at any time and will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.
- What type of documentation can the SAA provide to Sponsors and contractors?
If further documentation is required to bid on a contract, the Sponsor or contractor (employer partner) may request a letter to verify their qualification. A sample letter is available here. Please submit the request via email to apprenticeship@state.co.us.
- How do I request support with entering employers in RAPIDS?
For additional information on RAPIDS, join a RAPIDS 101 monthly webinar, contact your Quality Assurance Specialist, or review this online RAPIDS Overview video.
- I have been hiring registered apprentices but my Sponsor has not been uploading documentation in RAPIDS. What should I do?
Please coordinate with your Sponsor and encourage the organization to reach out to Apprenticeship Colorado for assistance: apprenticeship@state.co.us
- I would like to join a Registered Apprenticeship Program. Where can I learn more about what programs might be interested in accepting new employers?
Please check out our Colorado Registered Apprenticeship Programs Directory and filter by occupation and “multi-employer programs” on the side navigation bar to learn more about programs in Colorado that may be interested in accepting new employer partners.
- I am not currently eligible and may be interested in starting my own program. Where can I learn more about how to start my own program?
Please complete the Apprenticeship Interest Form to get connected to a Program Development Specialist with Apprenticeship Colorado.