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Manage Your Apprenticeship Program

An apprentice sitting on top of a wind turbine

This page contains our best resources and tools for Sponsors to manage your program, as well as links to trainings and guides to explain the ins and outs of quality assurance in your program. 
 

 

Sponsor Reference Guide

The Colorado Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor Reference Guide is the go-to resource for administering and managing your Registered Apprenticeship Program. The Guide breaks down all the basic information you need to register and administer your program, including: putting your apprenticeship program into practice, program standards requirements, program administrative requirements. If you have any questions, we have the answers! 

Access the Sponsor Reference Guide

Technical Resources & Information
  • Colorado Registered Apprenticeship Programs Directory - The Colorado Registered Apprenticeship Programs Directory (Apprenticeship Directory) is a resource used across Colorado by job seekers, career coaches, high school counselors, state partners, and other stakeholders to promote apprenticeship opportunities. For more information, visit the Apprenticeship Directory page.
  • Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS) - RAPIDS is your primary platform for managing your apprentices, occupations, job openings, and other relevant program information.
  • Key Laws & Guidance
    • The Apprenticeship Legislation & Policy page includes a list of state legislation and published guidance related to RAPs in Colorado, along with information regarding the Colorado State Apprenticeship Agency.  
    • Apprenticeship.gov is a one-stop source from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) that connects career seekers, employers, and education partners with apprenticeship resources.
    • Information related to federal registered apprenticeship legislation, regulations, and guidance can be found on the USDOL website.
Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS)

As the Sponsor, you are responsible for registering and monitoring program and apprentice information in the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System (RAPIDS). This includes: 

  • Registering a new apprenticeship program
    • Apprentice information must be entered into RAPIDS within 45 days of the program start date (regardless of whether related instruction or on-the-job learning begins first).
  • Updating apprentice status for any changes, such as completion, suspension, or termination, and Apprentice Program Completion Certificates are issued in a timely manner.
  • Updating apprentice related instruction (RI) and on-the-job learning (OJL) completions
  • Updating apprentice wage-scale increases
  • Updating employer information and uploading Employer Agreements into RAPIDS 

Access RAPIDS at https://entbpmp.dol.gov/suite/ 

Sponsor Documents

Work Process Schedule and Related Instruction Outline (Appendix A)

  • Programs must operate in alignment with the Standards outlined in Appendix A: Work Process as it relates to the approach and term of apprenticeship, journeyworker ratio, apprentice wage schedule, probationary period, credit for prior experience, and selection procedures.
  • Sponsors can revise these Standards if they are not consistent with the program training. 

 

Colorado Apprentice Agreement (Appendix B) 

  • Apprentices must be under agreement (regardless of whether related instruction or on-the-job learning begins first) within 45 days of program start date.
  • RAPIDS issues the Colorado Apprenticeship Agreement, which is similar to the ETA 671, but incorporates state law and regulations. The Colorado Apprenticeship Agreement is the preferred state agreement. Programs have the option to use an alternative agreement if in conformity with federal and state law and approved by the SAA. Regardless of the form, all programs operating in Colorado are required to comply with state and federal law. 

 

Employer Agreements (Appendix D) or Collective Bargaining Agreement

  • For multi-employer programs: Per federal and state regulations, employer partners must sign onto Apprenticeship Standards using Employer Agreement: Appendix D or, if applicable, a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Employers who are already party to Standards do not need to re-sign Appendix D if the terms of the Employer Agreement are consistent. 
  • For multi-employer programs: Sponsors are responsible for ensuring that all employers are in RAPIDS and that a copy of the final Standards is shared with all participating employers.
Sponsor Request Forms

  • Apprentice-to-Journeyworker Ratio Request Form: The Apprentice-to-Journeyworker Ratio Expansion Request Form will guide Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) Sponsors through the requirements and process to request a revision to their ratio of apprentices to journeyworkers in a currently registered occupation in Colorado.
  • Occupation Deactivation Request Form: The Occupation Deactivation Request Form guides Sponsors through the process of requesting the deactivation of an occupation in their Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) from the State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) and reviews their responsibilities after an occupation has been deactivated.
  • Voluntary Program Deregistration Request Form: The Voluntary Program Deregistration Request Form guides Sponsors through the process of requesting the voluntary deregistration of their Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) from the State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) and reviews their responsibilities before deregistration can occur. This process is in alignment with 7 CCR 1108-1 (1.9)(A) Policies Regulating the Cancellation and/or Deregistration of Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and for the Temporary Suspension, Cancellation, and/or Deregistration of Apprenticeship Agreements.  

Questions about Sponsor Request Forms can be emailed to apprenticeship@state.co.us. 

Sponsors Requesting Technical Assistance from Apprenticeship Colorado

Sponsors of Registered Apprenticeships Programs in Colorado can find their assigned Specialist from Apprenticeship Colorado listed in RAPIDS.  The assigned Specialist and their contact information will be listed as the "Assigned ATR" in RAPIDS.

Sponsors can also request assistance with managing their program by emailing us at apprenticeship@state.co.us and we will connect them with their assigned Specialist.