Registered Apprenticeship

For Employers: A program built around your business | For Job Seekers: Earn while you learn

Registered Apprenticeship is an employer-driven training model that combines paid, on-the-job learning with related classroom instruction. Programs are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Office, and apprentices who complete their program earn a nationally recognized, portable credential.

Who it is for

Employers who want to grow skilled talent over time, and job seekers who want to be paid while they train for a career.

How it works

• Apprentices are employees from day one and earn wage increases as their skills grow.
• Training pairs structured on-the-job learning under a mentor with related technical instruction.
• Businesses can sponsor their own program or join an existing program through an intermediary or partner.
• Workforce funding may help offset program costs. 

Why it matters

Apprenticeship gives employers a dependable talent pipeline and stronger retention, and it gives Philadelphians a structured, paid path into a career.

Download the Apprenticeship Quick Guide | Read the Full Policy | Visit ApprenticeshipPHL

Customized Job Training (CJT)

Classroom training designed around your open positions.

Customized Job Training is classroom-based training developed with an employer, or a group of employers, to prepare participants for specific job requirements. In exchange, the employer commits to hiring participants who successfully complete the training and shares in the cost.

Who it is for

Businesses hiring several people into the same or similar roles that require specific skills.

How it works

• Training content is built around your job requirements and the skills your roles demand.
• You commit to hiring participants who successfully complete the training.
• You pay a share of the training cost. [Confirm: employer share by business size, per the local policy]
• Participants are screened and determined eligible through PA CareerLink® Philadelphia.

Why it matters

New hires arrive trained to your standards and ready to contribute from their first day.

Download the CJT Quick Guide | Read the Full Policy

Incumbent Worker Training (IWT)

Invest in the employees you already have.

Incumbent Worker Training helps businesses upgrade the skills of their current employees so they can advance, keep pace with new technology, or avoid layoff. It serves employed workers with an established work history of six months or more.

Who it is for

Employers who want to promote from within, strengthen retention, or keep their workforce competitive.

How it works

• Eligible employees have an established work history of six months or more.
• Training builds skills that help workers advance, stay competitive, or avert layoffs, and can open entry-level roles for new hires.
• The employer shares in the cost of training. [Confirm: employer share and any funding cap]
• The Business Engagement Team works with you to confirm eligibility and design the training.

Why it matters

IWT strengthens retention, supports promotion from within, and keeps your business competitive.

Download the IWT Quick Guide | Read the Full Policy

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

Hire now, train on the job, and recover part of the cost.

On-the-Job Training lets employers hire new workers and train them at the worksite while receiving reimbursement for a portion of the trainee’s wages. The reimbursement offsets the extra time and cost of bringing a new employee up to full productivity.

Who it is for

Employers with an open position and a promising candidate who needs additional skills to succeed in the role.

How it works

• The trainee is hired as a paid employee from the start.
• A written training plan outlines the skills to be learned and the length of training.
• You are reimbursed for a percentage of the trainee’s wages during the training period. [Confirm: reimbursement rate and maximum training length]
• The candidate must be registered with PA CareerLink® Philadelphia and determined eligible before hire.

Why it matters

OJT lowers the cost and risk of hiring, so you can hire for potential and build skills as the employee works.

Proof point: Amity Care used OJT to train 17 new hires in care-related roles.

Download the OJT Quick Guide | Read the Full Policy

Individual Training Accounts (ITA)

Training funds for job seekers pursuing in-demand careers.

An Individual Training Account provides funding for eligible job seekers to enroll in approved training that leads to a credential in an in-demand occupation. Training must be offered by a provider on Pennsylvania’s Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL).

Who it is for

Philadelphia job seekers who meet eligibility requirements and need training to secure employment or move into a better job.

How it works

• Start by registering with PA CareerLink® Philadelphia and meeting with a career advisor.
• Choose an approved program on the ETPL that leads to an in-demand occupation in the region.
• ITA funding has limits on cost and length of training. [Confirm: maximum amount and time limit]
• Your advisor helps you coordinate other financial aid, such as Pell Grants, where it applies.

Why it matters

ITAs remove cost as a barrier to career training, and they grow the pool of credentialed candidates that Philadelphia employers need.

Download the ITA Quick Guide | Read the Full Policy | Job Seekers: Explore Training Opportunities