Program Requirements
Active Duty Enlisted
You must be an active duty enlisted service member, including Reserve, Guard, or Air National Guard members, performing your Uniformed Service duties.
12 Months Remaining
You must have at least 12 months remaining on your active duty service commitment to ensure sufficient time to complete the apprenticeship program.
Work Full Time in Trade
You must be working full-time in your requested trade, under supervision, focusing solely on the primary responsibilities without including collateral or extra duties.
Report Work Hours
You must document the hours you worked on the job for each skill area specified in the WPS. Please refer to the How to Report OJT Hours instructions provided below.
Adhere to Program Standards
All apprenticeships must adhere to specific standards set by the Department of Labor (DOL). Please review the USMAP/DOL Standards information provided below.
You will be required to document the OJT hours worked for your trade. Enter hours worked for each skill area from the Work Process Schedule (WPS) for the week. Hours must be logged in full or half-hour increments.
Print Form and Record Hours
Print a Work Experience Hourly Record Form to help keep track of your hours. As you work the skill areas, use the form to document hours as they happen. At the end of the work day, transfer the hours from the form to the online weekly log.
Types of Hours You Can Log
You may only log hours pertaining to your trade listed on your Work Process Schedule (WPS). Tasks such as military duties, training not outlined in the WPS, eating, sleeping, standing watch, command PT, or appointments cannot be reported in your work logs.
Two Types of Reports
Time-Based Reports
- Monthly Logs: Submit your monthly report to your supervisor for approval.
- Final Report: Submit your final report to your command for approval.
Competency-Based Reports
- Competency Evaluation: Submit your competency job function evaluation to your supervisor for approval.
- Final Report: Submit your final report to your command for approval.
All apprenticeships must adhere to specific standards set by the Department of Labor (DOL). These requirements and standards ensure the validity of apprenticeships and enhance their value.
The DOL is the federal agency responsible for administering the National Apprenticeship System in the United States (USMAP). USMAP is the DOL sponsor for all military apprenticeships. All DOL sponsors have a set of standards that set the guidelines for apprenticeships. These standards are tailored to fit USMAP's military mission.
Which Apprenticeships can I select?
You are only authorized to choose a trade that is related to your military occupational specialty and your current primary duty. This is because you are required to perform a set number of hours of on-the-job training (OJT) or demonstrate mastery of select competencies to complete the apprenticeship requirements for your trade.
A list of trades related to your military occupation OJT can be found on the Find a Trade page.
Didn't Attend Military Training?
If you did not attend military training, you may use formal related civilian training, such as vocational schools, college classes, trade schools, Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS), and correspondence courses to fulfill the formal classroom instruction hours. In some cases, you have the duration of the trade to complete the formal classroom instruction hours.
How to Enroll in an Apprenticeship
There are two ways to enroll in USMAP, online or by paper application.
Before you enroll, make sure you use the Program Guide Map to Success to ensure you qualify for the chosen trade.
General Rules:
- You may register for only one trade or occupation at a time.
- When you complete one trade you may register for another, if eligible.
- Your apprenticeship will be automatically cancelled if you do not make submissions for an 18 month period.
- Enrollees must agree to the terms of the apprenticeship.
- You must be enrolled in a trade to be able to log in and record hours or competencies for your apprenticeship.
Receiving Your Certificate
Once all apprenticeship requirements are complete and your final report is approved and processed, your Department of Labor Certificate of Completion and Journeyworker Card will be available online.
Enroll Online
This is the preferred and most efficient method. Follow the instructions to complete the online application.
Enroll Online