You already run strong training programs—designing curriculum, placing students in real workplaces, tracking progress, and measuring outcomes. Registered Apprenticeships (RAPs) simply add formal structure, better funding access, and nationally recognized credentials to what you’re already doing well. The biggest hurdle for most program leaders? The acronyms and terms that sound insider-only.
This glossary fixes that. It’s your quick-reference bridge from familiar work-based learning to apprenticeship language.
The 60-second cheat sheet
- RAP is the “officially registered” apprenticeship program.
- Sponsor is the organization responsible for running that RAP.
- OA or SAA is the government body that registers and oversees the RAP.
- RTI is the classroom/technical instruction piece.
- OJT/OJL is the structured learning that happens at work.
- Wage progression is the planned pay increases as skills grow.
- RAPIDS is a major system used for registration/oversight in many places.
The Glossary (A–Z)
Apprentice: A worker who is employed to learn an occupation through a registered apprenticeship program.
OA (Office of Apprenticeship): The U.S. Department of Labor team that registers and oversees Registered Apprenticeship Programs in states without a recognized State Apprenticeship Agency.
OJT / OJL (On-the-Job Training / On-the-Job Learning): The structured, supervised learning that happens while the apprentice is working. Programs typically document what will be learned (and how) as part of the program’s standards.
RAP (Registered Apprenticeship Program): A formal apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. RAPs combine paid work experience, mentorship, and classroom instruction, and they lead to a nationally recognized credential.
RAPIDS (Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System): A case management system used in many states to manage key program information—like apprentices, occupations, and other program details.
RTI (Related Technical Instruction): The planned technical/classroom instruction that complements on-the-job learning. Many programs aim for around 144 hours per year.
SAA (State Apprenticeship Agency): A state-level agency that is recognized to register and oversee Registered Apprenticeship Programs in that state.
Sponsor The organization that takes responsibility for operating the Registered Apprenticeship Program—setting standards, managing the program, and ensuring requirements are met.
Wage progression: A schedule of pay increases tied to skill and productivity growth over the apprenticeship.
Bonus terms:
Appendix A: A section of apprenticeship standards that typically includes the work process schedule, related instruction outline, wage schedule, and other key program details.
Form 671 (Apprentice Registration): A commonly used form for registering an apprentice and documenting key apprentice information.
Translation table: training language → apprenticeship language
- “Coursework” → RTI
- “Field hours / clinical hours / placement hours” → OJT/OJL
- “Employer partner” → Sponsor (or an employer participating under a sponsor)
- “Raises over time” → Wage progression
Common confusion (mini FAQ)
OA vs SAA: which one do I work with? It depends on your state. Some states are overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, while others have a recognized State Apprenticeship Agency.
OJT vs RTI: do we have to provide both? A Registered Apprenticeship is built on both structured learning at work (OJT/OJL) and related technical instruction (RTI). The mix and delivery method can vary.
Sponsor vs training provider: are they the same thing? Sometimes—but not always. A sponsor can be an employer, an association, a labor-management organization, a public agency, or another entity. Training providers often deliver RTI and partner with the sponsor.
When you’re ready to operationalize, the hardest part is usually tracking RTI, on-the-job learning progress, and reporting across partners. That’s why platforms like Craft Connect exist—to help programs stay organized, audit-ready, and outcomes-focused.
To learn how to convert your CTE program into an apprenticeship, begin with the Free Apprenticeship Masterclass Guide. If you need a full apprenticeship funding guide, download this guide.
.png)