Future Ready Apprenticeship Center
A national center of excellence helping states build apprenticeship-ready systems.
What is The Center?
The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center is a national hub supporting states to strengthen and scale Registered Apprenticeship opportunities for youth ages 16–24. The Center brings proven practice, policy expertise, and funding together to help states build apprenticeship systems that last.
Nationally Funded Initiative for Select States
Launched in late 2025, the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center is an initiative federally funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and powered by CareerWise in partnership with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The Center provides states with the funding, customized consulting services, and proven frameworks necessary to build robust youth apprenticeship systems that align education, industry, and workforce development.
The Center addresses a critical gap in the national workforce, enabling states to scale their apprenticeship programs and pathways. High-demand sectors like healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing currently face shortages of skilled talent. By scaling apprenticeship programs, states can transform the lives of thousands of young people while building sustainable pipelines of skilled works for their local economies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Center helps states build the infrastructure, partnerships, and policies that allow high-quality programs to grow.
While The Center does not run apprenticeship programs, it does partner with selected states to:
- Promote statewide plans to expand access to high-quality youth apprenticeship
- Support states in building and implementing sustainable apprenticeship systems
- Advance research, best practices, and policy innovation
- Strengthen alignment across education, workforce, and industry systems
- Address system-level and policy barriers that limit scale
Participation in The Center is designed for states ready to lead system-level change. While there is no cost to participate,states receive funding and are expected to commit staff time and leadership capacity. Other requirements include:
- Designating a core project team of 4–6 leaders representing education, workforce, industry, and apprenticeship systems
- Developing and sustaining a broader cross-sector state coalition
- Developing, implementing, and refining a statewide plan to expand youth access to Registered Apprenticeships
- Commitment of staff time and leadership capacity to participate throughout the program period (June 2026–December 2028) which includes participating in required consulting sessions, peer learning, convenings, and evaluation activities
June 2026 – December 2028 (31 months)
No. There are no required minimums for programs created, apprentices served, or employers engaged. The primary requirement is developing, implementing, and refining a comprehensive state plan for expanding youth access to Registered Apprenticeships. States will establish goals through the planning process and work toward them over time with support from The Center.
Yes. A focus on pre-apprenticeship does not disqualify a state. Pre-apprenticeship is often a critical component of connected pathways that lead into Registered Apprenticeship and can play a meaningful role in state systems development.
No. Selected states receive $200,000 over the program period (June 2026–December 2028) to support participation and implementation. States are expected to commit staff time and leadership capacity to fully engage.
The Center is led by CareerWise in partnership with national experts in apprenticeship, workforce policy, and education systems.
Why The Center Matters Now
Across the country, employers in healthcare, technology, advanced manufacturing, education, and other high-demand industries need skilled talent. At the same time, too many young people leave high school or early jobs without a clear path to a family-sustaining career. The Future Ready Apprenticeship Center is launching at a moment when states are under pressure to deliver results and exists to help states make this transformation real. Registered Apprenticeship bridges this gap. When states build strong apprenticeship systems:
- Young people gain real skills and real wages
- Employers develop the talent they need to grow
- Communities retain talent and build long-term economic strength
Want to Learn More Before Applying?
View our previously recorded information session and with Q&A about the Future Ready Apprenticeship Center.
