Employers across industries need skilled workers, and learners increasingly want training that connects directly to the work ahead. That interest has led to a resurgence of the age-old apprenticeship model.

Jessica Desmond, Regional Apprenticeship Coordinator at ECPI University, makes the case for scaling Registered Apprenticeships in the Fall 2026 issue of Career Education Review. The magazine is published by Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), the national association for career education institutions, and covers news, trends, research, and discussions shaping career education.

Read the full article to learn about how this model can serve as an effective workforce development strategy.

What makes Registered Apprenticeships an effective workforce strategy?

Registered Apprenticeships pair paid work with structured learning. Apprentices earn while they learn and build skills on the job. Employers, in turn, build a pipeline of workers with targeted expertise.

Apprentices may also earn industry-recognized credentials and, depending on the site, college credits. Many step into more advanced roles after completing the program, and some go on to enroll in degree programs.

Registered Apprenticeships are formally recognized, vetted, and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. That sets clear standards for quality, which gives employers and apprentices consistency and confidence.

Even so, Desmond says that adoption of this model still lags. "For many employers, the challenge is not a lack of interest, but a lack of clarity on how to even get started."

Partnerships with approved education partners ease that first step. Educators already know the requirements and can structure the training, which gives employers clarity and confidence before they commit.

How does ECPI University support employers who want to start a Registered Apprenticeship?

ECPI University works with employers to build apprenticeship programs around their specific roles and hiring needs. Faculty and academic leadership are involved in the process to guide employers through the requirements and past the myths holding apprenticeships back.

Because of ECPI University's format, employers get more flexibility and closer alignment between training and the work. Five-week terms allow new cohorts to begin year-round, and industry-guided curricula map classes to the jobs apprentices will perform.

The results show in long-running partnerships with employers like Volvo Cars USA, which has produced four cohorts in Charleston, South Carolina, since 2021, and Busch Group USA, which joined as a Registered Apprenticeship partner in 2025.

Employers ready to start can partner with ECPI University to build a program around their workforce needs.