What We Know About Registered Apprenticeship: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of 30 Years of Empirical Research

Abstract

Apprenticeship is a time-tested learning model and workforce development strategy. In the United States, registered apprenticeship (RA)—a structured form of apprenticeship that is regulated and overseen by government agencies—has been expanding from skilled trades into new industries. To inform this expansion and contribute to the understanding of how the model serves apprentices and employers, the author undertook a systematic literature review and a qualitative synthesis of empirical research, interpreting findings on RA over a 30-year period. The review identified 36 scholarly studies and an additional 98 articles from the practitioner literature. The synthesis derived three themes: expansion, benefits, and outcomes for minoritized groups, revealing gaps in research on the curricular and instructional design elements of RA that promote retention, completion, career advancement, and learning for apprentices.