Students, high school graduates, guidance counselors, parents, and others now have a great new way to learn more about Registered Apprenticeship and all the education and career opportunities it has to offer. The federal Office of Apprenticeship (OA), a part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, has launched a revamped version of the Registered Apprenticeship Community of Practice (CoP) that includes a dramatic new design, improved functionality and navigation, enhanced opportunities for interaction, and fresh and timely content. The CoP is a robust and interactive space for those interested in Registered Apprenticeship to learn from one another, share their experiences and successes, and improve and advance their Registered Apprenticeship efforts and activities.
The redesigned Community now offers the following new features:
E-lert capability to provide members with daily updates about new CoP content;
An RSS feed to provide members with immediate news and updates;
A live chat feature that allows members to discuss ideas, challenges, and solutions with their peers and with experts across the country…anytime, on-demand;
New resources related to “hot topics” such as green jobs;
Reorganized menus and quick searches to help members find more targeted resources, faster, and in a multitude of ways;
Access to the Registered Apprenticeship communities on Facebook and Twitter;
Targeted Community space for stakeholder groups such as apprentices and apprenticeship program sponsors;
Enhanced industry-specific tools and resources in sectors such as aerospace, geospatial technology, and healthcare; and
A wide array of fresh content, including videos, “101” tutorials, marketing and outreach materials, and promising practices.

Below are just a few examples of some useful resources for potential apprentices, guidance counselors, and parents that are available on the Registered Apprenticeship CoP:
Apprenticeship Diaries Series: The Washington, D.C. Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) has a blog series featuring five of their apprentices. These students, all in different stages of the program, share their thoughts and feelings about life as an apprentice.

Apprenticeship Montana Outreach and Engagement Site for Youth and Parents: The Montana Department of Labor and Industry launched its “Apprenticeship Montana” Web site to share information about apprenticeship opportunities with students, guidance counselors, parents, and others.

The Rocky Mountain Chef’s of Colorado Apprenticeship Program YouTube Video: This short movie, which won a 2009 DAFFY Award for Best Commercial Announcement, provides an up-close view of the experience of being a culinary apprentice.

“Apprenticeship: The Original Four Year Degree” YouTube Video: This short movie from the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council features actual apprentices who talk about their particular apprenticeships and the benefits of participating in Registered Apprenticeship programs.

“My Journey as an Apprentice”: A candid and engaging blog post by Jennifer Murphy, a former apprentice who became a journeyman in June 2009.

The redesigned Community of Practice is a great place to explore if you want to learn more about Registered Apprenticeship and how it could help you to achieve your education and career goals. The strength and usefulness of the Registered Apprenticeship Community comes from the participation and contributions of its many members – so we hope you’ll stop by the new CoP today to connect, engage, and innovate!