Established by the U.S. Department of Labor, National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21  is a nationwide celebration that brings together business leaders, career seekers, labor, apprentices, educational institutions and other critical partners to demonstrate their support for Registered Apprenticeship.

NAW is for everyone- from employers , unions, and career seekers, to educators, students, workforce leaders, and other critical partners including intermediaries that support the path to apprenticeship.

Locally, LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network is an intermediary that helps education systems and businesses develop apprenticeships for employees and students. LAUNCH was established in 2018 by the Inland Empire Desert Region College Consortium. This year, San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) launched its pilot apprenticeship program in partnership with Providence Group Healthcare for the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) to registered nurse (RN) pathway.

The pathway helps eliminate the obstacle students face when they are unable to balance school and work obligations leading them to drop out of school. 

Statewide, California has set a goal of 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029. Currently, there are 98,000 apprenticeship programs in the California College Systems.

To learn more about NAW and to participate, interested persons may visit Apprenticeship.gov/NAW