Academies

Frequently asked questions

What is Registered Apprenticeship and why is it important?

Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience while learning, progressive wage increases, and a nationally recognized credential. Registered Apprenticeship Programs are industryvetted and approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency.

How does a Registered Apprenticeship work?

Registered Apprenticeships involve multiple organizations that take on the different roles listed below to support apprentices with on-the-job learning, related instruction, and remuneration for performance and growth.

Sponsor: An organization that agrees to register and operate an apprenticeship program. This may be the local academy, the employer, or third-party. Related Instruction (RI) 
Provider: An entity that provides instruction to apprentices in designated occupation’s core knowledge, skills, and abilities. This is the role ideally suited for academies. 
Employer: Entity that hires and provides paid, on-the-job learning for apprentices under the supervision of a designated mentor skilled in that occupation 
Partner: Organizations committed to assisting Registered Apprenticeship programs. They can play one or more roles. Currently, Cisco Networking Academy works with Safal Partners to help academies implement Registered Apprenticeship programs.

What is Cisco Networking Academy’s role in a Registered Apprenticeship?

To build a stronger, more skilled, and diverse tech workforce, Cisco Networking Academy is focused on enabling the development of high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs for Academies and instructors. To accomplish this, Cisco Networking Academy has worked with the U.S. Department of Labor to create National Guideline Standards (NGS) for three IT apprenticeship occupations. These guideline standards offer a quick-start framework for any Registered Apprenticeship program to adopt and provide a detailed, industry-validated, competency-based training plan for the three occupations described in Question 4 below.

What type of apprenticeships are supported?

Cisco Networking Academy worked with the U.S. Department of Labor to create National Guideline Standards (NGS) for three key apprenticeships: 

• IT Generalist 
  • Provide technical assistance to computer users 
  • Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone, or electronically. 
• Cybersecurity Support Technician 
  • Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. 
  • Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. 
• Network Technician 
  • Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. 
  • Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems.

How are the three apprenticeships related to Cisco Networking Academy curriculum?

The job tasks and key skills outlined for the three apprenticeships are directly related to the skills and competencies learned through Cisco Networking Academy curriculum. A mapping of the apprenticeships to the courses/curriculum is given below:

IT Specialist ---> IT Essentials
Cyber Security Support Technician ---> CCNA CyberOps Associate
Network Technician ---> CCNA

What are the requirements for my Academy to become involved in Registered Apprenticeship?

To determine if your Academy is positioned to effectively participate in Registered Apprenticeship, you will need to consider the following:

• Access to local employers eager to hire apprentices and them to become “career ready.”
• Confirmation to serve as an employer’s related instruction (RI) training provider. A Registered Apprenticeship program incorporates your Academy’s regular sequence of courses as the required instruction for apprentices that complements paid on-the-job learning. 
• Assessment of your ability to serve as a Registered Apprenticeship Program Sponsor if you want to take on the administrative responsibilities and facilitate engagement with multiple employers. The employer or a U.S. Department of Labor Intermediary can also serve as the Program Sponsor.

What are the costs associated with sponsoring a Registered Apprenticeship program?

There are no costs charged by registration agencies to sponsor a Registered Apprenticeship program. The most common costs are to the employer who is responsible for paying apprentices for their time spent during on-the-job learning. In some cases, the employer may also pay for the apprentices’ Related Instruction (RI) delivered through the RI provider, but it is not required. Apprentices may be required to pay for their own RI courses. Program sponsors need to designate a program coordinator, who is typically a full-time or part-time employee. There are also several potential sources of funding to help Registered Apprenticeship program sponsors, employers, and potentially even apprentices with costs. For example, the U.S. Department of Labor has federal contracts and grant programs that may provide limited one-time incentive funding to program sponsors and/or employers. Many states also offer employers tax credits for hiring apprentices and offer grant funding to Registered Apprenticeship program sponsors and participating employers.

What is the typical duration/time length for an apprenticeship?

The typical duration of a Registered Apprenticeship program depends on the occupation, the sequencing of the employers’ OJL, and the amount of coursework established in the RI. Registered Apprenticeship programs using the Cisco NGS can be completed in as little as 12 months depending on the occupation.

Is there support available if I’m interested in learning more or getting started?

Yes, Cisco Networking Academy is working with Safal Partners to help establish Registered Apprenticeships at Academies like yours. Safal Partners offers a broad range of assistance for all phases of the program. You can email Safal Partners directly to schedule a brief introductory meeting: CiscoRA@safalpartners.com.

What are the first steps I can take?

Getting the correct contact information from your Academy is an important step as your institution may already be familiar with Registered Apprenticeships or supporting another Registered Apprenticeship program in another skills area. Tip: Try to identify a colleague who may have a position including one of the following titles: Workforce Development, Career Services, or Work-Based Learning. If there is no established Registered Apprenticeship program at your institution, then gauging your leadership’s interest in supporting the program will be key to its viability. Once you have assessed the level of interest, we recommend Safal Partners to identify potential local employment partners and collaborate on next steps.

What if my Academy or institution already has a Registered Apprenticeship program?

If your institution already serves as a Registered Apprenticeship program sponsor for other occupations, expanding the program by adding one or more occupations under the Cisco Networking Academy National Guideline Standards is a simple and relatively quick process. If your institution is not currently involved in Registered Apprenticeship, it will be important to convene internal stakeholders to gauge interest. Safal Partners can help with additional program information to gain consensus on the potential role(s) your institution can play.

How can I evaluate the labor needs and interests of employers in my area?

You can research local employers’ potential need or interest in engaging with:

Your local industry employer advisory council/board your Local Workforce Development Board which can provide local labor market information (LMI) your state or local economic development agency that can provide local, state or regional LMI your local or state Chamber of Commerce

Safal Partners can help with researching labor needs as well.

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• Workforce Development Boards
• Economic Development Agencies
• Chamber of Commerce

What are the steps to create and register an apprenticeship program?

Below are the general steps to establish a Registered Apprenticeship program at your Academy. Additional steps may be required based on your institution’s specific circumstances.

Work with your Safal Partners and your Cisco Business Development Manager (BDM) to discuss getting started with Registered Apprenticeship. 1. Engage local employers to discuss interest and determine which occupation(s) are a fit for a new or expanded program. 2. Work with Safal Partners, to customize your Registered Apprenticeship program to fit the needs of all stakeholders. 3. Obtain U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or State Apprenticeship Agency approval of your program application. This provides a certificate of program sponsorship and access to an apprentice registration database. 4. 5.Sign up participating employers to recruit apprentices. 6.Launch your program.

How can I add another occupation to my current Registered Apprenticeship program?

A Registered Apprenticeship sponsor can expand an existing program by adding a new occupation at any time. Since the program is already registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, the sponsor only needs to complete a few steps to determine occupation(s) for expanded program development.

Ensure clear alignment in scheduling Related Instruction for the apprentices in the additional occupation. Work with Safal Partners to customize the Cisco NGS for newly added occupations. Submit the updated NGS to the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship or State Apprenticeship Agency for approval of additional occupation(s). Once the occupation has been approved, you can start registering apprentices into that occupation. A new employer participation agreement is not necessary.