Many apprenticeship programs partner with colleges to deliver the theoretical related technical instruction (RTI) component that complements an apprentice’s paid on-the-job learning. This essay uses data from Florida to estimate the typical costs of delivering apprentices’ RTI through the state’s colleges.
Why This Matters
Apprenticeship is an evidence-based education and training model that prepares participants to advance in skilled career pathways. Research demonstrates that apprenticeship raises participants’ earnings, but apprenticeship is underused in the United States compared with peer economies. Policymakers are interested in supporting apprenticeship expansion by building stronger ties between colleges and apprenticeship programs and by subsidizing RTI, but little is known about the costs of these strategies. This essay estimates the typical costs of delivering apprentices’ RTI in Florida colleges.
Key Takeaways
The annual per apprentice cost of delivering RTI through Florida’s colleges is closely related to an apprentice’s occupation. Annual college-based RTI costs in Florida are typically between $1,500 and $3,500. Costs vary substantially depending on an apprentice’s occupation, ranging from $136 for maintenance and repair workers to more than $18,000 for medical assistants.
Research suggests that apprenticeship is an effective education and training model that raises earnings, but it is an expensive model with many components, including the apprentice’s wages, on-the-job learning costs, and RTI costs. RTI costs are critical for policymakers to understand as more colleges partner with apprenticeship programs and as policymakers consider RTI reimbursement models.
How We Did It
We combined aggregate instructional and administrative cost data from the Florida Department of Education with data on Florida apprentices from the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System to calculate per apprentice college-based RTI costs. Cost data are provided at the occupational program level by the Florida Department of Education, though it is possible for these costs to vary within an occupation as well.
