Responses to Potential Sponsors’ Concerns About Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship

Becoming a Registered Apprenticeship program means a program must follow U.S. Department of Labor regulations found at 29 CFR part 29 and 29 CFR part 30 (or a state counterpart). 29 CFR part 30 is known as the “Apprenticeship equal employment opportunity regulation.” It requires Registered Apprenticeship programs not to discriminate against apprentices or apprenticeship applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age (40 and older), and genetic information. 29 CFR part 30 also requires Registered Apprenticeship programs to take certain affirmative steps to ensure equal employment opportunity (EEO).

Programs contemplating registering often have concerns about what these apprenticeship EEO regulations mean for them. The talking points in this report address these frequently-asked questions and offer point-by-point solutions.