DOL’s National Apprenticeship Program

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has established its first-ever national apprenticeship program aimed at training firefighters and first responders to address a shortage in this field. This new job training model, created by the International Association of Fire Fighters, uses the National Guideline Standards as a framework for organizations to set up registered apprenticeships, allowing for modifications to meet state-specific rules. The program will train apprentices on essentials such as breathing apparatuses, health and safety, fire streams, ropes and knots, and ladders. The administration's introduction of the new firefighter program came just a week after the president issued an executive order directing an overhaul of federal job training funding.