What is a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) and how does it work for the early care and education and out-of-school time workforce?

Maine Roads to Quality Professional Development Network (MRTQ PDN) was accepted by the Maine Department of Labor (DOL) as an Intermediary Sponsor of the Maine ECE Registered Apprenticeship Program in June 2022. The intention of this program was to increase the skills and stability of the Maine ECE and OST workforce utilizing a well-established, competency-based registered apprenticeship model.

• RAPs provide advanced knowledge and skills that are applied from on-the-job-learning through (free) MRTQ PDN Core Knowledge Training or ECE college courses.
• RAPs are an earn-while-you-learn model. As the apprentices gain more knowledge and skills, they receive wage increases, utilizing wage supplements ($25,000 over 3 years) that are provided to the Sponsoring Employers to meet the Maine DOL’s wage requirements.
• RAPs include on-site Mentoring from experienced ECE professionals to support success. Mentors receive a $2,400/year stipend to support their work.

There are 2 occupations for the Maine ECE Registered Apprenticeship Program:

• Early Childhood Education Specialist 1 earns one of the following Maine Credentials:
  • Family Child Care
  • Infant Toddler
  • Preschool
  • Youth Development
• Early Childhood Education Specialist 2 earns an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from a Maine Community College. This occupation is a partnership with the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Program, administered by the Maine Association for the Education of Young Children.