Background

On August 1, 2023, Chancellor Christian of the California Community Colleges held an organizational meeting with the California’s Secretary of Labor, Stewart Knox (a long-time avid supporter of community colleges) and with state government and college leaders. The meeting was to review and assess the potential of converting new and innovative apprenticeship experiences into the Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project.

For this new initiative, targeted students will be those in emerging and priority industry sectors who are current apprentices, as well as those who have completed apprenticeships. Dr. Marvin Martinez, chancellor of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, has agreed to lead the project, which will include a first cohort of 25 of the existing 116 community colleges within the system.

This initiative seeks to:

  • Provide community college credit for apprenticeship classroom instruction and for prior learning experiences through credit for on-the-job training.
  • Encourage these apprentices to continue their educational journey in community colleges from pre-apprenticeship in enhanced noncredit earning a certificate on to credit programs offering associate degrees on to the new community college baccalaureate degree in career technical education or applied learning.
  • Invest in the State’s economic growth and global competitiveness through enhanced pathways for individuals participating in apprenticeship programs, particularly as an engine for economic and career mobility for low-income adults.
  • Expand diversity, equity, and inclusion by ensuring all students, regardless of race, age, economic status, or geography, gain exposure and confidence to pursue any degree pathway that aligns with their chosen apprenticeship field.

This initiative is intended to provide community college apprenticeship program students, with a direct path to credit certificates and degrees. Supporting students along their educational journey, while allowing them to earn wages and learn 21st-century skills, is how the California Community Colleges will contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty and give community college students, their families, and their communities the opportunity for true economic mobility.

Resources and Events

Credit for Prior Learning and Apprenticeship Webinar

January 27, 2026 at 11am PST

Register

You are invited to join us for the Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project: Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and Apprenticeship. This session will highlight ways institutions can use CPL to recognize the skills apprentices gain on the job and streamline their progression toward certificates and degrees.

This session will explore:

  • What CPL looks like in practice
  • How CPL connects to both noncredit and for-credit pathways
  • Differences between CPL for traditional versus innovative apprenticeship models
  • What’s ahead for CPL and apprenticeship integration

Statewide Convening on Community College Apprenticeship Program Creation and Expansion

March 19-20, 2026
Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa

Register

Join the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, Foundation for California Community Colleges, Rancho Santiago Community College District, and the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network for a free two-day statewide convening focused on creating and expanding Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

This engaging event will bring together community college leaders, faculty, and apprenticeship practitioners to explore best practices, connect with peers, and engage directly with industry and workforce partners.

What to expect:

  • Insights from subject-matter experts and practitioners across California
  • Strategies for building and scaling Registered Apprenticeship Programs
  • Guidance on using labor market information effectively
  • Employer engagement and partnership-building approaches
  • Planning discussions to support campus-level decision-making
  • Networking opportunities, including an evening reception

Event Schedule:

  • March 19, 2026, 10:00 am - 4:15 pm (Breakfast starts at 9:00 am)
    • Evening Reception: March 19, 2026, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
  • March 20, 2026, 8:30 am - 12:00 p.m. (Breakfast starts at 7:30 am)

Hotel Reservations:

A room block is reserved at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa for March 18, 2026, through March 21, 2026. Availability is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your room as soon as possible. Reserve a hotel online.

Contact ApprenticeshipSupportNetwork@foundationccc.org with questions or for additional information.

Letter of Intent Apprenticeship Pathways Demonstration Project