WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced the Apprenticeships to College Act, bipartisan legislation to allow workers to earn college credits for completed apprenticeships.

“Apprenticeships are key to training our workforce and helping workers get the skills they need to work in high-demand fields,” said Klobuchar. “By providing college credits for completed apprenticeships, our bipartisan legislation will increase access to educational opportunities and position more workers for success.”

 “Apprenticeships provide young people with the necessary skills and experience to help ensure their success in high-demand careers following graduation,” said Moran. “Providing college credit to students for completed apprenticeships gives them valuable opportunities to learn and helps to meet critical workforce demands in Kansas and across the country.” 

The Apprenticeships to College Act would formally codify the Registered Apprenticeship-College Consortium (RACC), a partnership between the Department of Labor and Department of Education to facilitate cooperation between apprenticeship programs and colleges. The legislation would also make improvements to the program to generate new agreements with two- and four-year colleges, ensure support services are available to apprentices, and expand collaboration between colleges and apprenticeships programs to measure the success of the RACC.

 In addition, Klobuchar and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced the bipartisan American Apprenticeship Act, which would help create and expand pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs. Klobuchar and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) have also introduced the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act to help Americans save for skills training, certification, and credential programs.