ANAB was approved by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship as a Standards Recognition Entity (SRE) in September 2020. With this prestigious recognition, ANAB can now recognize Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) pursuant to the Department of Labor’s high standards.
To address the growing skills gap and rapidly increase the availability of high-quality employees in America, an Executive Order titled Expanding Apprenticeships in America was issued June 15, 2017. The Department of Labor followed suit and on March 11, 2020, issued the Final Rule that established a system for advancing the development of high-quality IRAPs and promoting the development of apprenticeship programs in a wide range of industries. The Department of Labor also laid a framework to qualify third parties to recognize and ensure that the apprenticeship programs meet quality standards. As a global leader in credentialing accreditation, ANAB sought to build on its extensive expertise and offer a quality recognition process for apprenticeship programs.
On September 23, 2022, the Department of Labor (“the Department”) issued a Final Rule (“the rule”) rescinding its recognition of Standards Recognition Entities (SREs) and, in turn, their recognition of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAPs). The rule can be accessed here: Apprenticeship Programs, Labor Standards for Registration.
The rescission of the 2020 IRAP final rule did not require that the SREs and the IRAPs they have recognized cease their operations; rather, this action only requires that these entities cease indicating that they are recognized by the Department as an SRE or an IRAP. Organizations that were previously recognized by the Department as SREs could continue to serve in their role overseeing the training and development conducted by IRAPs.
Following the U.S. Department of Labor’s recent decision to rescind the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) assured its customers that ANAB will continue its recognition of the apprenticeship programs created by Dallas College: Health Care Culinary Services, Health Care Supply Chain Professional, MRI Technologist, and Sterile Processing Technician. ANAB’s recognition of these four programs is based on their respective demonstration of their use of and adherence to national and international standards that, in turn results in high quality, workplace-relevant apprenticeship programs.
ANAB would like to assure the participants and employers who use these programs that the programs continue to meet the standards under which they were recognized. ANAB has ceased to indicate that it is recognized by the Department of Labor as a Standards Recognition Entity (SRE) or that these programs are recognized by the Department as IRAPs.
ANAB continues to advocate for the integration of quality work-based learning as a strong competence-based approach to help ensure industry and employers that competencies have been attained. This is critical to meet the growing industry demand for validated, transparent competencies that are continuously updated to ensure a highly skilled workforce.
If you have questions, please contact:
Caitlin O’Connell
Manager, Certificate Accreditation Program
202-384-0184
coconnell@anab.org