A registered apprenticeship is an employer-driven training route that combines a paid job, structured on-the-job learning, and related instruction, leading to skills and (often) a recognized credential — an alternative to a degree or bootcamp.
What it means
The U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeship.gov describes apprenticeship as a way to work while you learn through employer-led, on-the-job training paired with classroom-style instruction and mentorship. For a career-changer it is a non-degree, non-bootcamp path into a field. Eligibility, openings, and admission are program-specific and local; this is a route explainer, not a promise of placement.