Throughout National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2026, held April 26 to May 2, Commissioner Roberta Reardon visited many of New York State’s great RA and pre-apprenticeship programs.
The Commissioner acknowledged 18 RA programs that received “Pathway Partner” certificates commemorating their support in establishing pathways to success. The Department presented checks totaling more than $500,000 in Apprenticeship Expansion Grant (AEG) funding in Buffalo and Rochester for teacher assistants, direct support professionals and direct support professional supervisors, and Direct Entry Pre-apprenticeship (DEPA) programs in the building and construction trades.
The Commissioner also visited union training centers to meet apprentices in excavation and utility work at Laborers International Union of North America (LiUna), electricians at IBEW Local 41, and elevator repairers at the NYC Transit Authority. In Syracuse, she visited the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) to tour two of their member’s facilities and meet their apprentices. She also met past participants of the “Real Life Rosies,” which is part of the Diversifying Advanced Manufacturing with Women in the Workforce Direct Entry pre-apprenticeship program to empower women to enter traditionally male-dominated fields.
Visit the NYSDOL Facebook page for more details including pictures and videos about these NAW visits and many more!
Register for the National Association of State and Territorial Apprenticeship Directors (NASTAD) Annual Conference in Lake George on September 13 – 17, 2026. Anyone involved in the RA community can join us for discussions about the opportunities and challenges shaping the RA system within NYS and nationwide. Conference attendees will include State Apprenticeship Agencies from across the country, sponsors, related instruction providers, and national intermediaries. For general information, including on purchasing tickets, as well as sponsorship and exhibit opportunities, visit the NASTAD annual conference website.
Registered apprentice MItsuye Hardy and journeyworker Jenelle Melville
On January 20, 2026, NYSDOL launched Industrial Hygienist and Safety and Health Specialist RA programs. The programs are being utilized within the NYSDOL Division of Safety and Health.
The Department registered its first Industrial Hygienist apprentice, Mitsuye Hardy, on April 23, 2026. Mitsuye began her training in the Asbestos Unit and has received positive feedback for her performance. Beginning June 29, she will rotate to the On-Site Consultation Unit for nine weeks before continuing through additional units as part of the program's comprehensive 18- to 24-month training schedule.
The Division of Safety and Health expects to enroll additional apprentices as the programs continue to grow.
Launched in October 2025, phase two of the new Microsoft Dynamics-based system now has 518 Authorized Users, 370 unique Sponsor Accounts, and 2,458 apprentices that have been digitally registered. These numbers continue to grow daily! Existing sponsors not using the portal should do so to familiarize themselves with the system and take advantage of the benefits the portal has to offer for registration and digital tracking.
The modernized system aims to provide greater efficiency; however, some apprentice enrollments remain pending the apprentice signature. The apprentice cannot be enrolled until they complete their portion of the Apprenticeship Agreement. Please remember that technical assistance is always available, and users can reach out for assistance to work through any outstanding issues including those related to signing the agreement. Apprentices may contact their ATR or email NYSRADataSystem@labor.ny.gov if they can’t complete their portion of the Apprenticeship Agreement. In addition, regular virtual Office Hour Sessions continue to be held for sponsors to participate in and ask questions about the new system. Information on how to gain access to the system, and details on upcoming Office Hour Sessions can be found on our website.
The next phase of development will allow sponsors to revise program elements online, including adding authorized users, updating wage progressions, and managing related instruction or direct entry providers.
The Digital Blue Book pilot program allows select sponsors and their apprentices access to digital blue books for testing and feedback. This new feature allows apprentices to enter their on-the-job training hours digitally and sponsors to review and approve those records through a secure online portal. Digital blue books will be made available for all sponsors in early 2027. Until then, continue to use paper blue books or the electronic version, which can be found on our website. Sponsors should contact their Apprenticeship Training Representative (ATR) with any questions.
Need assistance gaining access to or navigating the new system? Visit the NYSDOL Apprenticeship Portal website for information, updates, and other resources. Questions or technical assistance related to the new modernized system should be emailed to NYSRADataSystem@labor.ny.gov.
The Empire State Apprenticeship Tax Credit Program (ESATC) Program is available for NYS RA program sponsors and/or signatory employers. To be eligible for this credit for the year 2026 and to meet the six-months full-time employment requirement for this year, apprentices needed to have been registered in your RA program and working by July 1, 2026.
This program is focused on in-demand occupations throughout the state, excluding construction trades. RA programs in the field of construction are ineligible unless the trade is to be used for the upkeep and maintenance of a facility owned by the business entity employing the apprentice, such as plant maintenance trades.
Further information on the program, including a fact sheet and frequently asked questions, can be found on our website. You may also e-mail our team at ESATC@labor.ny.gov with any questions.
Apprenticeship Training Representative Regina Crawford
To increase awareness and strengthen participation, NYSDOL staff participate in events throughout the state. These efforts engage businesses to establish, expand, and operate RA programs across all industries while also recruiting youth and adult participants interested in building career pathways through RA.
NYSDOL Apprenticeship Training Representative (ATR) Regina Crawford was excited to participate in the Brentwood High School Annual Career Fair held on April 23, 2026. Students got to explore prospective career opportunities in various industries. They were also given insight on how to pursue paths that interested them, including RA.
Paul Iaccarino and Troy Terrusa
NYSDOL staff also attended The Building Trades Employers’ Educational Association graduation held on Friday, June 19 at Leonard’s Palazzo located in Great Neck, NY where Troy Terrusa graduated from the Tap Electric Metro LLC’s electrician RA program. Congratulations to Troy and all other graduates!
The NYS Apprenticeship and Training Council (Council) is committed to promoting excellence in RA through adherence to standards, accountability for performance, and continuous improvement.
Mark your calendar with the next Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026. Details will be shared as they become available and posted on the Apprenticeship and Training Council Department of Labor webpage.
The tentative schedule for the remainder of 2026 is as follows:
- Tuesday, August 18, 2026
- Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Not able to attend the last Apprenticeship and Training Council Meeting?
Prior Council Meeting recordings and meeting reports are available on the NYSDOL webpage.
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As of March 31, 2026:
- 608 sponsors
- 932 programs
- 17,437 active apprentices
- 369 Certificates of Completion issued
Need to Contact Us? Have a Story to Share?
Contact us at ATCO@labor.ny.gov with any questions or suggestions. We want to hear from you!
Prior Council Meeting recordings and meeting reports are available on NYSDOL webpage.
The Apprenticeship Navigator team is available to provide information, support, and technical assistance with setting up a RA program, as well as assistance with recruiting. For more information or to share details of upcoming RA events, email ApprenticeshipNavigators@labor.ny.gov.
Modernization project resources and updates may be found on the NYSDOL Apprenticeship Portal webpage. For questions or technical assistance related to the Modernization project, please email NYSRADataSystem@labor.ny.gov.
The New York State Apprenticeship Program, at the time of publication of this newsletter, is funded from the following Federal sources: a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant of approximately $9.0 million and two State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) Base grants of approximately $4.7 Million in total. These three Federal grants constitute 100% of its budget.
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