Register Co-op as an Apprenticeship
The University of Cincinnati’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies helps employers connect existing paid co-op roles to U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). UC can serve as the apprenticeship sponsor, or employers can sponsor their own program.
Key facts
UC invented cooperative education in 1906 and still runs one of the nation’s largest co-op systems.
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, the University of Cincinnati is ranked No. 3 in the nation for co‑ops and internships — and No. 1 among public universities. This marks UC's eighth consecutive year in the Top 5.
UC defines co-op as paid career experience.
Since 2019, UC has registered 20+ degree programs with mandatory co-op as RAPs.
UC connects 1,700+ employers with co-op students year-round, locally, nationally, and internationally.
Frequently Asked Questions
An apprenticeship is a structured workforce training program that combines paid, hands-on work experience with related classroom or technical instruction, allowing participants to earn a wage while developing occupational skills.
Sound familiar? To anyone who knows about co-op, it should. The government’s definition of apprenticeship dovetails with UC’s definition of co-op.
Registered Apprenticeships are formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency.
They are closely aligned. For many UC employer partners, an existing co-op already meets RAP standards.
| UC Co-op | Registered Apprenticeship |
|---|---|
| Paid career experience tied to a degree | Paid on-the-job learning plus related instruction |
| University of Cincinnati | U.S. Department of Labor or a state agency |
| UC co-op student | UC co-op student as apprentice |
| Degree plus work experience | Portable DOL certificate of completion |
| UC and employer | Sponsor (UC or employer) |
At UC, we define cooperative education as “paid career experience.” It takes many forms across our colleges and programs, but it is always situated at the intersection of education and paid experience.
UC’s co-op model aligns closely with U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). Since 2019, UC has registered 20+ degree programs with mandatory co-op as RAPs, unlocking additional federal and state funding incentives for sponsors.
According to Apprenticeship USA, a sponsor is any “employer, association, committee, or organization that operates a Registered Apprenticeship Program.”
This means that the University of Cincinnati is a sponsor. Alternately, employers might also choose to design and implement their own apprenticeship programs. In that case, the employer would be the sponsor.
The University of Cincinnati has over 120 years of experience with a large-scale cooperative education program. Our program connects over 1,700 employers with students year-round, with co-ops happening locally, nationally, and internationally. Our established Industry Engagement team and faculty teams are positioned to support apprenticeships across industries.
As sponsor, UC will handle all documentation and administrative requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor. By sponsoring and running the program, UC streamlines employer participation so employers can retain focus on their operations.
New DOL apprenticeship funding opportunities mean that many of UC’s co-op partners may qualify to register their existing co-ops as apprenticeships. The government is registering apprenticeships in the following industries.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI), Semiconductor, and Nuclear Energy Infrastructure
- Construction
- Information Technology (IT)
- Shipbuilding and Defense Industrial Base
- Telecommunication
- Transportation
See if UC is an existing partner. If not, consider partnering with UC.
If you want to partner with UC, be sure you have designated occupation(s). If you have not done so, you will need to amend your standards designate occupation(s). UC can help, or you can work with your Apprenticeship rep. For UC support, contact Aaron Burdette at aaron.burdette@uc.edu.
For qualifying partners, registration is largely administrative. The co-op already exists. Registration adds recognition and incentives.
- For students
- Completing a registered apprenticeship, or a qualifying co-op work term inside a RAP, can earn a U.S. Department of Labor certificate. That nationally recognized credential documents industry-specific skills. In a competitive job market, this credential is one more way we can help UC students gain a competitive advantage.
- For sponsors
- The eligible sponsor—UC or the employer—may receive up to $6,000 for each co-op student. If UC is the sponsor, those funds support employer engagement, student support, and credentialing.
- For employers
- UC manages required RAPIDS reporting when it is the sponsor, reducing administrative load while keeping the talent pipeline intact. UC will also provide support for our students, including wrap-around services, assessment, case management, and the collection of all necessary data for UC students to be awarded their RAP credential.
- For our Bearcats Community
- Directly supports UC's co-op program. Together, UC and employer partners use registration to strengthen a local and national talent pipeline—not to replace co-op.
A special note for UC alumni: Participating in the registered apprenticeship program is just one more way you can build what is next at UC. Your participation will directly support UC’s efforts to support cooperative education
UC AS SPONSOR: If you want to register your existing co-op as a registered apprenticeship, do so at this link. Here you will see both our existing employer agreement and the form to register your co-op as an apprenticeship.
YOUR COMPANY AS SPONSOR: If you choose to develop and implement your own registered apprenticeship program, start at this link.
For more information, connect with Ryan Blanford, Program Coordinator on UC’s Industry Engagement team. You can also explore Registered Apprenticeships directly at Apprenticeship.gov.
