Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP) Standards
IRAP standards provide common practices and industry-agreed requirement sets for work-based learning programs.
Industry Collaboration
In June 2017, the President of the United States issued an Executive Order on Expanding Apprenticeships in America to promote effective work-based development programs as a more affordable pathway to highly-skilled, high-paying jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) subsequently set up a task force and released a report, “Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion; Final Report to the President of the United States”, on May 10, 2018. The task force made a number of critical recommendations, including that industry must invest in credentialing to ensure there is a common understanding and validation of skill levels achieved through an Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP) and that companies within an industry accept the credential.
Through the efforts of the AIA Workforce Policy Council, Technical Operations Council, and a contingent of member Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs), we have created 6 IRAP standards that provide common practices and industry-agreed requirement sets for work-based learning programs. These standards provide a common set of criteria companies and individuals may use to recognize achievement in a relevant aerospace and defense work-based learning environment. The program does not guarantee placement or promotion for an individual holding the certificate, but it does establish a portable and recognizable certification that individuals can reference and hiring officials can use to value a prospective or current employee’s experience and training.
Series Descriptions
- NAS9932: Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, Overview
- NAS9932-1: Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, Traditional (Technology-Based or Manufacturing) Apprentice Program
- NAS9932-2: Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, Internship Program
- NAS9932-3: Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, Cooperative Education Program
- NAS9932-4: Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, New College Hire Rotational Program
- NAS9932-5: Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program, Management Leadership Training Program
Purchase Standards
Explore the NAS9932 series standards for IRAP or browse all standards to find the ones you need for your unique application.
Resources & Publications
About the Program
The program will give individuals the opportunity to build interpersonal skills and competencies in their specific area of focus or study, which could include design or materials engineering, testing and evaluation, accounting, finance, or marketing, among others. Individuals that meet the requirements will receive a certificate of completion for their work-based learning activity. For graduates of the Internship, Cooperative Education, New College Hire Rotational, and Traditional Apprenticeship programs, the certificate can serve as a proof point in their search for an entry-level position in the industry. The Management Leadership Training Program is intended to serve as a stepping stone for employees looking to make the transition from technician to supervisor.
These standards are available subscription and can be purchased through AIA’s Standards store or are available through an AIA/NAS library subscription, available from IHS Markit.
Your Leadership ConnectionStandards Team
AIA’s standards leadership team is well-positioned to address standard practices and part standards for the aerospace and defense industry.
