CA · Apprenticeship

California Apprenticeship Tax Credits and Employer Incentives Explained

California has no open state grant that pays an employer just for hiring an apprentice. The Employment Training Panel (ETP) funds apprenticeship contracts once a year, at $22 an hour per apprentice, and its 2026 window closed on June 22. Apprenticeship Innovation Funding (AIF) pays registered programs outside the building trades $3,500 per active apprentice per year, with its 2026 window closed on April 17. You get this money only if you sponsor or join a program that applies.

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State pre-filled: CA
Program type pre-filled: apprenticeship_grant

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Register your apprenticeship program, or join a registered one
2
Watch for the annual ETP and AIF windows
3
Apply and wait for approval before training
4
Get paid after apprentices train and stay employed

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the California money comes from.

Run by Employment Training Panel (ETP); Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), Department of Industrial Relations. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

ETP Apprenticeship Program

$22 an hour per apprentice, once-a-year window

CLOSED, NEXT WINDOW NOT POSTED

WHAT YOU GET

A fixed hourly payment for each apprentice who completes the training hours and stays on the job. It is paid after the work is done.

HOW MUCH

FY 2026-27 fixed fee: $22 an hour per apprentice. In September 2026 ETP approved 64 apprenticeship projects worth $28 million; 63 of them were in construction.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The ETP contractor. That can be a single employer, or a group of employers such as a Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), chamber or trade association.

WHO QUALIFIES

You are a single employer with a California Employer Account Number, or a group of employers, JATC or training agency
Your apprentices are in a registered apprenticeship program
Apprentices finish the training hours and meet the wage and retention rules

Before you start: Yes. The Panel must approve the project before training starts.

Apprenticeship Innovation Funding (AIF), paid to registered programs

$3,500 per active apprentice per year, paid to the program

CLOSED, ANNUAL WINDOW

WHAT YOU GET

In-kind help. The program uses the money to run, recruit for and support apprentices, so your cost of joining a program can be lower.

HOW MUCH

Support funding: $3,500 per active apprentice per year, prorated by month, plus a $1,000 completion bonus. Training funding: $10.32 per training hour per apprentice. About $22 million was available for FY 2025-26.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The apprenticeship program (the sponsor or intermediary that applies), not a general employer. Training money goes to schools and other education providers. If you run your own registered program, you are the sponsor.

WHO QUALIFIES

Registered apprenticeship program in a sector outside the building and fire trades (healthcare, advanced manufacturing, IT, education and others)
Apprentices were active and supported in the prior year
Applicant is an intermediary, union partnership, school, workforce board, nonprofit, for-profit or industry association

Before you start: No. It is a formula reimbursement for apprentices already supported and trained, not a competitive grant.

AVOID THESE

What gets California Apprenticeship claims denied.

ETP: applying outside the annual window. Late applications are not considered.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV
ETP: training that starts before the Panel approves the project.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV
ETP: apprentices who leave before retention is met do not earn the payment.
SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV
AIF: programs in the building and fire trades are outside its sector scope.
SOURCE: DIR.CA.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

California Apprenticeship questions.

Who can contract with ETP for apprentices?

Single employers with a California Employer Account Number, and groups of employers including Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees, chambers and trade associations. Training agencies and workforce boards can also contract.

SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

Is ETP apprenticeship money open now?

No. ETP lists the Apprenticeship Program as closed. The FY 2026-27 window ended June 22, 2026, and ETP approved 64 projects in September 2026.

SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

What does ETP pay per apprentice hour?

$22 an hour for apprentices in FY 2026-27, against $24 to $28 for other retraining.

SOURCE: ETP.CA.GOV

Does AIF pay employers directly?

Only if you are the program sponsor that applies. Most employers benefit through the registered program they join. Nonprofit and intermediary sponsors are eligible too.

SOURCE: DIR.CA.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

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