Apprentice Utilization Requirement

During the 2007 Session, the Legislature passed HB 1898, which required all school district public works contracts include language stating that a portion of the of the labor hours on the contract be performed by registered apprentices in state-approved apprenticeship programs. This apprentice utilization requirement creates training opportunities that will assure a skilled workforce will be able to construct public works contracts in the future, especially as many in the current workforce move toward retirement.

HB 1898 allows for a phase-in of the requirement over a two-year period:

Advertisement Date / Estimated Cost / Apprentice Requirement
January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008 / $3 M or greater / No less than 10%
January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2008 / $2 M or greater / No less than 12%
January 1, 2010 – Forward / $1 M or greater / No less than 15%

To view HB 1898 as passed legislature, go to:

The legislation requires the Department of General Administration to collect the following data from school districts for the purpose of reporting the data to requesting agencies:

  1. Contractor name and address
  2. Contract number
  3. Project name
  4. Contract value
  5. The date of the contractor’s notice to proceed
  6. Name and registration number of each apprentice
  7. Total number of apprentices and labor hours worked by them, categorized by trade or craft.
  8. Total number of journeymen and labor hours worked by them, categorized by trade or craft.
  9. Cumulative combined total of apprentice and journeymen labor hours.
  10. Total percentage of apprentice hours worked

Registered apprentices are only those individuals who are enrolled in an apprenticeship training program that is approved by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. For more information about apprenticeship, for a list of approved apprenticeship programs, or to verify whether an individual is a registered apprentice, visit the Labor & Industries Apprenticeship website, or call LNI at 360.902.5320

How Do I Comply?

  • Include correct language in your contract

Apprenticeship utilization language should be included in all relevant contracts and advertisements for bids. Examples of this language are included below.

Advertisement language

“Mandatory (10/12/15)% apprentice labor hours of the total labor hours are a requirement of the construction contract. Bidders may contact the Department of Labor & Industries, Apprenticeship Section, to obtain information on available apprenticeship programs.”

Contract language

“The apprenticeship labor hours required for this project are (10/12/15)% of the total labor hours. The undersigned agrees to utilize this level of apprentice participation. Voluntary workforce diversity goals for this apprentice participation are identified in the Instructions to Bidders and Supplemental Conditions.”

  • Track the data

School districts are strongly encouraged to track data throughout the project. Doing so will ensure the district and contractor are aware of the utilization percentage over the life of the project and may allow the school district take any necessary measures to adjust low performing contracts.

  • Submit the data to GA

School districts shall submit reports to General Administration at the conclusion of the project. We request that the data be submitted within 45 days of the final construction contract acceptance. Submit information in electronic format only (emailed Excel spreadsheet – see attached). Submit to .

School districtswith affected projects must provide apprentice utilization data for each project. General Administration recommends that contractorsbe required to submit utilization information to the school districts in regular intervals, such as with each invoice submission.

General Administration has provided the attached documents to assist school districts in gathering and reporting this data. Questions may be directed to DavidEdison at 360.902.7351 or by email at .