On March 16, as a result of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship, released Bulletin 2020-51 to provide flexibility regarding the requirements for approval for related instruction and reiterate that related instruction may be delivered electronically.

The bulletin provides guidance to OA staff, state apprenticeship agencies, registered apprenticeship program sponsors and other registered apprenticeship partners by supplementing Bulletin 2010-13, which describes the requirements for the approval and delivery of related instruction using electronic media as outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 29, Labor Standards for Registration of Apprenticeship Programs.

In a nutshell, Bulletin 2020-51 states, “In lieu of the approval process outlined in Bulletin 2010-13, sponsors and partners must instead notify OA within 10 business days of any changes regarding new uses of online related instruction in their programs. Within 60 days of the change, sponsors and partners must provide OA the information described in Bulletin 2010-13.”  The bulletin also encourages registration agencies to permit the use of electronic media considering the effects of the global health pandemic.

To download and review both Bulletins click the links below:

Bulletin 2010-13, Delivery of Related Instruction Through Electronic Media

Bulletin 2020-51, Flexibilities Available for the Delivery Method of Related Instruction