ASE Technician Apprenticeship Incentives

ASE Education Foundation received a $25 million federal award to grow Registered Apprenticeship for transportation and automotive technicians. The $25 million is the administrator’s award. ASE describes a sponsor incentive of up to $3,500 per qualifying apprentice: $2,500 after 90 days on the job and $1,000 after nine months, subject to ASE’s terms. Payment depends on documented apprentice milestones.

ASE describes a target of about 6,000 new apprentices over four years. ASE and NADA offer Apprenticeship-in-a-Box for sponsors that need a starting program design. A program webpage is not an open application.

Prepare your apprenticeship program

While formal applications are being finalized, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors can prepare by reviewing program eligibility and organizing the records typically needed to document apprentice participation and performance.

1. Confirm your organization's Registered Apprenticeship sponsor information.
2. Review which occupations and locations are eligible for the incentive program.
3. Identify apprentices or future apprentice cohorts that may qualify.
4. Maintain accurate apprentice registration and enrollment records.
5. Track employment and retention dates.
6. Document related instruction, on-the-job learning, and completion milestones where applicable.
7. Review the administrator's official requirements as they become available.

This is preliminary preparation. Administrators will not all ask for the same documents.

ASE describes sponsors as individual employers and organizations that represent multiple employers, including dealer associations, independent shop associations, and franchise operators. Confirm occupation and location limits on ASE’s apprenticeship page.

Potential sponsor incentive: up to $3,500 per eligible apprentice ($2,500 after 90 days and $1,000 at nine months). Federal program award: $25 million to ASE Education Foundation. The federal award is not available to a single applicant.