Washington The Apprenticeship Advantage: Earn While You Learn! Is a program designed to provide individuals with the opportunity to gain real-world job skills and earn a paycheck at the same time. The program combines paid, on-the-job training with related classroom instruction in a variety of occupations. Apprentices learn the technical and soft skills necessary to succeed in their chosen field while earning a wage. The program is offered in partnership with employers, organized labor, and community-based organizations and is designed to meet the needs of both employers and apprentices. There are two types of apprenticeships offered through the Washington The Apprenticeship Advantage: Earn While You Learn! Program: Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships. Registered Apprenticeships are programs that are registered with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council and take two to four years to complete, while Pre-Apprenticeships are short-term programs that can be completed in a few months.