(a)

1. (1) Pre-apprenticeship programs provide instruction and training to increase math, literacy, and other vocational skills needed to gain industry into a registered apprenticeship program.
2. (2) Pre-apprenticeship programs are not registered with the United States Office of Apprenticeship and student participants are unpaid for the term of the program.

(b) The following entities are eligible to apply for state certification:

1. (1) Registered apprenticeship sponsors;
2. (2) Industry intermediaries and associations;
3. (3) Employers;
4. (4) Community colleges;
5. (5) Third-party training providers;
6. (6) Local workforce development boards; and
7. (7) Other entities, provided that all applicable requirements are met.

(c) An applicant must meet the following criteria to be considered for ARPAP certification:

1. (1) The proposed pre-apprenticeship training must be aligned with a RAP and agreed upon by the partnering employer, training provider, and RAP sponsor;
2. (2) An employer-partnership agreement executed between the partnering employer, pre-apprenticeship training providers, and registered apprenticeship program sponsors must be presented with the application;

3. (3)

   1. (A) The partnering ARPAP employer shall provide pre-apprentices with workplace exposure opportunities as a component of the pre-apprenticeship training experience.
   2. (B) Workplace exposure can occur via presentations about the company, industry, or career pathways, as well as hands-on activities applicable to specific operations within the company; and
4. (4) The partnering ARPAP employer shall agree to provide those participants who successfully complete an approved ARPAP with preferred consideration for acceptance into their RAP.

(d)

1. (1)

   1. (A) The Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development shall receive and review all ARPAP applications.
   2. (B) The Arkansas Apprenticeship Coordination Steering Committee will be notified of the final status for all ARPAP applications.

2. (2)

   1. (A) If an applicant fails to meet the requirements in subsection (c) of this section, the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development will notify the applicant and provide an opportunity to remedy any deficiencies within a stated deadline.
   2. (B) If the applicant fails to remedy the identified deficiencies within the specified deadline, the application will be denied.
3. (3) All successful ARPAP applicants are required to report to the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development as specified in a memorandum of understanding issued by the Office of Apprenticeship of the Office of Skills Development.

(f)

1. (1) Those successfully completing the ARPAP will receive related technical instruction credit toward their designated RAP.
2. (2) The amount of credit received will be mutually agreed upon by participating sponsors and employers.