All apprentices must apply through Apprenti. You can find their application here. Please note that Apprenti accepts applications during two Open Application periods each year: June 1-15 and December 1-15.
Widening Pathways to Work
HR Registered Apprenticeship Program (HR RAP)
Maximizing Potential in HR
Overview
Employers across industries are grappling with a growing skills gap and challenges in building a reliable talent pipeline. By investing in apprentices, employers can cultivate talent tailored to their specific needs, improve retention, and ensure a more diverse and future-ready workforce, all while addressing critical workforce shortages in human resources.
SHRM Foundation and Apprenti have formed a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the Human Resource Registered Apprenticeship Program (HR RAP). This collaboration seeks to quickly build talent in high-demand HR roles and is a powerful opportunity for individuals looking to launch or grow a career in human resources.
Join us in building the future of human resources.
69%
of organizations are having difficulty recruiting for full-time regular positions.
82%
of organizations that offer registered or customized apprenticeship programs reported that these programs have been somewhat or very effective in mitigating talent shortages.
90%
of workers who complete apprenticeship programs remain employed, leading to higher productivity as well as lower turnover and recruitment costs.
HR RAP Consists Of...
- 18 months of on-the-job-training
- 6-8 months of related technical instruction through SHRM Education
- Courses include the Essentials of Human Resources and SHRM-CP Exam Prep (SHRM Learning System)
- 1 year of SHRM Membership
- A SHRM-CP Exam Voucher
- Mentorship from a supervisor or employee within the company
- A paid, fulltime position offered upon completion of the program
- Operational support from Apprenti
Employers
In addition to ongoing talent shortages, there’s a significant gap between the skills of today’s workers and the complex skill sets needed in our 21st century workplace. To help bridge that gap in the HR field, SHRM Foundation and Apprenti have launched the Human Resource Registered Apprenticeship Program (HR RAP).
Apprenticeships are proven to...
- Improve productivity and boost employee retention
- Build a more skilled workforce.
- Widen the talent pool.
With SHRM resources and operational support from Apprenti, HR RAP is an opportunity for you to hire, develop, and build your own talent pipeline from the ground up—skilled HR apprentices who are trained to address your specific business needs.
Apprentices
Looking for a career where every day is different, where you play a key role in your organization’s success, and where clear paths for growth await you? Consider Human Resources. Ranked No. 13 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Business Jobs for 2025, HR offers the chance to turn your passion for helping others thrive into a rewarding career. If you’re new to the field and need an affordable way to get started, the SHRM Foundation and Apprenti’s Human Resource Registered Apprenticeship Program (HR RAP) is here to help.
In HR RAP you will...
- Learn while you earn. Apprenticeships are paid and over the course of the program, you will receive agreed-upon wage increases commensurate with your performance.
- Receive on-the-job-training and related technical instruction, as well as a mentor. HR RAP has a detailed set of learning outcomes derived from on-the-job and classroom learning.
- Prepare to take the nationally recognized SHRM-CP. As part of your related technical instruction, you will take SHRM-CP prep courses and receive a voucher to take the exam, cementing your learnings and increasing your credibility in the field.
HR RAP is designed to prepare you to take on the responsibilities of an HR Specialist and become a fulltime employee upon completion of the program. No postsecondary degree is required.
Research
Apprenticeship works for any program that is skill-based and that can be supported by experiential learning.
Published by U.S. GAO
U.S. advanced manufacturers that implemented the Industrial Manufacturing Technician (IMT) Registered Apprenticeship program had an impressive return on investment and positive effects on worker productivity—even in the short term. The data in this limited study reinforces the findings of previous research.
Published by JFF
Findings from the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) demonstration study that examined the impact of employer engagement efforts on employers’ take-up of registered apprenticeship.
Published by U.S. DOL
Resources & Tools
Apprenticeship.gov is the one-stop source to connect career seekers, employers, and education partners with apprenticeship resources.
Apprenticeships and skills-based hiring are promising solutions to pervasive recruitment and retention struggles.
Mary Hegerman, SHRM-CP, is the first graduate of the SHRM Foundation's Human Resource Registered Apprenticeship Program, which the Foundation launched in 2021.
FAQs
The employer pays a flat fee of $3500, which does not include the progressive salary of the apprentice.
Contact us at HRRAP@shrm.org. We’re happy to help!
Partners
Join Us!
Join us in building the future of human resources.
Get started here or email us at HRRAP@shrm.org