The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals’ (NAWDP) Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) has long been recognized as the gold standard for workforce professionals seeking national certification. Now, there is a powerful new way to earn your CWDP: by completing a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Registered Apprenticeship for Workforce Development Professional.
Completing a DOL Registered Apprenticeship (RA) aligned with the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards, developed by NAWDP for the occupation of Workforce Development Professional, opens a direct and meaningful pathway to CWDP certification. This integrated approach bridges hands-on workforce practice with national certification standards, helping individuals advance professionally while strengthening organizations’ talent pipelines.
For Prospective Apprentices, Employers, and Sponsors
Registered Apprenticeship offers a structured, high-quality pathway into the workforce development profession now intentionally aligned with CWDP certification.
For Prospective Apprentices
This pathway provides:
- Paid, on-the-job learning with experienced mentors
- Structured instruction aligned with nationally recognized workforce competencies
- A clear, supported route to earning the CWDP
For Employers and Apprenticeship Sponsors
This model:
- Creates a reliable pipeline of trained, credential-ready workforce professionals
- Aligns training investments with national occupational standards
- Supports employee retention, professional growth, and service quality
By aligning apprenticeship programs with National Guidelines and CWDP requirements, sponsors can ensure apprentices are developing the skills and competencies needed for long-term success in the workforce system.
For Registered Apprenticeship Completers
If you have successfully completed a DOL Registered Apprenticeship aligned with the National Guidelines for the Workforce Development Professional occupation, your DOL apprenticeship completion certificate may be used to meet the core competency assessment requirement for your CWDP application.
This recognition affirms that the structured training and on-the-job learning gained through apprenticeship align with the professional competencies measured by the CWDP.
Built for Alignment and Clarity
To support transparency, planning, and consistency, NAWDP has developed a CWDP/Registered Apprenticeship Crosswalk Matrix.
This resource:
- Maps CWDP’s five Core Competencies to the Registered Apprenticeship related instruction
- Demonstrates how apprenticeship learning and experience translate directly to CWDP requirements
- Helps apprentices, sponsors, and training partners clearly understand readiness for CWDP assessment and long-term success in the workforce
The crosswalk reinforces the intentional alignment between RA national standards for workforce development professional and CWDP certification, ensuring a seamless and credible pathway.
Strengthening the Workforce Development Profession
By connecting Registered Apprenticeship to CWDP certification, NAWDP is elevating workforce development as a profession by supporting career growth for individuals while providing employers with a structured, nationally recognized approach to talent development.
You can learn more about the Registered Apprenticeship for Workforce Development Professionals on NAWDP’s website.
