SB 5562
In CommitteeSenate
Students/apprenticeships
Concerning students attending approved apprenticeship programs.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill expands state financial aid eligibility to students in approved apprenticeship programs and requires colleges to award and transfer credits for apprenticeship-related training. It ensures apprentices can use their training toward college degrees and receive state grants or loans to cover tuition and fees—up to the same level as community college students—while preventing double payment if the apprenticeship already covers those costs.
- Apprentices in approved programs are now eligible for state financial aid (grants/loans) for tuition and fees, up to the same maximum amount as students at two-year public colleges.
- Colleges and universities must create policies to award college credits for related training completed in state-registered apprenticeship programs, and must do so within one year of program registration.
- Credits earned for apprenticeship training must count toward a college degree and must be transferable across Washington’s public colleges and universities by July 1, 2026.
- The Student Achievement Council must develop statewide transfer and articulation policies—including course equivalencies and transfer degrees—to help apprentices move credits between institutions.
- Apprenticeship programs that already pay full tuition/fees for students (e.g., via employer funding) are not eligible to receive state financial aid on behalf of those students.
Who is affected
- Students in approved apprenticeship programs — Students enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs in Washington will now be eligible to receive state financial aid (grants or loans) to help cover tuition and fees, up to a set maximum amount tied to two-year college grants. They may also earn college credits for training completed as part of their apprenticeship, which can count toward a degree at any public college or university in the state.
- Colleges and universities in Washington — Public and private colleges and universities in Washington must create policies to award college credits for related training completed in state-registered apprenticeship programs, and must ensure those credits can transfer across institutions toward a degree.
- Student Achievement Council — The Student Achievement Council must develop and implement statewide policies to help apprentices transfer credits between public two- and four-year institutions, including creating course equivalencies and transfer degrees.
- State-registered apprenticeship programs — Apprenticeship programs registered with the state must ensure they do not already cover tuition/fees in full (e.g., through employer payment) for students to qualify for state financial aid under this bill.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Apprentices in approved programs gain access to state financial aid (grants/loans) up to the same level as community college students—significantly lowering the financial barrier for low- and moderate-income individuals to combine paid work-based learning with credential advancement.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(g)Credits earned through apprenticeship training must count toward degrees and be transferable across Washington’s public institutions by 2026—removing a major structural barrier that previously prevented apprentices from converting paid training into formal degrees.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)Mandating credit-awarding for apprenticeship-related training within one year of program registration ensures timely recognition of learning, supporting apprentices in planning degree pathways and reducing time-to-degree completion.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)Statewide transfer and articulation policies developed by the Student Achievement Council—such as transfer associate degrees and course equivalencies—will improve predictability and reduce credit loss for apprentices moving between institutions.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 3By explicitly including 'approved apprenticeship programs' in the definition of 'institution of higher education' for financial aid purposes, the bill affirms apprenticeships as legitimate pathways to credential attainment—enhancing equity for non-traditional learners, including those in trades and technical fields.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(d)
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill caps financial aid for apprentices at the same level as two-year college grants ($3,694 in 2019–20), but does not increase the overall aid budget—meaning apprentices may compete with existing low-income students for limited grant funds, potentially reducing aid for community college students who are already under-enrolled in state aid programs.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(g)Colleges and universities must develop credit-awarding policies within one year of program registration and ensure transferability by 2026, imposing new administrative and staffing costs on public institutions—costs likely passed through to state funding formulas or tuition, indirectly affecting students and taxpayers.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)The bill excludes apprentices whose programs already cover tuition/fees (e.g., employer-paid programs) from receiving state aid—effectively excluding many high-demand, high-wage apprenticeships (e.g., in construction, utilities, or manufacturing) where employers fully fund training, thereby limiting access to state aid for a large subset of apprentices who may be middle-income or unionized but not low-income.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(g)The bill leaves credit-awarding discretion to individual institutions, which may lead to inconsistent or restrictive credit grants across colleges—especially at four-year institutions—limiting the actual degree-progress benefit for apprentices and undermining the goal of seamless transfer.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)The requirement that the Student Achievement Council develop statewide transfer policies by 2026 is ambitious and may not be fully implemented in time, especially if institutions resist aligning with new articulation frameworks—delaying or diluting the intended benefits for apprentices.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 3
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and moderate-income apprentices in state-registered programs—especially those in union-affiliated or public-sector apprenticeships that do not fully cover tuition—will benefit significantly from access to state grants and credit recognition, improving upward mobility and credential attainment.
Public community and technical colleges will benefit most, as they are best positioned to award and transfer apprenticeship credits and already serve many apprentices; however, they face new administrative burdens and may see increased demand for advising and support services.
Private for-profit institutions may see modest benefits if apprentices enroll in their programs, but the cap on aid and exclusion of employer-paid programs limits upside. Most private institutions will face compliance costs without proportional revenue increases.
Employers who sponsor apprenticeships (e.g., utilities, construction firms) may benefit indirectly if apprentices earn degrees, increasing retention and advancement—but those who already fully fund apprenticeships gain no direct benefit and may lose leverage in cost-sharing negotiations.
The Student Achievement Council gains new authority and responsibility to coordinate credit transfer, but faces tight deadlines and potential resistance from institutions—making implementation success uncertain without additional funding.