occupational licenses; apprenticeships

Plain English Breakdown

The bill has passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but no effective date is listed in the provided source material.

HB2294: Rules for Getting Occupational Licenses Through Apprenticeships

This law requires Arizona agencies that issue occupational licenses to create a path for people to get licensed by finishing an approved apprenticeship program.

What This Bill Does

• Requires state licensing authorities to set rules allowing applicants to earn licenses through apprenticeship programs.
• Mandates that apprenticeships be approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
• Allows training to happen at a school licensed by this state or under an experienced professional who holds the same license as the applicant seeks and is approved by the department of economic security.
• States that if an exam is required, passing scores must not treat apprenticeship graduates differently than trade school graduates.

Who It Names or Affects

• Occupational regulating authorities in Arizona
• People seeking occupational licenses, certificates, or registrations
• Apprenticeship programs approved by the state or federal government

Terms To Know

occupational regulating authority

A state agency that manages and issues professional licenses.

apprenticeship program

Training where a person learns a job by working under an experienced worker while also studying, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not list specific jobs or professions that must follow these new rules.
• Agencies may adopt their own detailed rules to implement this section, but the text does not specify what those rules will be yet.
• No effective date is provided in the source material.

Official Summary Text

HB2294 - occupational licenses; apprenticeships

Current Bill Text

HB2294 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
occupational licenses; apprenticeships

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2294

Introduced by

Representatives
Aguilar: Abeytia, Austin, Blattman, Cavero, Connolly, Contreras P, Crews,
Garcia, M�rquez, Sandoval, Simacek, Villegas

AN
ACT

amending title 32, chapter 48, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding article 3; relating to professions and occupations.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 32, chapter 48, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 3, to read:

ARTICLE 3. APPRENTICESHIPS

START_STATUTE
32-4841.

Occupational regulating authorities; apprenticeships;
examinations; rules

A. Notwithstanding any other law, an
occupational regulating authority under this title shall establish criteria
necessary for granting licenses, certificates or registrations, as appropriate,
through apprenticeship programs. The criteria shall provide for the
following:

1. An applicant shall complete a
United States department of labor-APPROVED or a department of economic
security-approved apprenticeship program in the occupational area in
which the applicant seeks licensure, certification or registration, either at a
school that is LICENSED by this state or by training with a person who is
approved by the department of economic security to conduct apprenticeships and
who holds the same license, certificate or registration for which the applicant
is applying.

2. If the occupational regulating
authority requires successful completion of an EXAMINATION for licensure,
certification or registration, the applicant must Successfully pass that
examination. The passing score on the EXAMINATION may not
DISCRIMINATE between an applicant from an apprenticeship program and an
applicant from a vocational or trade school.

B. An occupational regulating
authority may adopt rules to implement this section.
END_STATUTE