Washington's apprenticeship program was compared to other programs providing preparation for employment. The following were among the items considered in the comparative analysis: gains in job-specific skill competencies; relationship of training to postprogram employment; participant satisfaction; employer satisfaction; employment opportunities; postprogram earnings; and employer-provided training. The study established that Washington's apprenticeship program was very rigorous, highly structured, and endorsed by Washington's business and labor organizations and school administrators as an effective means of producing well-trained, highly skilled workers for the labor market. However, broad application of apprenticeship appeared to be hindered by several misconceptions about its intended audience, and individual business endorsement of apprenticeship appeared hindered by a lack of consensus on the need for training, the state of the economy, direct costs, political views, and deference toward academic credentials. The following were among specific strategies recommended to improve Washington's apprenticeship system, boost its image, and expand its utilization: (1) increase staff; (2) educate stakeholders to dispel business and public misconceptions about apprenticeship's audience and benefits; (3) develop intertraining, education, and business partnerships; (4) expand the program into high technology, biotechnology, health care, state and local government, and financial services; and (5) document the effectiveness of apprenticeship through quantitative analysis. (MN)