Craft Education System

What Craft Education System does

Craft Education System is a workforce-apprenticeship platform company and subsidiary of Western Governors University (WGU), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The company operates Craft Connect, a cloud-based apprenticeship and work-based learning management system that tracks on-the-job learning hours, competencies, mentor sign-offs, wages, and produces WIOA, Perkins, RAPIDS, and Workforce Pell reports from a single data model. Complementary offerings include Rapid Register (end-to-end federal apprenticeship registration with the USDOL RAPIDS system, free through August 1, 2026), Craft Services (funding strategy, braided-funding navigation, program design, and consulting), a Data & Research team producing workforce policy evidence, and Grant Support providing in-kind platform contributions to strengthen grant applications.

The platform is purpose-built for healthcare and education apprenticeship programs serving rural employers, school districts, and educator preparation programs, with field-agnostic extensibility to community colleges, manufacturing, and public-sector intermediaries. The go-to-market is sales-led, combining direct enterprise engagement (discovery calls, demos, and tailored program design conversations) with a partner channel layered through workforce development boards, state agencies, and Education Service Centers. Content marketing via the company blog, research reports, webinars, and an email newsletter drives top-of-funnel demand.

Revenue mechanics are anchored on three streams: a freemium or "funded model" platform subscription that targets $0 to low net cost to employers when federal and state funding stacks are braided; custom-priced professional services engagements; and managed services for federal apprenticeship registration, currently free but slated to convert to volume-based pricing in August 2026. The WGU parent provides a captive academic RTI partner for teacher apprenticeship cohorts and a nonprofit mission orientation, with the strategic intent to make paid workforce pathways financially viable for rural communities rather than maximize platform revenue.

Name

Craft Education System

Legal name

Craft Education System

Website

https://crafteducation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Craft Education System is a WGU-owned apprenticeship platform serving rural healthcare employers, school districts, and educator preparation programs with lifecycle management, RAPIDS registration, and braided-funding strategy services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Apprenticeship Management Software

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Resources & Talent Development (EDAGANAB)

Keywords

• Apprenticeship management software
• Work-based learning platform
• Workforce development solutions
• Healthcare apprenticeship programs
• Teacher apprenticeship pathways

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Platform Subscription: Craft Connect platform fees for apprenticeship tracking and management. The platform is positioned as free for many users when funding stacks line up correctly, with nonprofit mission to make paid pathways affordable.
2. Professional Services: Craft Services provides funding strategy, program design, apprenticeship registration support, and ongoing advisory services for workforce programs. Includes capacity-building workshops, design institutes, and consulting engagements.
3. Rapid Register Service: Federal apprenticeship registration service handling RAPIDS filings. Currently free until August 1, 2026, with pricing based on apprentice volume after that date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Craft Education System provides a cloud-based apprenticeship and work-based learning management platform (Craft Connect) that tracks learners, on-the-job hours, competencies, and mentor sign-offs, while producing WIOA, Perkins, RAPIDS, and Workforce Pell compliance reports. The company also operates Rapid Register, a federal apprenticeship registration service, and offers Craft Services for funding strategy, program design, and grant support. The portfolio is purpose-built for healthcare and education apprenticeship programs, with a focus on braiding public funding streams to make paid pathways affordable for rural employers.

Product overview

Craft Education System is a nonprofit workforce platform and essential part of WGU, offering an integrated product-service portfolio combining technology and professional services. The core platform consists of Craft Connect (free apprenticeship/work-based learning management) and Rapid Register (federal RAPIDS registration service), complemented by Craft Services (funding strategy, program design, consulting, and grant support) and the Craft Data & Research Team. The combination enables end-to-end apprenticeship pathway support from concept through launch and scale, with braided funding navigation and data infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Craft Connect: The platform for apprenticeship and work-based learning lifecycle management, including hours tracking, competency management, and compliance reporting.
• Craft Services
• Rapid Register
• Craft Research

Products and services

• Craft Connect Cloud-based apprenticeship and work-based learning management platform that tracks learners, on-the-job learning hours, competencies, mentor sign-offs, and employer coordination. Produces WIOA, Perkins, RAPIDS, and Workforce Pell compliance exports with role-based dashboards for admins, learners, mentors, and reviewers. Built for healthcare and education employers, school districts, state agencies, and EPPs.
• Rapid Register Federal apprenticeship registration service (formerly AutoReg) that handles apprentice registration with the RAPIDS system end-to-end, including demographics collection, file assembly, submission, Form 671 generation, e-signature management, and status reporting. Recommended for programs with 20-500 apprentices; currently free until August 1, 2026.
• Craft Services Professional services covering funding strategy and braiding (aligning WIOA, Perkins, Workforce Pell, SAEF, Title II, and state funding streams), apprenticeship program design and registration support, grant application assistance, and strategic advisory. Includes Design Institutes, workshops, and Oxford convenings for healthcare and education workforce programs.
• Craft Data & Research Team In-house research team conducting workforce data analysis, program evaluations, and policy research on work-based learning and registered apprenticeships. Partners with states, institutions, and research organizations to generate data-driven insights for workforce strategy.
• Grant Support Free in-kind data platform contribution to strengthen grant applications for workforce and apprenticeship programs, including Craft platform donation for programs applying for federal and state apprenticeship grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95%+ apprentice completion rate vs 35% national average
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and strategic.

• Western Governors University (WGU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraft Education is a WGU Company, operating as an integral part of Western Governors University. WGU's School of Education serves as the academic partner for teacher apprenticeship programs, providing related technical instruction and credential pathways for apprenticeship cohorts.
• Pangea LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTI (Related Technical Instruction) provider partner delivering curriculum and instruction for healthcare apprenticeship programs. Pangea Learning provides credentialed national RTI aligned to registered apprenticeship competency standards.
• Michigan Talent TogetherflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide teacher apprenticeship consortium spanning all 56 Michigan Intermediate School Districts. Talent Together uses Craft Connect to track 1,350+ teachers across cohorts, achieving 95%+ completion rates. This partnership serves as a flagship reference implementation.
• Reach Teachers CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducator preparation program utilizing Craft Connect for multi-stakeholder coordination, workplace activity monitoring, and competency-aligned feedback between employers and candidates.
• DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC state education agency partner working with Craft for apprenticeship program coordination and tracking.
• Education Service Center Region 19 (ESC 19)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTexas Education Service Center serving as regional intermediary for apprenticeship program implementation, coordinating with employers and districts.
• Indiana Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-phase initiative to map work-based and blended learning programs, develop shared taxonomy, assess data availability, and conduct rigorous evaluation of program impacts on retention, completion, employment, and earnings.
• Apprenticeships for AmericastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner collaborating on research and policy initiatives to expand registered apprenticeship reach and strengthen evidence base for workforce innovation.
• Aspen InstitutestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and policy partner working with Craft to inform workforce strategy, policy, and practice across the apprenticeship ecosystem.
• Arnold VenturesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic partner supporting research initiatives and evidence generation for workforce development programs.
• SHEEOstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerState Higher Education Executive Officers association partner collaborating on shared data standards and policy frameworks for work-based learning.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) ProgramscoreOthersFederal funding stream providing adult, youth, and dislocated worker training; OJT wage reimbursements; and supportive services. Craft helps employers access and braid WIOA funding with other streams.
• Perkins / CTE ProgramscoreOthersFederal career and technical education funding providing CTE curriculum, instructor support, and workforce-board coordination at high school and college levels.
• USDA Rural Health Transformation ProgramcoreOthers$50 billion federal initiative (signed July 4, 2025) providing funds to every state for rural healthcare workforce pipelines. Craft helps rural providers access RHTP alongside WIOA, CTE, and IWT funds.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Multiverse: Multiverse is an apprenticeship-based learning platform that builds and runs professional apprenticeships for enterprises, with a strong focus on technology and business roles. While UK-headquartered, its program design, employer coordination, and learning-tracking approach closely parallel Craft's apprenticeship platform model.
• InStride: InStride is an enterprise apprenticeship and tuition-assistance platform that helps employers design and run registered apprenticeship programs. It is the closest direct peer to Craft in offering end-to-end apprenticeship program management, employer funding navigation, and program operations support.

Broad incumbents

• Skillsoft: Skillsoft is a corporate learning and talent development platform offering online courses, certification prep, and leadership training. It is comparable as a broad workforce upskilling and credentialing provider, though it focuses on content delivery rather than apprenticeship program operations.
• Year Up: Year Up is a large workforce development nonprofit providing training and apprenticeship-like programs that bridge young adults to corporate careers. It is comparable to Craft as a workforce development program operator with employer partnerships and outcome-based metrics, but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a nonprofit providing tuition-free technology training and workforce development, often partnering with employers on apprenticeship-style programs. It shares Craft's mission of building sustainable talent pipelines for underserved communities and overlapping employer base.
• Generation: Generation is a global nonprofit that trains and places people into careers through employer-aligned programs, including healthcare and technology. Comparable to Craft as a workforce program operator focused on skills-gap closures, though Generation delivers training directly while Craft provides the underlying platform.
• Workday: Workday is a major enterprise HCM and workforce management platform that could conceivably add apprenticeship and work-based learning tracking as a feature set. It represents a broad incumbent threat — distribution and integration depth could compress Craft's enterprise pricing power if Workday enters the apprenticeship vertical.
• Guild Education: Guild Education is a workforce education benefits platform that connects employers to learning and credentialing programs, often using tuition assistance and education benefits. It overlaps with Craft on the employer-funded upskilling and credentialing thesis, though it is broader and does not specialize in registered apprenticeships.

Emerging players

• Apprenticeships for America: Apprenticeships for America is a national advocacy and research organization focused on expanding registered apprenticeship. It is a current partner of Craft's on policy and research initiatives and is comparable as an emerging player shaping the policy ecosystem in which Craft operates.

Others

• Aspen Institute (Workforce Strategies Initiative): The Aspen Institute runs workforce and economic opportunity programs, including research and policy initiatives on apprenticeships. Comparable to Craft as a research and policy partner influencing the same funding and regulatory environment (WIOA, apprenticeship expansion).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/craft-education
• Xx.com/CraftEdSystem

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Craft Education System