ISSA Earns Approval as Cleaning Apprenticeship Sponsor

The Department of Labor has approved the cleaning industry's first nationally recognized registered apprenticeship for frontline cleaning technicians.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Home Cleaning

Isometric editorial illustration of yellow mop buckets, wringers, folded cloths, and a floor scrubber on a concrete floor, suggesting a structured cleaning training program. — The Department of Labor approved the International Sanitary Supply Association as the first Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor for frontline cleaning technicians, with about 20 apprentices set to begin December 1. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) was approved by the U.S. Department of Labor as the first Registered Apprenticeship Sponsor for the Cleaning Technician occupation. The association plans to enroll its first cohort of approximately 20 apprentices beginning December 1.

Why it matters

The professional cleaning industry has never had a nationally recognized apprenticeship pathway for its frontline workforce, which employers have struggled to fill amid high turnover. The program offers structured career pathways that could help stabilize staffing across the country.

ISSA's first cohort of approximately 20 apprentices begins December 1, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly 350,300 annual openings for janitors and building cleaners over the next decade. Results from the new program for these first apprentices have not yet been reported.

The players

International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA)

ISSA is a global association representing more than 11,000 member organizations and professionals in the cleaning and sanitation industry, headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois.

U.S. Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor is the federal agency that oversees the Registered Apprenticeship system and approves apprenticeship sponsors and occupations.

The details

The competency-based program pairs structured training with on-the-job experience and emphasizes safety, infection prevention, and professional standards. Five pilot employers have agreed to participate: GRBS Inc., Goodwill Industries Southern California, Integrity Maintenance Solutions, LLC, Melwood Enterprises, and Verde Clean, LLC.

December 1: First cohort of approximately 20 apprentices begins enrollment.
2027: Future apprentice cohorts begin for interested employers.

Roadmap

The approval extends the U.S. Registered Apprenticeship system, administered by the Department of Labor, into the professional cleaning industry for the first time. It follows the federal model of pairing structured training with paid on-the-job work for occupations that have lacked formal pathways.

Homeowners and businesses that hire professional cleaners may eventually see a more trained workforce as apprentices complete nationally recognized credentials. The program's first cohort has not yet begun, so its effect on service quality or pricing is not yet known.

The takeaway

Clear career pathways may help the cleaning workforce build skills that translate into better service and steadier employment. Consumers who rely on professional cleaners can watch for certified technicians as the program expands.

What happens next

ISSA plans to enroll its first cohort of approximately 20 apprentices beginning December 1, and employers interested in sponsoring future cohorts are expected to begin in 2027.