Young Apprentice (Jovem Aprendiz): How to Sign Up and Find Openings in 2026

To be a young apprentice (jovem aprendiz), you must be between 14 and 24 years old (no age limit for people with disabilities) and be enrolled in an apprenticeship program at a training institution. The contract is an employment contract, with a signed work card and a maximum duration of 2 years, provided for in arts. 428 to 433 of the CLT (Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho, Brazilian Labor Code).

Who can be an apprentice

Lei 10.097/2000 and the CLT (art. 428) define the main requirements.

• Age between 14 and 24; for people with disabilities there is no maximum age.
• Those who have not yet completed high school must be enrolled in and attending school. Where high school is not offered, having completed elementary school is enough.
• Teenagers aged 14 to under 18 have hiring priority, with exceptions provided in the regulations.
• Minors under 18 may not do night work or hazardous or unhealthy work (Constitution, art. 7, XXXIII).

Step by step to sign up

1. Gather your personal documents (ID card (RG), CPF, proof of schooling, and proof of residence).
2. Complete the Cadastro dos Aprendizes (Apprentice Registry) on the gov.br portal of the Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego (Ministry of Labor and Employment).
3. Look for courses and authorized institutions on the Cadastro Nacional de Aprendizagem Profissional (CNAP, National Registry of Professional Apprenticeship) dashboard, which lists institutions by location.
4. Check training institutions such as Senai, Senac, Senar, Senat, and Sescoop, as well as technical schools and accredited nonprofit organizations.
5. Follow the openings announced by companies and institutions and take part in the selection process.

Young people should never pay to join an apprenticeship program: the law allows charging only the hiring company, when the training institution does not belong to the Sistema S.

How the contract works

• Duration: a maximum of 2 years, with no extension and no new apprenticeship contract with the same person.
• Working hours: up to 6 hours a day; those who have already completed elementary school may work up to 8 hours, if there are theory hours. Overtime and time-off compensation arrangements are prohibited.
• Pay: at least the hourly minimum wage, that is, proportional to the contracted hours (the 2026 national minimum wage is R$ 1,621.00), unless a more favorable condition is set in a collective agreement.
• FGTS (Severance Indemnity Fund): deposit of 2% of pay.
• Work card: "apprentice" (aprendiz) must be noted in the CTPS (Carteira de Trabalho e Previdência Social, Work and Social Security Card), with start and end dates.
• Theory and practice: the program combines classes at the training institution and activities at the company.

Quota and companies required to hire

Medium and large companies must keep apprentices at between 5% and 15% of employees in positions that require professional training (CLT, art. 429), in establishments with at least 7 employees in those positions. Microenterprises and small businesses are not required to, but may hire voluntarily.

Apprentice Statute under consideration

Bill PL 6.461/2019, called the Apprentice Statute (Estatuto do Aprendiz), was on the Senate floor agenda in November 2026 and, if it becomes law, will bring together rules that are currently scattered across decrees. It is not yet law: in the meantime, the CLT and Lei 10.097/2000 apply.

Frequently asked questions

Does a young apprentice need experience?

No. The program is designed precisely for those who are just starting out and provides theoretical and practical training.

Can I be an apprentice and study at the same time?

Yes, and if you have not yet finished high school, school attendance is mandatory.

Is the apprentice hired permanently at the end of the contract?

There is no legal obligation to hire. The contract ends at the agreed term, or at age 24, except for people with disabilities.

Read also

• Young apprentice: age, pay, working hours, and rights
• Résumé with no experience: how to build one for your first job
• How to get a job in 2026: step by step