What Is NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme)?

The Indian government has consistently sought to improve the quality of education and mentorship for students, enabling them to progress independently in life and career. NATS is also one such scheme that is not just a skill enhancement initiative but a breakthrough concept, driving the future workforce to launch successfully.

If you are an employer, it is an opportunity of a lifetime for you to foster talent who will be prepared to contribute from the get-go.

It is a scheme that brings education and industry together, blending classroom training and real-world application, empowering students with skills par excellence.

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India (via BOAT Chairman’s message) said
“The youth must get the skills that will help build modern India, and whichever country they go to, their skills should be appreciated.”

What is the full form of NATS?

NATS stands for National Apprenticeship Training Scheme.

What is NATS?

NATS was formulated by the Government of India in 2006 to give students fresh out of college the opportunity to go for an apprenticeship, and to learn skills that will serve them for a lifetime and get ahead in their career.

What Is the Difference Between NATS and NAPS?

Here is a detailed difference between NATS and NAPS;

What are the Objectives of NATS?

Recently, India’s National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) emphasised increasing stipends (₹6,800-₹12,300/month), expanding training to all sectors for graduates/diploma holders, and leveraging the new NATS 2.0 portal, with strong growth in apprenticeships, focusing on female participation, and efforts to boost skilled workforce development across India.

The main objective of the NATS training program is to provide skill training to help people find jobs in the formal sector and vocational skill training for jobs in private institutions. The other objectives of the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme in India are:

1. To enable employers to develop skilled manpower to meet future challenges posed by technological or regulatory changes.
2. To generate job opportunities that are sustainable for marginalised communities, aligning them to office jobs, with preference given to women and those engaged in traditional roles.
3. To create jobs and self-employment for youth, catalysing entrepreneurship and improving wages.

What are the Key Features of NATS?

Here are a few of the core features of NATS you need to know:

1. Government-Led Training Initiative

It is a program sponsored by the central government, implemented by the Board of Apprenticeship Training (BOAT) / Board of Practical Training (BOPT) under the Ministry of Education.

2. Initiative for Diploma and Graduate Students

The program is crafted specifically for Graduate Engineers / General Graduates, Diploma holders, and Vocational stream students (in some sectors).

3. Hands-on Experience

The program initiates individuals to receive on-the-job training as they can work directly with enterprises across various sectors.

4. Stipend from the Government

The apprentice will receive a monthly stipend provided by the government of India at a partially subsidised rate. Rules apply.

5. Structured One-Year Apprenticeship

Most apprenticeship modules are conducted for 12 months, which provides work exposure and mentorship.

6. Certificate on Completion

Apprentices receive a National Apprenticeship Certificate, recognised across sectors, helping them with future employment.

7. Zero Program fee

Eligible graduates or diploma holders will not have to pay any fee for enrolment and participation.

8. Easy Online Registration

The online  NATS portal helps with the handling of applications, company matching, and documentation.

9. Smooth transition for Students

Fresh graduates find it easy to integrate themselves into organisations that employ them after finishing the course, as they develop real-world skills.

10. Equal Scope Initiative

The program promotes employment opportunities across sectors, disciplines, and backgrounds.

Who Can Apply for NATS?

There are specific eligibility criteria NATS registration. Let us check out what they are:

• Have completed a Degree or Diploma in (Engineering / Technology / Architecture / Pharmacy / Applied Arts / Commercial Practice, etc.)
• Graduated from a recognised institution in India
• Are at least 16 years old
• Do NOT already have work experience
• Have NOT previously undergone apprenticeship training
• If you are an Indian citizen

What are the NATS Eligibility Criteria for Students ?

If you are student keen on registering to the NATS program, here are criteria’s that is essential for you to know and follow:

• Educational Qualification- You must be a graduate who recently passed out from a recognised institution. You must have a graduate degree in Engineering / General Stream), or diploma in Engineering / Technology / relevant fields).
• Indian Citizenship- You must be an Indian national.
• Age Eligibility- You must be at least 16 to 18 years of age depending on employer policy.
• No Past Apprenticeship – You must not have completed any prior apprenticeship program.
• No Present Employment- You must not be employed with an organisation during your registration.
• No Prior Work Experience- You must have 0 to 3 years of work experience.
• Currently Passed Out- You should have passed put from an institute, university recently mostly within 3 years.
• Established Institution- You should pass pout from an institution that is AICTE-approved of UGC-recognized.

What are the Eligibility and Requirements for Employers?

An initial eligibility assessment is done before the enrolment happens in the system for the National Apprenticeship Training registration. The employer must have a valid mobile number to receive the OTP. The enrolment details are sent to the email ID, so it is necessary to provide a valid email ID as well.

Eligibility requirements

The documents required for eligibility are:

1. Incorporation Certificate.
2. PAN/TAN
3. Last year’s IT returns.
4. Internal committee’s findings regarding any issue of sexual harassment.
5. Total hands employed in on-roll, contractual, and full-time roles, etc.
6. Training module for apprentices every year.
7. Brief info regarding the establishment (<1MB size).
8. Mobile number to receive OTP.
9. Email ID to receive all the relevant details.

Note: All documents must be attested by an authority, and an office seal must be placed on all of them.

What Is the Stipend or Salary Under the NATS Scheme?

The government is reviewing the stipend structure and there is an ongoing revision process being facilitated to increase stipend rates under apprenticeship rules, and reports suggest that  new broader range of approximately Rs 6,800 to Rs12,300 per month for apprentices under schemes including NATS/NAPS to enhance compensation and attract better candidates. Let us check out the stipend structure:

What Is the Duration of Apprenticeship Under NATS?

The duration of apprenticeship under NATS is typically for a year applying to graduate apprentices who are degree holders and technician apprentices who are diploma holders. The 12-month program is designed for a comprehensive supervised on the job training purpose enhancing learning and preparing students with work top notch work skills.

How Can Employers and Students Register for NATS? (Step-by-Step Process)?

Students and Employers registering for the NATS scheme must remember certain protocols. Here is the step-by-step guide of how to register:

Student Registration:

If you are a student and preparing to register you must keep the following ready:

1. Aadhaar number
2. Passport-size photo (digital)
3. Degree/Diploma certificates
4. Bank account details
5. Valid email ID & mobile number
6. Resume (optional but useful)

• Your first step is to visit the NATS portal. Go toeducation.gov.in then click on “Student” → “Enroll” / “Student Registration.”
• The second step is to create your own account . In this step you will be requested to enter email ID and mobile number, create a password and verify OTP if necessary.
• The next step for you will be to fill the online enrollment form providing personal details, educational qualification, institutional details, category like degree or diploma. Then you need to upload your photograph, Id and certificates.
• The fouth step is the submission stage where once you successfully submit a unique enrolment/ registration number will be generated. Then your profile will be verified by BOAT/BOPT (regional apprenticeship board) which may take a few days.
• The next stage is to login and Go to “Search for Opportunities”. You can browse through openings, apply for appropriate opportunities, positions and track your application.
• The last step is the selection process and if you are selected the employer will issue an offer letter and an apprenticeship contract is generated online.The training will begin right after approval.

Employer Registration:

1. If you are an employer be prepared with:
2. Valid company PAN
3. Establishment registration details
4. Authorized signatory details
5. Bank details
6. Contact email & phone

• Your first step will be to visit the portal, go to nats.education.gov.in, click “Establishment” → “Enroll as an Establishment.”
• Your second step will be to fill in your establishment details that will include company name & address, type of organization, industry, contact details. Then you will upload your PAN and registration proof.
• Step 3 is a significant stage where your application moves for regional board verification by BOAT/BOPT. Once it is approved you will receive your login credentials.
• The next stage is for you to login to Apprenticeship Management / Opportunities where you will have to add job role, number of seats, qualification required, training duration (usually 12 months), and stipend details.
• The 5^th stage is where employers can invite and shortlist candidates by viewing applications, filtering candidates, and conducting interviews.
• The final step is where candidates are finalised and an apprenticeship contract is generated where both parties approve digitally and the training officially starts.

What Documents Are Required for NATS Registration?

Documents Required for students are clear scanned copies of :

• Aadhaar card (mandatory in most regions)
• Passport-size photograph (recent, JPG/PNG)
• Signature scan (optional in some regions)
• Degree / Diploma certificate (or provisional / final year marksheet if awaiting certificate)
• Consolidated marksheets / semester marksheets
• Transfer / Leaving certificate (if available)
• Your institute must be UGC/AICTE-approved
• Bank passbook / cancelled cheque showing:Name,Account number,

IFSC code

• Valid email ID
• Active mobile number
• Category / Other (if applicable)
• Caste / community certificate
• Disability certificate
• Address proof (if not same as Aadhaar)
• Resume (optional but useful)
• PDF / JPG usually accepted
• Keep each file under ~1–2 MB

Enterprises enrolling under NATS usually require:

• PAN card of establishment
• Registration certificate / Incorporation document
• GST / factory license / shop act (as applicable)
• ID proof (PAN/Aadhaar)
• Authorization / board resolution (if required)
• Address proof
• Nature of business / industry classification
• Bank account details
• TAN (if available)
• Contact person email & phone
• Employee strength details (approx.)

How is NATS Beneficial for Employers?

NATS is beneficial in several ways. Some of the key benefits of the NATS training program are:

1. Employers can address problems with skill gaps, making sure that there aren’t any in the organisation.
2. Employers enrolled with NATS training are exempt from EPF and ESI contributions.
3. A proactive workforce is created through skill development, becoming an asset to the organisation.
4. The cost of hiring comes down rapidly, as apprentices trained through the program start contributing immediately.
5. If the apprentices do not perform to satisfactory levels, then the employer is not committed to employing them.
6. The observed attrition rates after an apprenticeship training program are also low, as apprentices tend to stay loyal to the company.
7. Helps project that your brand cares about the local population and wants to engage with them.

How Is NATS Beneficial for Students and Apprentices?

Here are some of the key benefits for students and apprentices:

1. Real World Experience

The scheme provides you with the real-life workplace experience where you receive on the job training with private organisations or PSUs. Yu gain experience that is beyond textbooks.

2. Earning While Learning

You can gain experience while you get paid. You will earn as per your qualification and learn the beneficial skills that will be useful for your future.

3. Enhanced Resume Value

Your profile will be Valuable to employers as it will showcase your expertise, skills and industry exposure and your apprenticeship will be nationally recognised.

4. Bridge Between College to Career

You as a student who has just passed out can smoothly transition to your chosen career path . you will easily learn the skills of workplace communication, reporting patterns, collaboration, etc.

5. Nationally renowned Certification

After the completion of the program you will receive a certificate that is acknowledged and recognised across sectors and domains elevating job applications and provide you with an edge over the others.

6. Career Clarity and Focus

You get exposed to real jobs and can explore the possibilities of choosing the right kind of job that will help you with your career growth . The dscme give you direction and a focused approach.

Which Businesses Can Implement NATS?

All businesses with a minimum headcount of 4 to 29 are eligible for registering under the NATS scheme, and those with a headcount of over 30 must mandatorily register under the National Apprenticeship Training Programme. Other than this, employers must satisfy basic eligibility requirements too and have a valid mobile number and email ID to use on behalf of the business.

Enrolment

After reading the enrolment guidelines clearly, the establishment must then initiate the enrolment process with the eligibility documents ready. They will be asked a series of questions for which they will need to provide inpu4t.

The establishment must then provide each document required to prove their eligibility. An internal committee is also required, which must inform the National Apprenticeship Training registration team about any sexual harassment in the company.

There must also be a structured apprenticeship training module. If the company lacks one, then it will lead to delays in NATS enrolment. In the company info space, the employer needs to mention the workplace address and the headquarters and the corporate office locations.

What Is the Role of a Third-Party NATS Training Agency?

Once you have decided to enrol for NATS, this is when the third-party NATs training agency makes an entry. Finding the right NATS training agency is quite a task and  will take up quite a bit of your time, and you may still not find the right one. Your apprenticeship training journey should ideally begin with Alp. For the NATS scheme, there are four ways in which Alp Consulting Ltd can assist you.

1. Submission of a contract on behalf of the employer on the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme
2. Posting the details of returns on behalf of the employer.
3. Submission of attendance details of each apprentice on the payroll.
4. Request for reimbursement from the government for each apprentice.
5. Following all formalities of trade apprentice.

Closing Words

When you think of apprenticeship as an employer, it always seems like a good idea, but if you do not have the capacity to train or the time to do so, you are left wondering what to do. Here’s where a third-party NATS training provider can be an asset for your organisation. They will help serve as the mediator between your organisation and the government and work to get things done for you. Alp Consulting could be the agency you need. If you are looking to find a no-compromise, assured, and speedy solution to your NATS training conundrum, we at Alp Consulting are here to help!

Key Takeaways

• Education and industry is bridged by NATS
• Government powered certified program
• Inclusive and financially reliable
• Eligibility for employers and students
• Beneficial to students and employers

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the NATS Portal?

NATS portal, or the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme, is an online platform that is a government initiative connecting technically skilled graduates, diploma holders to organisations for hands-on, paid job training.

2.What is the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme?

The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme is a scheme incorporated by the Government of India to further the growth of apprenticeship in India. It was started in the year 2016, and as of today, there are around 14 lakh apprentices in India, thanks to the programme.

3. What is the salary of an apprentice under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme?

The starting salary of anyone employed as an apprentice under NATS is 11,000 in the present year, as announced by the Government of India for a one-year duration.

4. Is the NATS certificate valuable?

The NATS training programme empowers the youth of our nation by providing them with skills that will enable them to secure higher-paying jobs over time and maintain a higher standard of living. The certificate from NATS is proof that you have undergone NATS training and is valuable whenever you apply for a job.

5. How long is the NATS training?

The NATS training lasts for one year, and during that time, the apprentices are trained in offices or their places of work. They acquire skills and practical knowledge that will help them with their work.

6. Is NATS training only for engineering students?

Any degree holder or student pursuing a degree can apply for NATS. The basic idea of NATS is to bridge the skill gaps that come up with acquiring different degrees.

7. What is the full form of NATS?

The full form of NATS is National Apprenticeship Training Scheme.

8.Who is eligible for NATS apprenticeship?

To be eligible for NATS apprenticeship, You must be an Indian citizen, at least 16 years old, hold a degree or diploma (Engineering/Non-Engineering streams , not be self-employed, a government employee, or already have completed an apprenticeship.

9.What is the difference between NATS and NAPS?

NATS (National Apprenticeship Training Scheme) is a program up to 3-year for training technical graduates/diploma holders , while NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) offer shorter training programs for a wider range of individuals.

10.Is NATS mandatory for employers?

Larger enterprises must participate in India’s National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). It  is mandatory under the Apprentices Act 1961, requiring them to engage apprentices (2.5% to 15% of workforce) for skill development.

Contact Us For Business Enquiry

Suresh Ramkrishna

Operations Manager

Suresh Ramkrishna is the Operations Manager at Alp Consulting Ltd., with over 30 years of extensive experience spanning recruitment operations, sourcing, supply chain management, and client relations. At Alp, he leads the Search & Staffing Practice, specializing in bilingual and niche skill hiring while overseeing Japanese language and TITP (Technical Intern Training Program) initiatives. He also manages NAPS (National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme) training programs, fostering skill development and workforce readiness across industries. Previously, he spent over two decades in the apparel export industry, managing vendor development and international sourcing for top global brands. Suresh’s leadership blends strategic talent acquisition with operational excellence across diverse industries.