Apprentice Program

The Apprentice Program was designed to allow individuals who are current NRHA Non Pros to learn, train, and show under a member of the NRHA Professionals as an Open rider. This gives the Non Pro the opportunity to explore the possibility of becoming an NRHA Professional, without facing the three year wait should they decide not to continue as a professional trainer and remain a Non Pro. An apprentice can do so under one or more members of the NRHA Professionals concurrently or consecutively during the twelve month period. All earnings that an individual has on record will be used to determine their eligibility while participating in the Apprentice Program. At any time during the twelve months should an individual decide not to continue with his or her apprenticeship, they must continue to sit out of Non Pro competition and are not able to re-apply for Non Pro status until the end of the twelve months. At the end of the twelve month apprenticeship, the individual can do one of two things:
  1. They may choose to remain an Open rider and completely relinquish Non Pro status. If this is the case, all previous Non Pro earnings will be backed out and any Open earnings accumulated during the apprenticeship will be used to determine eligibility.
  2. Or they can re-apply for Non Pro status without having to wait 3 years before showing as a Non Pro. All earnings accumulated during the apprenticeship will be used to determine eligibility.
Please note, the Apprentice Program is twelve consecutive months and at no time during the apprenticeship can an individual show in Non Pro classes.

If you have any questions regarding the Apprentice Program, please contact the Member & Show Services Department at (405)946-7400 or memberships@nrha.com.