(1) The state apprenticeship and training program shall award interim credentials to apprentices who demonstrate the appropriate competencies, when requested to do so by program sponsors, as provided by 29 CFR section 29.5, as adopted by the department in 24.21.302.

(2) The state apprenticeship and training program will work with interested program sponsors to develop appropriate benchmarks and competency testing that will apply to the sponsor's apprenticeship program.

(3) Competency testing will not be recognized for a given apprentice until the benchmarks and testing protocols are incorporated into the apprenticeship program's standards.