As used in this act [50-7-1 to 50-7-4, 50-7-7 N.M. Stat. Ann.]: “apprentice” means a person at least sixteen years old who is covered by a written agreement with an employer, or with an association of employers or employees acting as agent for an employer, and approved by the state apprenticeship council, which apprentice agreement provides for not less than two thousand hours required for any given trade by reasonably continuous employment for such person, for his participation in an approved schedule of work experience through employment and for at least one hundred forty-four hours per year of related supplemental instruction.