diff --git a/docs/guide/impl-tips.rst b/docs/guide/impl-tips.rst
index 6bb7e7a73..0faa399cf 100644
--- a/docs/guide/impl-tips.rst
+++ b/docs/guide/impl-tips.rst
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-Algorithm Implementation Tips
-=============================
+Model Implementation Tips
+=========================
 
 Implementing algorithms is fun, but there are a few things that are good to keep in mind.
 
@@ -9,5 +9,62 @@ In general, development follows the following:
 2. Clear
 3. Fast
 
-In that order.  Further, we always want LensKit to be *usable* in an easy fashion.  Code
-implementing algorithms, however, may be quite complex in order to achieve good performance.
+In that order.  Further, we always want LensKit to be *usable* in an easy
+fashion.  Code implementing commonly-used models, however, may be quite complex
+in order to achieve good performance.
+
+.. _iterative-training:
+
+Iterative Training
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+The :class:`lenskit.training.IterativeTraining` class provides a standardized
+interface and training loop support for training models with iterative methods
+that pass through the training data in multiple *epochs*.  Models that use this
+support extend :class:`~lenskit.training.IterativeTraining` in addition to
+:class:`~lenskit.pipeline.Component`, and implement the
+:meth:`~lenskit.training.IterativeTraining.training_loop` method instead of
+:meth:`~lenskit.training.Trainable.train`.  Iteratively-trainable components
+should also have an ``epochs`` setting on their configuration class that
+specifies the number of training epochs to run.
+
+The :meth:`~lenskit.training.IterativeTraining.training_loop` method does 3 things:
+
+1.  Set up initial data structures, preparation, etc. needed for model training.
+2.  Train the model, yielding after each training epoch.  It can optionally
+    yield a set of metrics, such as training loss or update magnitudes.
+3.  Perform any final steps and training data cleanup.
+
+The model should be usable after each epoch, to support things like measuring
+performance on validation data.
+
+The training loop itself is represented as a Python iterator, so that a ``for``
+loop will loop through the training epochs.  While the interface definition
+specifies the ``Iterator`` type in order to minimize restrictions on component
+implementers, we recommend that it actually be a ``Generator``, which allows the
+caller to request early termination (through the
+:meth:`~collections.abc.Generator.close` method).  We also recommend that the
+``training_loop()`` method only return the generator after initial data preparation
+is complete, so that setup time is not included in the time taken for the first
+loop iteration.  The easiest way to do implement this is by delegating to an
+inner loop function, written as a Python generator:
+
+.. code:: python
+
+    def training_loop(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions):
+        # do initial data setup/prep for training
+        context = ...
+        # pass off to inner generator
+        return self._training_loop_impl(context)
+
+    def _training_loop_impl(self, context):
+        for i in range(self.config.epochs):
+            # do the model training
+            # compute the metrics
+            try:
+                yield {'loss': loss}
+            except GeneratorExit:
+                # client code has requested early termination
+                break
+
+        # any final cleanup steps
diff --git a/lenskit/lenskit/als/_common.py b/lenskit/lenskit/als/_common.py
index 954adf181..4123cdc0d 100644
--- a/lenskit/lenskit/als/_common.py
+++ b/lenskit/lenskit/als/_common.py
@@ -7,21 +7,20 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from collections.abc import Generator
 from typing import Literal, TypeAlias
 
 import numpy as np
 import structlog
 import torch
 from pydantic import BaseModel
-from typing_extensions import Iterator, NamedTuple, Self, override
+from typing_extensions import NamedTuple, override
 
-from lenskit import util
 from lenskit.data import Dataset, ItemList, QueryInput, RecQuery, Vocabulary
 from lenskit.data.types import UIPair
-from lenskit.logging import item_progress
 from lenskit.parallel.config import ensure_parallel_init
 from lenskit.pipeline import Component
-from lenskit.training import Trainable, TrainingOptions
+from lenskit.training import IterativeTraining, TrainingOptions
 
 EntityClass: TypeAlias = Literal["user", "item"]
 
@@ -126,7 +125,7 @@ def to(self, device):
         return self._replace(ui_rates=self.ui_rates.to(device), iu_rates=self.iu_rates.to(device))
 
 
-class ALSBase(ABC, Component[ItemList], Trainable):
+class ALSBase(IterativeTraining, Component[ItemList], ABC):
     """
     Base class for ALS models.
 
@@ -144,7 +143,9 @@ class ALSBase(ABC, Component[ItemList], Trainable):
     logger: structlog.stdlib.BoundLogger
 
     @override
-    def train(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions = TrainingOptions()) -> bool:
+    def training_loop(
+        self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions
+    ) -> Generator[dict[str, float], None, None]:
         """
         Run ALS to train a model.
 
@@ -154,49 +155,33 @@ def train(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions = TrainingOptions()) ->
         Returns:
             ``True`` if the model was trained.
         """
-        if hasattr(self, "item_features_") and not options.retrain:
-            return False
-
         ensure_parallel_init()
-        timer = util.Stopwatch()
+
+        rng = options.random_generator()
+
+        train = self.prepare_data(data)
+        self.users_ = train.users
+        self.items_ = train.items
+
+        self.initialize_params(train, rng)
+
+        return self._training_loop_generator(train)
 
         for algo in self.fit_iters(data, options):
             pass  # we just need to do the iterations
 
-        if self.user_features_ is not None:
-            self.logger.info(
-                "trained model in %s (|P|=%f, |Q|=%f)",
-                timer,
-                torch.norm(self.user_features_, "fro"),
-                torch.norm(self.item_features_, "fro"),
-                features=self.config.features,
-            )
-        else:
-            self.logger.info(
-                "trained model in %s (|Q|=%f)",
-                timer,
-                torch.norm(self.item_features_, "fro"),
-                features=self.config.features,
-            )
-
         return True
 
-    def fit_iters(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions) -> Iterator[Self]:
+    def _training_loop_generator(
+        self, train: TrainingData
+    ) -> Generator[dict[str, float], None, None]:
         """
         Run ALS to train a model, yielding after each iteration.
 
         Args:
             ratings: the ratings data frame.
         """
-
         log = self.logger = self.logger.bind(features=self.config.features)
-        rng = options.random_generator()
-
-        train = self.prepare_data(data)
-        self.users_ = train.users
-        self.items_ = train.items
-
-        self.initialize_params(train, rng)
 
         assert self.user_features_ is not None
         assert self.item_features_ is not None
@@ -207,27 +192,26 @@ def fit_iters(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions) -> Iterator[Self]:
             "item", train.iu_rates, self.item_features_, self.user_features_, self.config.item_reg
         )
 
-        log.info("beginning ALS model training")
-
-        with item_progress("Training ALS", self.config.epochs) as epb:
-            for epoch in range(self.config.epochs):
-                log = log.bind(epoch=epoch)
-                epoch = epoch + 1
+        for epoch in range(self.config.epochs):
+            log = log.bind(epoch=epoch)
+            epoch = epoch + 1
 
-                du = self.als_half_epoch(epoch, u_ctx)
-                log.debug("finished user epoch")
+            du = self.als_half_epoch(epoch, u_ctx)
+            log.debug("finished user epoch")
 
-                di = self.als_half_epoch(epoch, i_ctx)
-                log.debug("finished item epoch")
+            di = self.als_half_epoch(epoch, i_ctx)
+            log.debug("finished item epoch")
 
-                log.info("finished epoch (|ΔP|=%.3f, |ΔQ|=%.3f)", du, di)
-                epb.update()
-                yield self
+            log.debug("finished epoch (|ΔP|=%.3f, |ΔQ|=%.3f)", du, di)
+            yield {"deltaP": du, "deltaQ": di}
 
         if not self.config.save_user_features:
             self.user_features_ = None
             self.user_ = None
 
+        log.debug("finalizing model training")
+        self.finalize_training()
+
     @abstractmethod
     def prepare_data(self, data: Dataset) -> TrainingData:  # pragma: no cover
         """
@@ -270,6 +254,9 @@ def als_half_epoch(self, epoch: int, context: TrainContext) -> float:  # pragma:
         """
         ...
 
+    def finalize_training(self):
+        pass
+
     @override
     def __call__(self, query: QueryInput, items: ItemList) -> ItemList:
         query = RecQuery.create(query)
diff --git a/lenskit/lenskit/als/_implicit.py b/lenskit/lenskit/als/_implicit.py
index c183618f4..78d02f69f 100644
--- a/lenskit/lenskit/als/_implicit.py
+++ b/lenskit/lenskit/als/_implicit.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 from lenskit.logging.progress import item_progress_handle, pbh_update
 from lenskit.math.solve import solve_cholesky
 from lenskit.parallel.chunking import WorkChunks
-from lenskit.training import TrainingOptions
 
 from ._common import ALSBase, ALSConfig, TrainContext, TrainingData
 
@@ -71,14 +70,6 @@ class ImplicitMFScorer(ALSBase):
 
     OtOr_: torch.Tensor
 
-    @override
-    def train(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions = TrainingOptions()):
-        if super().train(data, options):
-            # compute OtOr and save it on the model
-            reg = self.config.user_reg
-            self.OtOr_ = _implicit_otor(self.item_features_, reg)
-            return True
-
     @override
     def prepare_data(self, data: Dataset) -> TrainingData:
         if self.config.use_ratings:
@@ -109,6 +100,12 @@ def als_half_epoch(self, epoch: int, context: TrainContext) -> float:
         with item_progress_handle(f"epoch {epoch} {context.label}s", total=context.nrows) as pbh:
             return _train_implicit_cholesky_fanout(context, OtOr, chunks, pbh)
 
+    def finalize_training(self):
+        # compute OtOr and save it on the model
+        reg = self.config.user_reg
+        self.OtOr_ = _implicit_otor(self.item_features_, reg)
+        return True
+
     @override
     def new_user_embedding(
         self, user_num: int | None, user_items: ItemList
diff --git a/lenskit/lenskit/logging/progress/_dispatch.py b/lenskit/lenskit/logging/progress/_dispatch.py
index 12567eb92..82ca8ea4f 100644
--- a/lenskit/lenskit/logging/progress/_dispatch.py
+++ b/lenskit/lenskit/logging/progress/_dispatch.py
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ def set_progress_impl(name: str | None, *options: Any):
             raise ValueError(f"unknown progress backend {name}")
 
 
-def item_progress(label: str, total: int, fields: dict[str, str | None] | None = None) -> Progress:
+def item_progress(
+    label: str, total: int | None = None, fields: dict[str, str | None] | None = None
+) -> Progress:
     """
     Create a progress bar for distinct, counted items.
 
diff --git a/lenskit/lenskit/training.py b/lenskit/lenskit/training.py
index 717b0ad6b..3603a843f 100644
--- a/lenskit/lenskit/training.py
+++ b/lenskit/lenskit/training.py
@@ -10,17 +10,19 @@
 # pyright: strict
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from collections.abc import Iterator
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import (
-    Protocol,
-    runtime_checkable,
-)
+from typing import Protocol, runtime_checkable
 
 import numpy as np
 
 from lenskit.data.dataset import Dataset
+from lenskit.logging import get_logger, item_progress
 from lenskit.random import RNGInput, random_generator
 
+_log = get_logger(__name__)
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class TrainingOptions:
@@ -94,3 +96,78 @@ def train(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions) -> None:
                 The training options.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError()
+
+
+class IterativeTraining(ABC, Trainable):
+    """
+    Base class for components that support iterative training.  This both
+    automates the :meth:`Trainable.train` method for iterative training in terms
+    of initialization, epoch, and finalization methods, and exposes those
+    methods to client code that may wish to directly control the iterative
+    training process.
+
+    Stability:
+        Full
+    """
+
+    trained_epochs: int = 0
+    """
+    The number of epochs for which this model has been trained.
+    """
+
+    @property
+    def expected_training_epochs(self) -> int | None:
+        """
+        Get the number of training epochs expected to run.  The default
+        implementation looks for an ``epochs`` attribute on the configuration
+        object (``self.config``).
+        """
+        cfg = getattr(self, "config", None)
+        if cfg:
+            return getattr(cfg, "epochs", None)
+
+    def train(self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions = TrainingOptions()) -> None:
+        """
+        Implementation of :meth:`Trainable.train` that uses the training loop.
+        It also uses the :attr:`trained_epochs` attribute to detect if the model
+        has already been trained for the purposes of honoring
+        :attr:`TrainingOptions.retrain`, and updates that attribute as model
+        training progresses.
+        """
+        if self.trained_epochs > 0 and not options.retrain:
+            return
+
+        self.trained_epochs = 0
+        log = _log.bind(model=f"{self.__class__.__module__}.{self.__class__.__qualname__}")
+        log.info("training model")
+        n = self.expected_training_epochs
+        log.debug("creating training loop")
+        loop = self.training_loop(data, options)
+        log.debug("beginning training iterations")
+        with item_progress("Training iterations", total=n) as pb:
+            for i, metrics in enumerate(loop, 1):
+                metrics = metrics or {}
+                log.info("finished epoch", epoch=i, **metrics)
+                self.trained_epochs += 1
+                pb.update()
+
+        log.info("model training finished", epochs=self.trained_epochs)
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def training_loop(
+        self, data: Dataset, options: TrainingOptions
+    ) -> Iterator[dict[str, float] | None]:
+        """
+        Training loop implementation, to be supplied by the derived class.  This
+        method should return a iterator that, when iterated, will perform each
+        training epoch; when training is complete, it should finalize the model
+        and signal iteration completion.
+
+        Each epoch can yield metrics, such as training or validation loss, to be
+        logged with structured logging and can be used by calling code to do
+        other analysis.
+
+        See :ref:`iterative-training` for more details on writing iterative
+        training loops.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError()