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Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.

Difference between apprenticeships and internships

In apprenticeships you earn while you learn a skill. As an apprentice you are hired from day one and get your salary. Apprenticeships include a structured training plan, with a focus on mastering specific skills an employer needs to fill an occupation within their organization . Apprenticeships typically last anywhere from one to six years and at the end of the program apprentices receive industry recognized credential while working on the job. Apprenticeships are better suited for people who already know which profession they want to go.

Internships are not always paid and may not lead to full time job. Internships give a chance to learn before earning. Internships often focus on entry-level general work experience. Internships are short term periods typically lasting for a few weeks or months and at the end of program interns gain insight into a particular role or industry sector without any formal certification. Internships are for people who want to try out a profession to test their interest and suitability.

Top 10 reasons to choose apprenticeship

• Paid job – Apprenticeships are real jobs with real companies. You get a job and earn a competitive wage from day one.
• Earn salary – 94% of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship retain
• $300,000+ Lifetime Earning Advantage – Apprentice graduates earn more over their lifetime compared to peers who don’t.
• Numbers to show it actually works – Join over 633,000 apprentices nationwide obtaining the skills they need to succeed while earning the wages they need to build financial security. Over 845,000 new apprentices enrolled since Jan 1, 2017, a growth of 83% since 2010. Government created 13,420 new RAPs during the past five years.
• Access to high-growth and emerging industries with 25,000 programs – There are nearly 25,000 registered apprenticeship programs active across the nation including high growth companies such as Amazon, Boeing….
• Fast track career – Why wait years to gain skills and unleash your potential when you can start now? Get a head-start with your career. Have no student loans to pay off when you graduate.
• Work based learning – Ease the transition from school to career by working and learning at the same time. Gain structured on-the-job learning to prepare for a successful career.
• National Industry Recognized Credential – Apprentices who graduate out of the program, will receive a nationally-recognized credential issued by DOL. Many RAPs (particularly in high-growth industries such as healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and transportation) also offer interim credentials and/or other industry-recognized credentials, as well as college credit, as apprentices master a variety of skills as part of a career pathway.
• Mentorship– Connect with mentor(s) in your chosen industry who can help you advance your career.
• Career change – Change industry and choose a career in an area of interest.

Decision points when deciding to become an apprentice

• Career objective – you are clear on the type of career/industry you wish to pursue.
• Experiential learner – you prefer to learn by doing.
• Want workplace experience – you are ready to start work with an employer and be based in the workplace.
• Prefer relevant hands-on practical learning – you are willing to balance work and study but prefer a practical and work-related approach to learning.
• Organized and ability to multi-task – you are organized enough to multi-task and balance demands of work and study at the same time.

Registered Apprenticeships

A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a proven model of apprenticeship that has been validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. These programs meet the national standards for quality and rigor.

Components of a Registered Apprenticeship Program:

1. On-the-job-training (OJT): Apprentices work on the real job day to day under the supervision of a journey-level professional.
2. Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI): Classroom learning. Apprentices attend community colleges or take online, third party courses approved by the provider.

Related Supplemental Instruction (RSI)

Related Supplemental Instruction is the classroom learning component of the registered apprenticeship program. Usually, the classroom studies are offered by a variety of providers, including employer-sponsored schools, union-sponsored schools and Washington state's community and technical colleges.

Credentials

An apprentice earns an “Award of Completion” issued by State Labor and Industries. The Journey-Level Certificate is an industry issued, nationally recognized credential that an apprentice takes with them validating proficiency in an occupation or trade.

Youth Apprenticeships

Youth apprenticeships are work-based learning programs designed for high school students. Apprenticeship programs for youth over 16 years of age combine academic and technical classroom instruction with work experience through an apprenticeship program. It provides the foundation for youth to choose among multiple pathways – to enroll in college, begin full-time employment, or a combination of both.

Pre-Apprenticeships

Pre-Apprenticeship is a program or set of strategies that is designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). A Pre-Apprenticeship program can help candidates prepare for the apprenticeship that's right for them.

Apprenticeship programs in high-growth industries

Apprenticeship spans more than 1,000 occupations including careers in health care, cybersecurity, information technology, retail, transportation, geospatial, nanotechnology, homeland security, financial, green, biotechnology, automotive, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, education, energy, financial.

Bright occupations

Bright Outlook occupations are expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, will have large numbers of job openings, or are new and emerging occupations. Some new emerging occupations - health care, cybersecurity, information technology, retail, transportation, geospatial, nanotechnology, homeland security, financial, green, biotechnology, automotive, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, education, energy, financial.

Green occupations

These are occupations in sustainable green economic sectors. Examples of green economy sectors are - Agriculture and Forestry, Energy and Carbon Capture and Storage, Environment Protection, Green Construction, Renewable Energy Generation, Manufacturing, Recycling, Waste Reduction.