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Why Apprenticeships Are The New Internships In The College And Career Space
March 20, 2023
March 20, 2023
As college and career readiness has become a primary component of secondary education, counselors, practitioners, administrators, school board members, and policy makers have recognized the incredible value and experience work-based learning opportunities provide students. Internships have long been seen as the ideal version of this kind of learning experience. A defining characteristic of internships is that the participating student is unpaid and often only observing, not fully participating, in the tasks possible in their placement. Internships offer an opportunity for students to get acclimated to a field, meet professionals, and develop important life skills. However, a new alternative is growing across the country.
Districts are designing more robust career-focused programs and academic course sequences into their career and technical education (CTE) offerings for high school graduation. As career readiness offerings are maturing, educators are recognizing that apprenticeships actually offer some students a deeper and richer skill-building experience, a more direct pathway to a postsecondary career, and connections to mentors and other resources that will support students’ transition to life beyond high school.
Apprenticeship Definition & Data
The US Department of Labor defines apprenticeships as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.” These programs and positions span a wide variety of career fields including manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation.
The statistics on professional outcomes for individuals who complete apprenticeships are staggering: 93% of those who complete a registered apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. In short, apprenticeships are exceptional in propelling student career readiness, persistence, and success and should be considered a vital part of a district or school’s CTE programming and offerings. Apprenticeships offer students and communities:
Meaningful Career Preparation
Many CTE programs intend to have students leave with truly employable skills and career readiness. For students who enter these programs with an interest in a particular field or role, apprenticeships can be a critical component to accomplishing this goal. Unlike shorter term internships or summer jobs, apprenticeships provide a robust time frame–often over the course of multiple years. This allows students to get a sense of a field, learn and develop skills, practice those skills in a real-world environment, collaborate with and learn from professionals, and earn industry certifications and credentials in the process, often at no cost to the student.
Networking & Mentoring
Apprenticeships can offer invaluable access to experienced mentors, unions, and other professional networks. Mentorships are an integral component to the apprenticeship approach, and these connections and relationships can work to help students early in their career search and training really understand the field and what it is like to work in a particular role. And, the nature of the apprenticeship process can offer unique learning opportunities and support for students who learn best with hands-on, one-on-one guidance and instruction.
Workforce Development
Many of the career fields that apprenticeships support are currently facing shortages of trained and available staff. Apprenticeship programs can help employers to have extra hands to assist with current shortages and also offer a growing talent pool for the future. Apprenticeships follow a structured training plan that includes the mastery of a set of specific skills. Because of this, students who complete apprenticeship programs have the essential job-training and skills needed to competently support organizations from day one.
Ability to Make a Living Wage without Accruing Debt
Apprenticeships, in contrast to internships, are paid experiences. Students can earn an income as they learn. When students leave an apprenticeship program to begin working in a particular field, they are often beginning their career without the debt that typically comes from a college degree. And, students who complete apprenticeships have a level of skill and training that is highly sought after, often leading to further opportunities because they have a demonstrated record of work discipline and skill development. While internship and apprenticeship experiences may both lead to college credit, some apprenticeship programs will lead to a debt-free path to certified training or career.
Enabling Apprenticeships in the High School Schedule
The traditional high school schedule can make it very challenging for students to have time to access apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses are operating at the same hours as school, and students need the time and ability to transport to the apprenticeship site. Educators need to bring creativity to overcome this challenge, and there are some approaches that have proven to be successful.
- Plan for apprenticeships to be offered for the junior and senior year of high school. Students are old enough to legally work, and they often have the ability to transport themselves.
- Promote apprenticeship opportunities to students in middle school, thus cultivating interest and enabling course planning. Students may need to take courses out of the traditional sequence to enable apprenticeships during the junior and senior year.
- Think creatively about how students meet non-CTE graduation requirements. Students can enroll in virtual courses, dual enrollment courses, or summer school to complete requirements which then enable blocks of time to be used for an apprenticeship.
Additionally, there are resources to assist educators in implementing apprenticeship programs from the US Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship, Jobs for the Future, Advance CTE, and many state offices of economic development.
As college and career readiness has become a primary component of secondary education, counselors, practitioners, administrators, school board members, and policy makers have recognized the incredible value and experience work-based learning opportunities provide students. Internships have long been seen as the ideal version of this kind of learning experience. A defining characteristic of internships is that the participating student is unpaid and often only observing, not fully participating, in the tasks possible in their placement. Internships offer an opportunity for students to get acclimated to a field, meet professionals, and develop important life skills. However, a new alternative is growing across the country.
Districts are designing more robust career-focused programs and academic course sequences into their career and technical education (CTE) offerings for high school graduation. As career readiness offerings are maturing, educators are recognizing that apprenticeships actually offer some students a deeper and richer skill-building experience, a more direct pathway to a postsecondary career, and connections to mentors and other resources that will support students’ transition to life beyond high school.
Apprenticeship Definition & Data
The US Department of Labor defines apprenticeships as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.” These programs and positions span a wide variety of career fields including manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation.
The statistics on professional outcomes for individuals who complete apprenticeships are staggering: 93% of those who complete a registered apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. In short, apprenticeships are exceptional in propelling student career readiness, persistence, and success and should be considered a vital part of a district or school’s CTE programming and offerings. Apprenticeships offer students and communities:
Meaningful Career Preparation
Many CTE programs intend to have students leave with truly employable skills and career readiness. For students who enter these programs with an interest in a particular field or role, apprenticeships can be a critical component to accomplishing this goal. Unlike shorter term internships or summer jobs, apprenticeships provide a robust time frame–often over the course of multiple years. This allows students to get a sense of a field, learn and develop skills, practice those skills in a real-world environment, collaborate with and learn from professionals, and earn industry certifications and credentials in the process, often at no cost to the student.
Networking & Mentoring
Apprenticeships can offer invaluable access to experienced mentors, unions, and other professional networks. Mentorships are an integral component to the apprenticeship approach, and these connections and relationships can work to help students early in their career search and training really understand the field and what it is like to work in a particular role. And, the nature of the apprenticeship process can offer unique learning opportunities and support for students who learn best with hands-on, one-on-one guidance and instruction.
Workforce Development
Many of the career fields that apprenticeships support are currently facing shortages of trained and available staff. Apprenticeship programs can help employers to have extra hands to assist with current shortages and also offer a growing talent pool for the future. Apprenticeships follow a structured training plan that includes the mastery of a set of specific skills. Because of this, students who complete apprenticeship programs have the essential job-training and skills needed to competently support organizations from day one.
Ability to Make a Living Wage without Accruing Debt
Apprenticeships, in contrast to internships, are paid experiences. Students can earn an income as they learn. When students leave an apprenticeship program to begin working in a particular field, they are often beginning their career without the debt that typically comes from a college degree. And, students who complete apprenticeships have a level of skill and training that is highly sought after, often leading to further opportunities because they have a demonstrated record of work discipline and skill development. While internship and apprenticeship experiences may both lead to college credit, some apprenticeship programs will lead to a debt-free path to certified training or career.
Enabling Apprenticeships in the High School Schedule
The traditional high school schedule can make it very challenging for students to have time to access apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses are operating at the same hours as school, and students need the time and ability to transport to the apprenticeship site. Educators need to bring creativity to overcome this challenge, and there are some approaches that have proven to be successful.
- Plan for apprenticeships to be offered for the junior and senior year of high school. Students are old enough to legally work, and they often have the ability to transport themselves.
- Promote apprenticeship opportunities to students in middle school, thus cultivating interest and enabling course planning. Students may need to take courses out of the traditional sequence to enable apprenticeships during the junior and senior year.
- Think creatively about how students meet non-CTE graduation requirements. Students can enroll in virtual courses, dual enrollment courses, or summer school to complete requirements which then enable blocks of time to be used for an apprenticeship.
Additionally, there are resources to assist educators in implementing apprenticeship programs from the US Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship, Jobs for the Future, Advance CTE, and many state offices of economic development.
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As college and career readiness has become a primary component of secondary education, counselors, practitioners, administrators, school board members, and policy makers have recognized the incredible value and experience work-based learning opportunities provide students. Internships have long been seen as the ideal version of this kind of learning experience. A defining characteristic of internships is that the participating student is unpaid and often only observing, not fully participating, in the tasks possible in their placement. Internships offer an opportunity for students to get acclimated to a field, meet professionals, and develop important life skills. However, a new alternative is growing across the country.
Districts are designing more robust career-focused programs and academic course sequences into their career and technical education (CTE) offerings for high school graduation. As career readiness offerings are maturing, educators are recognizing that apprenticeships actually offer some students a deeper and richer skill-building experience, a more direct pathway to a postsecondary career, and connections to mentors and other resources that will support students’ transition to life beyond high school.
Apprenticeship Definition & Data
The US Department of Labor defines apprenticeships as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.” These programs and positions span a wide variety of career fields including manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation.
The statistics on professional outcomes for individuals who complete apprenticeships are staggering: 93% of those who complete a registered apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. In short, apprenticeships are exceptional in propelling student career readiness, persistence, and success and should be considered a vital part of a district or school’s CTE programming and offerings. Apprenticeships offer students and communities:
Meaningful Career Preparation
Many CTE programs intend to have students leave with truly employable skills and career readiness. For students who enter these programs with an interest in a particular field or role, apprenticeships can be a critical component to accomplishing this goal. Unlike shorter term internships or summer jobs, apprenticeships provide a robust time frame–often over the course of multiple years. This allows students to get a sense of a field, learn and develop skills, practice those skills in a real-world environment, collaborate with and learn from professionals, and earn industry certifications and credentials in the process, often at no cost to the student.
Networking & Mentoring
Apprenticeships can offer invaluable access to experienced mentors, unions, and other professional networks. Mentorships are an integral component to the apprenticeship approach, and these connections and relationships can work to help students early in their career search and training really understand the field and what it is like to work in a particular role. And, the nature of the apprenticeship process can offer unique learning opportunities and support for students who learn best with hands-on, one-on-one guidance and instruction.
Workforce Development
Many of the career fields that apprenticeships support are currently facing shortages of trained and available staff. Apprenticeship programs can help employers to have extra hands to assist with current shortages and also offer a growing talent pool for the future. Apprenticeships follow a structured training plan that includes the mastery of a set of specific skills. Because of this, students who complete apprenticeship programs have the essential job-training and skills needed to competently support organizations from day one.
Ability to Make a Living Wage without Accruing Debt
Apprenticeships, in contrast to internships, are paid experiences. Students can earn an income as they learn. When students leave an apprenticeship program to begin working in a particular field, they are often beginning their career without the debt that typically comes from a college degree. And, students who complete apprenticeships have a level of skill and training that is highly sought after, often leading to further opportunities because they have a demonstrated record of work discipline and skill development. While internship and apprenticeship experiences may both lead to college credit, some apprenticeship programs will lead to a debt-free path to certified training or career.
Enabling Apprenticeships in the High School Schedule
The traditional high school schedule can make it very challenging for students to have time to access apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses are operating at the same hours as school, and students need the time and ability to transport to the apprenticeship site. Educators need to bring creativity to overcome this challenge, and there are some approaches that have proven to be successful.
- Plan for apprenticeships to be offered for the junior and senior year of high school. Students are old enough to legally work, and they often have the ability to transport themselves.
- Promote apprenticeship opportunities to students in middle school, thus cultivating interest and enabling course planning. Students may need to take courses out of the traditional sequence to enable apprenticeships during the junior and senior year.
- Think creatively about how students meet non-CTE graduation requirements. Students can enroll in virtual courses, dual enrollment courses, or summer school to complete requirements which then enable blocks of time to be used for an apprenticeship.
Additionally, there are resources to assist educators in implementing apprenticeship programs from the US Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship, Jobs for the Future, Advance CTE, and many state offices of economic development.
As college and career readiness has become a primary component of secondary education, counselors, practitioners, administrators, school board members, and policy makers have recognized the incredible value and experience work-based learning opportunities provide students. Internships have long been seen as the ideal version of this kind of learning experience. A defining characteristic of internships is that the participating student is unpaid and often only observing, not fully participating, in the tasks possible in their placement. Internships offer an opportunity for students to get acclimated to a field, meet professionals, and develop important life skills. However, a new alternative is growing across the country.
Districts are designing more robust career-focused programs and academic course sequences into their career and technical education (CTE) offerings for high school graduation. As career readiness offerings are maturing, educators are recognizing that apprenticeships actually offer some students a deeper and richer skill-building experience, a more direct pathway to a postsecondary career, and connections to mentors and other resources that will support students’ transition to life beyond high school.
Apprenticeship Definition & Data
The US Department of Labor defines apprenticeships as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.” These programs and positions span a wide variety of career fields including manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation.
The statistics on professional outcomes for individuals who complete apprenticeships are staggering: 93% of those who complete a registered apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. In short, apprenticeships are exceptional in propelling student career readiness, persistence, and success and should be considered a vital part of a district or school’s CTE programming and offerings. Apprenticeships offer students and communities:
Meaningful Career Preparation
Many CTE programs intend to have students leave with truly employable skills and career readiness. For students who enter these programs with an interest in a particular field or role, apprenticeships can be a critical component to accomplishing this goal. Unlike shorter term internships or summer jobs, apprenticeships provide a robust time frame–often over the course of multiple years. This allows students to get a sense of a field, learn and develop skills, practice those skills in a real-world environment, collaborate with and learn from professionals, and earn industry certifications and credentials in the process, often at no cost to the student.
Networking & Mentoring
Apprenticeships can offer invaluable access to experienced mentors, unions, and other professional networks. Mentorships are an integral component to the apprenticeship approach, and these connections and relationships can work to help students early in their career search and training really understand the field and what it is like to work in a particular role. And, the nature of the apprenticeship process can offer unique learning opportunities and support for students who learn best with hands-on, one-on-one guidance and instruction.
Workforce Development
Many of the career fields that apprenticeships support are currently facing shortages of trained and available staff. Apprenticeship programs can help employers to have extra hands to assist with current shortages and also offer a growing talent pool for the future. Apprenticeships follow a structured training plan that includes the mastery of a set of specific skills. Because of this, students who complete apprenticeship programs have the essential job-training and skills needed to competently support organizations from day one.
Ability to Make a Living Wage without Accruing Debt
Apprenticeships, in contrast to internships, are paid experiences. Students can earn an income as they learn. When students leave an apprenticeship program to begin working in a particular field, they are often beginning their career without the debt that typically comes from a college degree. And, students who complete apprenticeships have a level of skill and training that is highly sought after, often leading to further opportunities because they have a demonstrated record of work discipline and skill development. While internship and apprenticeship experiences may both lead to college credit, some apprenticeship programs will lead to a debt-free path to certified training or career.
Enabling Apprenticeships in the High School Schedule
The traditional high school schedule can make it very challenging for students to have time to access apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses are operating at the same hours as school, and students need the time and ability to transport to the apprenticeship site. Educators need to bring creativity to overcome this challenge, and there are some approaches that have proven to be successful.
- Plan for apprenticeships to be offered for the junior and senior year of high school. Students are old enough to legally work, and they often have the ability to transport themselves.
- Promote apprenticeship opportunities to students in middle school, thus cultivating interest and enabling course planning. Students may need to take courses out of the traditional sequence to enable apprenticeships during the junior and senior year.
- Think creatively about how students meet non-CTE graduation requirements. Students can enroll in virtual courses, dual enrollment courses, or summer school to complete requirements which then enable blocks of time to be used for an apprenticeship.
Additionally, there are resources to assist educators in implementing apprenticeship programs from the US Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship, Jobs for the Future, Advance CTE, and many state offices of economic development.
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As college and career readiness has become a primary component of secondary education, counselors, practitioners, administrators, school board members, and policy makers have recognized the incredible value and experience work-based learning opportunities provide students. Internships have long been seen as the ideal version of this kind of learning experience. A defining characteristic of internships is that the participating student is unpaid and often only observing, not fully participating, in the tasks possible in their placement. Internships offer an opportunity for students to get acclimated to a field, meet professionals, and develop important life skills. However, a new alternative is growing across the country.
Districts are designing more robust career-focused programs and academic course sequences into their career and technical education (CTE) offerings for high school graduation. As career readiness offerings are maturing, educators are recognizing that apprenticeships actually offer some students a deeper and richer skill-building experience, a more direct pathway to a postsecondary career, and connections to mentors and other resources that will support students’ transition to life beyond high school.
Apprenticeship Definition & Data
The US Department of Labor defines apprenticeships as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.” These programs and positions span a wide variety of career fields including manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation.
The statistics on professional outcomes for individuals who complete apprenticeships are staggering: 93% of those who complete a registered apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. In short, apprenticeships are exceptional in propelling student career readiness, persistence, and success and should be considered a vital part of a district or school’s CTE programming and offerings. Apprenticeships offer students and communities:
Meaningful Career Preparation
Many CTE programs intend to have students leave with truly employable skills and career readiness. For students who enter these programs with an interest in a particular field or role, apprenticeships can be a critical component to accomplishing this goal. Unlike shorter term internships or summer jobs, apprenticeships provide a robust time frame–often over the course of multiple years. This allows students to get a sense of a field, learn and develop skills, practice those skills in a real-world environment, collaborate with and learn from professionals, and earn industry certifications and credentials in the process, often at no cost to the student.
Networking & Mentoring
Apprenticeships can offer invaluable access to experienced mentors, unions, and other professional networks. Mentorships are an integral component to the apprenticeship approach, and these connections and relationships can work to help students early in their career search and training really understand the field and what it is like to work in a particular role. And, the nature of the apprenticeship process can offer unique learning opportunities and support for students who learn best with hands-on, one-on-one guidance and instruction.
Workforce Development
Many of the career fields that apprenticeships support are currently facing shortages of trained and available staff. Apprenticeship programs can help employers to have extra hands to assist with current shortages and also offer a growing talent pool for the future. Apprenticeships follow a structured training plan that includes the mastery of a set of specific skills. Because of this, students who complete apprenticeship programs have the essential job-training and skills needed to competently support organizations from day one.
Ability to Make a Living Wage without Accruing Debt
Apprenticeships, in contrast to internships, are paid experiences. Students can earn an income as they learn. When students leave an apprenticeship program to begin working in a particular field, they are often beginning their career without the debt that typically comes from a college degree. And, students who complete apprenticeships have a level of skill and training that is highly sought after, often leading to further opportunities because they have a demonstrated record of work discipline and skill development. While internship and apprenticeship experiences may both lead to college credit, some apprenticeship programs will lead to a debt-free path to certified training or career.
Enabling Apprenticeships in the High School Schedule
The traditional high school schedule can make it very challenging for students to have time to access apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses are operating at the same hours as school, and students need the time and ability to transport to the apprenticeship site. Educators need to bring creativity to overcome this challenge, and there are some approaches that have proven to be successful.
- Plan for apprenticeships to be offered for the junior and senior year of high school. Students are old enough to legally work, and they often have the ability to transport themselves.
- Promote apprenticeship opportunities to students in middle school, thus cultivating interest and enabling course planning. Students may need to take courses out of the traditional sequence to enable apprenticeships during the junior and senior year.
- Think creatively about how students meet non-CTE graduation requirements. Students can enroll in virtual courses, dual enrollment courses, or summer school to complete requirements which then enable blocks of time to be used for an apprenticeship.
Additionally, there are resources to assist educators in implementing apprenticeship programs from the US Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship, Jobs for the Future, Advance CTE, and many state offices of economic development.
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As college and career readiness has become a primary component of secondary education, counselors, practitioners, administrators, school board members, and policy makers have recognized the incredible value and experience work-based learning opportunities provide students. Internships have long been seen as the ideal version of this kind of learning experience. A defining characteristic of internships is that the participating student is unpaid and often only observing, not fully participating, in the tasks possible in their placement. Internships offer an opportunity for students to get acclimated to a field, meet professionals, and develop important life skills. However, a new alternative is growing across the country.
Districts are designing more robust career-focused programs and academic course sequences into their career and technical education (CTE) offerings for high school graduation. As career readiness offerings are maturing, educators are recognizing that apprenticeships actually offer some students a deeper and richer skill-building experience, a more direct pathway to a postsecondary career, and connections to mentors and other resources that will support students’ transition to life beyond high school.
Apprenticeship Definition & Data
The US Department of Labor defines apprenticeships as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.” These programs and positions span a wide variety of career fields including manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation.
The statistics on professional outcomes for individuals who complete apprenticeships are staggering: 93% of those who complete a registered apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. In short, apprenticeships are exceptional in propelling student career readiness, persistence, and success and should be considered a vital part of a district or school’s CTE programming and offerings. Apprenticeships offer students and communities:
Meaningful Career Preparation
Many CTE programs intend to have students leave with truly employable skills and career readiness. For students who enter these programs with an interest in a particular field or role, apprenticeships can be a critical component to accomplishing this goal. Unlike shorter term internships or summer jobs, apprenticeships provide a robust time frame–often over the course of multiple years. This allows students to get a sense of a field, learn and develop skills, practice those skills in a real-world environment, collaborate with and learn from professionals, and earn industry certifications and credentials in the process, often at no cost to the student.
Networking & Mentoring
Apprenticeships can offer invaluable access to experienced mentors, unions, and other professional networks. Mentorships are an integral component to the apprenticeship approach, and these connections and relationships can work to help students early in their career search and training really understand the field and what it is like to work in a particular role. And, the nature of the apprenticeship process can offer unique learning opportunities and support for students who learn best with hands-on, one-on-one guidance and instruction.
Workforce Development
Many of the career fields that apprenticeships support are currently facing shortages of trained and available staff. Apprenticeship programs can help employers to have extra hands to assist with current shortages and also offer a growing talent pool for the future. Apprenticeships follow a structured training plan that includes the mastery of a set of specific skills. Because of this, students who complete apprenticeship programs have the essential job-training and skills needed to competently support organizations from day one.
Ability to Make a Living Wage without Accruing Debt
Apprenticeships, in contrast to internships, are paid experiences. Students can earn an income as they learn. When students leave an apprenticeship program to begin working in a particular field, they are often beginning their career without the debt that typically comes from a college degree. And, students who complete apprenticeships have a level of skill and training that is highly sought after, often leading to further opportunities because they have a demonstrated record of work discipline and skill development. While internship and apprenticeship experiences may both lead to college credit, some apprenticeship programs will lead to a debt-free path to certified training or career.
Enabling Apprenticeships in the High School Schedule
The traditional high school schedule can make it very challenging for students to have time to access apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses are operating at the same hours as school, and students need the time and ability to transport to the apprenticeship site. Educators need to bring creativity to overcome this challenge, and there are some approaches that have proven to be successful.
- Plan for apprenticeships to be offered for the junior and senior year of high school. Students are old enough to legally work, and they often have the ability to transport themselves.
- Promote apprenticeship opportunities to students in middle school, thus cultivating interest and enabling course planning. Students may need to take courses out of the traditional sequence to enable apprenticeships during the junior and senior year.
- Think creatively about how students meet non-CTE graduation requirements. Students can enroll in virtual courses, dual enrollment courses, or summer school to complete requirements which then enable blocks of time to be used for an apprenticeship.
Additionally, there are resources to assist educators in implementing apprenticeship programs from the US Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship, Jobs for the Future, Advance CTE, and many state offices of economic development.
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As college and career readiness has become a primary component of secondary education, counselors, practitioners, administrators, school board members, and policy makers have recognized the incredible value and experience work-based learning opportunities provide students. Internships have long been seen as the ideal version of this kind of learning experience. A defining characteristic of internships is that the participating student is unpaid and often only observing, not fully participating, in the tasks possible in their placement. Internships offer an opportunity for students to get acclimated to a field, meet professionals, and develop important life skills. However, a new alternative is growing across the country.
Districts are designing more robust career-focused programs and academic course sequences into their career and technical education (CTE) offerings for high school graduation. As career readiness offerings are maturing, educators are recognizing that apprenticeships actually offer some students a deeper and richer skill-building experience, a more direct pathway to a postsecondary career, and connections to mentors and other resources that will support students’ transition to life beyond high school.
Apprenticeship Definition & Data
The US Department of Labor defines apprenticeships as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.” These programs and positions span a wide variety of career fields including manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation.
The statistics on professional outcomes for individuals who complete apprenticeships are staggering: 93% of those who complete a registered apprenticeship retain employment, with an average annual salary of $77,000. In short, apprenticeships are exceptional in propelling student career readiness, persistence, and success and should be considered a vital part of a district or school’s CTE programming and offerings. Apprenticeships offer students and communities:
Meaningful Career Preparation
Many CTE programs intend to have students leave with truly employable skills and career readiness. For students who enter these programs with an interest in a particular field or role, apprenticeships can be a critical component to accomplishing this goal. Unlike shorter term internships or summer jobs, apprenticeships provide a robust time frame–often over the course of multiple years. This allows students to get a sense of a field, learn and develop skills, practice those skills in a real-world environment, collaborate with and learn from professionals, and earn industry certifications and credentials in the process, often at no cost to the student.
Networking & Mentoring
Apprenticeships can offer invaluable access to experienced mentors, unions, and other professional networks. Mentorships are an integral component to the apprenticeship approach, and these connections and relationships can work to help students early in their career search and training really understand the field and what it is like to work in a particular role. And, the nature of the apprenticeship process can offer unique learning opportunities and support for students who learn best with hands-on, one-on-one guidance and instruction.
Workforce Development
Many of the career fields that apprenticeships support are currently facing shortages of trained and available staff. Apprenticeship programs can help employers to have extra hands to assist with current shortages and also offer a growing talent pool for the future. Apprenticeships follow a structured training plan that includes the mastery of a set of specific skills. Because of this, students who complete apprenticeship programs have the essential job-training and skills needed to competently support organizations from day one.
Ability to Make a Living Wage without Accruing Debt
Apprenticeships, in contrast to internships, are paid experiences. Students can earn an income as they learn. When students leave an apprenticeship program to begin working in a particular field, they are often beginning their career without the debt that typically comes from a college degree. And, students who complete apprenticeships have a level of skill and training that is highly sought after, often leading to further opportunities because they have a demonstrated record of work discipline and skill development. While internship and apprenticeship experiences may both lead to college credit, some apprenticeship programs will lead to a debt-free path to certified training or career.
Enabling Apprenticeships in the High School Schedule
The traditional high school schedule can make it very challenging for students to have time to access apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses are operating at the same hours as school, and students need the time and ability to transport to the apprenticeship site. Educators need to bring creativity to overcome this challenge, and there are some approaches that have proven to be successful.
- Plan for apprenticeships to be offered for the junior and senior year of high school. Students are old enough to legally work, and they often have the ability to transport themselves.
- Promote apprenticeship opportunities to students in middle school, thus cultivating interest and enabling course planning. Students may need to take courses out of the traditional sequence to enable apprenticeships during the junior and senior year.
- Think creatively about how students meet non-CTE graduation requirements. Students can enroll in virtual courses, dual enrollment courses, or summer school to complete requirements which then enable blocks of time to be used for an apprenticeship.
Additionally, there are resources to assist educators in implementing apprenticeship programs from the US Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship, Jobs for the Future, Advance CTE, and many state offices of economic development.
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