Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a combination of structured on-the-job training and related classroom instruction, through which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Apprenticeship programs can be sponsored by individual employers, joint employer and labor groups, and/or employer associations.

More than 1,000 occupations are approved for apprenticeships though the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship. Many apprenticeships are in the building trades and manufacturing fields (e.g., carpenter and machinist), but apprenticeships are also available in health care, social services, education, law enforcement, child care development, and new emerging sectors, including information technology, energy, telecommunications and others.

Apprenticeships can be one-to-five years, but most last four years. During this time, you’ll receive a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction at a community college or apprenticeship school.

A four-year apprenticeship typically includes 8,000 hours of work supervised by a journey-level craftsperson or trade professional and at least 576 hours of classroom instruction. Over the course of the four years, this would equal 40 hours per week of work and an average of less than three hours per week in the classroom (although the actual class schedule may be different).

Since an apprentice is a full-time employee of the company that sponsors the apprenticeship, he/she earns wages just like any other employee. Starting wages are usually 40-50 percent of the journeyman’s wage, and go up as the apprentice completes training and gains more experience and skills.

Apprenticeships are open to everybody. All require that the apprentice be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or certificate. A School-To-Registered Apprenticeship (STRA), however, is the one exception that allows high school students to start an apprenticeship at age 16. Strong math and reading skills are essential.

• Apprentices begin working (and earning money) immediately in their chosen field.
• All the training and education apprentices receive are directly related to their work.
• After successfully completing the program, apprentices receive a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship.
• If the apprenticeship is sponsored by a labor union, the apprentice will also receive a journeyman’s card, and a guarantee of excellent wages and benefits anywhere in the country.

*Apprentices who take their instruction at a community college will receive a certificate and may be able to apply those credits toward an associate’s degree. Many associate’s degrees can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university.

There are two ways to become an apprentice: through a partnership between a labor organization and an employer (called a Joint Apprenticeship Committee, or a JAC), or through a partnership between a community college and an employer.

JACs may have different requirements or procedures for applying for an apprenticeship; some will accept applications only from current employees and others are open to anyone. Applicants must pass a test and those with the highest scores are hired first. You should contact the JAC for a particular apprenticeship for more information.

The second path to an apprenticeship is a partnership between a community college and an employer. The classes are usually offered on the college’s regular schedule, but remember that just taking the classes doesn’t make you an apprentice; you must be hired by an apprenticeship employer first. If you’re interested in a particular apprenticeship but aren’t sure whether there are any openings, contact the Apprentice Coordinator at the college for assistance.

*All certified apprentices who attend a community college can apply their related technical instruction toward an associate’s degree. An apprentice can receive up to 32 credit hours toward his/her associate’s degree, which consists of 62 credit hours. Contact Oakland Community College at 248-232-4050 or another community college of your choice.

• Take and excel at math and science classes every year of high school.
• Learn how to prepare for and take exams.
• Work part time or during the summer for an employer with whom you are interested in apprenticing. Many employers prefer to hire internal candidates for apprenticeships.
• Participate in such after school programs as First Robotics or Science Olympiad.
• Volunteer for community organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
• Get involved in such extracurricular activities as woodworking, drawing, computers, robotics or science experiments.
• Do informational interviews with potential apprenticeship employers or the apprentice coordinator at the community college. This will help you understand the job more clearly and demonstrates your interest and commitment.
• If you are lacking some of the required skills or classes required of an apprentice, take classes through the community college.

Apprenticeships are a combination of on-the-job training (OJT) and classroom education that directly applies to the job. Classes may be offered by the JAC, the employer, or at a local community college. The classes you take toward an apprenticeship may count toward an associate degree; contact the Apprentice Coordinator for more information.