If you are a student looking for an alternative to a four-year college degree, consider apprenticeship training.

Apprenticeship programs offer the best of both worlds - paid work experience and related educational instruction. An apprenticeship will prepare you to become skilled in all the areas of an occupation, acquiring the necessary knowledge and abilities to perform the job.

Students can prepare to qualify for an apprenticeship program by working with teachers or counselors to select preparatory courses for an apprenticeship. With school guidance, you can plan coursework to obtain basic skills such as mathematics, reading comprehension and science. These courses are necessary for you to be successful in an apprenticeable occupation. In most other cases, a great deal of financial resources and energy are required to prepare for your career, but in a registered apprenticeship program, you are paid a progressively increasing wage while you learn the occupation.

If you are considering an apprenticeship

Students' Questions About Apprenticeship Training

What is apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a structured system of hands-on training designed to teach highly technical skills. It is designed to produce craftworkers that are fully competent in all aspects of an occupation, including knowledge, skill and proficiency on the job. With apprenticeship training, there is a written agreement between the apprentice and the employer or apprenticeship program sponsor, approved by and registered with the N.C. Department of Labor. This agreement specifies the length of training, related technical instruction, an outline of the skills of the trade to be learned and the wages the apprentice will be paid. After successfully completing the prescribed hours of related classroom instruction and hands-on training, the apprentice will graduate to a highly skilled "journey worker."

What qualifications are needed?
Most programs require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Specific qualifications vary by occupation. For information about a specific occupation, contact The N.C. Department of Labor Apprenticeship and Training Bureau.

What makes apprenticeship training different?
Apprenticeship training includes paid on-site training as well as quality related technical instruction. This training teaches the apprentice the knowledge and hands-on skills needed for the job. An apprentice is also taught unique craft skills associated with the occupation through the progression toward journey-worker status.

What types of occupations can be learned?
There is a wide variety of occupations for apprenticeship training. Opportunities are available in the building trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians. There are also opportunities that exist outside the construction trades, such as firefighter, machinist, printer, child care development specialist, finance specialist, sign painter, automotive technician, teacher assistant, master craftsman and other professional technical trades.

How long does an apprenticeship last?
Depending upon the occupation, apprenticeship programs can last from one to five years. An additional requirement includes completing 144 hours of related technical instruction each year throughout the apprenticeship program.

What can I expect to be paid as an apprentice and after completing the program?
Apprenticeship graduates are paid very well. Beginning apprentice wages steadily increase as knowledge and skill increases. An apprentice can expect to receive a raise periodically if his or her progress is satisfactory. The expected wages will be outlined in the agreement between the apprentice and the employer providing the on-the-job training. This agreement will also clarify the length of the training, the related technical instruction and the skills to be learned. Hiring statistics have shown that after completion of apprenticeship programs, journey-worker wages have steadily increased throughout the years.

What will I gain as an apprentice?
Apprentices receive an apprenticeship Certificate of Completion of from the N.C. Department of Labor Apprenticeship and Training Bureau after completing an apprenticeship-training program. Many people compare this certificate to a four-year college degree. The certificate confirms the graduate has the professional skills needed to perform successfully in his or her chosen career. Employers readily recognize apprenticeship completion certificates and cards.