What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship provides an opportunity for a high school graduate to earn money while learning a highly skilled trade from a master craftsman. After approximately 4 years of on-the-job training and classroom work, the apprentice is certified as a journey-level craftsperson in his or her field and is awarded credentials that are valid nationwide.

Apprenticeships have been used to train skilled workers for hundreds of years. Today, there are apprenticeships in nearly every field, from advanced manufacturing and public safety to health care and construction. Apprenticeships provide a rigorous level of training and are ideal for specialized trades because of their combination of job experience and classroom training. In some cases, an apprenticeship provides an Associate’s Degree, in addition to workplace credentials, allowing the apprentice to move on to higher levels of education and training.