Bridging Education and Industry: The Pre-Apprenticeship Advantage 

Bridging Education and Industry: The Pre-Apprenticeship Advantage

 

Written By:

Jameya Jones, Ed.D.

Career and Technical Education Specialist

Jameya@ncpubliccharters.org

 

There is more than one path to success for today’s youth, and thinking outside of the traditional college pathway can open many doors. In North Carolina, we are privileged to have multiple colleges and universities in our backyard, as well as several headquarters of global companies. Our state truly has the capacity to develop one of the most educated and talented workforces in America. Students today have an opportunity that might not appear as the popular choice, but may be a more promising one … with less debt. That choice is pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships provide students the opportunity to participate in on-the-job training while also getting paid after high school graduation. Pre-apprenticeships, however, are designed for high school students to get a head start. This opportunity is a scaled approach to entering the workforce that provides more structure than your typical entry-level job, along with benefits that can have a lasting impact. In North Carolina, apprenticeships are supported through ApprenticeshipNC, the state apprenticeship agency housed within the North Carolina Community College System. ApprenticeshipNC works with employers, schools, training centers, and more to assist with implementing and operating programs across the state.

According to NC Career Launch:

A pre-apprenticeship is “a program designed to help students succeed by incorporating key elements of apprenticeship, allowing youth to jump-start their chosen career paths. Upon completion, a pre-apprentice can choose to transition into a registered apprenticeship program.”

A registered apprenticeship is “an industry-led training program combining on-the-job learning, mentorship, related instruction, and progressive wages. Programs are registered through ApprenticeshipNC, housed within the North Carolina Community College System.”
NC Career Launch

Student Benefits

When a student participates in a pre-apprenticeship in high school and transitions into an apprenticeship after graduation, the experience provides benefits that extend beyond traditional workforce opportunities. Many pre-apprenticeship programs also allow students to earn an industry-recognized credential while learning.