Wake Tech Apprenticeship, funded by Wake County’s WakeWorks initiative,  is a partnership between the college and Wake County to address the region's shortage of technical workers. All participating partner employers are located in Wake County. Each apprenticeship has specific requirements and pathways for apprentices to gain on-the-job experience and related technical education at Wake Tech.

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Wake Tech Apprenticeship partners with employers to determine the skills their apprentices need and design experiences to validate competencies. Classroom preparation is reinforced through hands-on learning, where apprentices are monitored by an experienced company mentor. The result is a highly skilled candidate well-prepared for the expectations of the workplace.

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Apprentices are awarded a Journeyworker credential upon completion of the apprenticeship, signifying they have mastered the skills in their field.

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Wake Tech apprenticeships are registered with ApprenticeshipNC, the North Carolina Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor's Registered Apprenticeship program.

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Wake Tech also partners with the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program to provide related technical instruction for high school students in pre-apprenticeship programs at area businesses. These students must be hired as Registered Apprentices within 120 days of their high school graduation to continue in the program.

 

Apprenticeships offer opportunities for students to earn while they learn and get a leg up on employment and workplace success while gaining relevant skills and developing lasting connections. An apprenticeship combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training to build and develop a skilled workforce.

 

Apprentices take college classes at Wake Tech while working with a mentor on the job to learn a checklist of skills applicable to their job. Students actively taking classes at Wake Tech may be eligible to apply for apprenticeship positions with participating partners in their related fields.

 

Thanks to funding provided by Wake County, the cost of tuition, fees, books and some uniforms and/or tools is covered for students accepted into a Wake Tech Apprenticeship program.

Although eligibility requirements for an apprenticeship vary by occupation, the minimum requirements are as follows:

• 18 years old

• Completed high school or equivalent.

• Eligible to work in the U.S.

• Have a Social Security number.

 

Some 150 companies employed 500 apprentices through Wake Tech Apprenticeship in 2024, up from 20 employers and 100 apprentices four years earlier.

 

Students hired as an apprentice by an employer that has partnered with Wake Tech Apprenticeship gain the training and skills needed for rewarding careers. Apprentices may be eligible for a variety of benefits:

• Get paid throughout your apprenticeship, including wage increases as you develop new skills

• Gain relevant work experience while applying the knowledge gained in the classroom to a real-world setting

• Earn an associate degree, a diploma or certificate

• Receive financial support to help pay for tuition, fees and other related expenses

 

Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, the apprentice receives the following:

• A related Wake Tech certificate, diploma, or degree

• North Carolina Journeyman's Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Labor

• Certificate of Completion from the U.S. Department of Labor

 

Courses and Programs are offered in several career fields:

• Biotechnology

• Business & Professional Services

• Construction & Maintenance

• Education

• Health Care & Wellness

• Transportation

 

Information for this article was courtesy of Wake Technical Community College

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Visit https://www.waketech.edu/programs-courses/apprenticeship/students to learn more about each course and programs.

Go to https://www.waketech.edu/programs-courses/apprenticeship to see more information about Wake Tech Apprenticeship,

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