Have you read about registered apprenticeship programs and thought it could be the right education/career pathway for you, but aren’t sure if you have enough skills to be successful in it? Have you wondered if an occupation you’ve set your sights on and want to pursue as a registered apprentice will be the right fit for you? If you’ve answered yes, the solution to these dilemmas/challenges may be a pre-apprenticeship program, and here are the reasons why.
Pre-apprenticeship programs have been designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in rigorous registered apprenticeship programs. These programs work to ensure that individuals are prepared for the minimum requirements for entry into established registered apprenticeship programs; they do so by providing individuals with a combination of industry-based training and related classroom instruction.
There is a wide variety of pre-apprenticeship programs serving a broad range of populations, with some programs focusing on serving specific target populations, such as veterans, opportunity youth (out of school and out of work), disadvantaged women and men, individuals with disabilities, or individuals with limited training and limited credentials.
Over the years, pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs have expanded beyond the construction industry to include industries such as healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, mining, aviation, maritime, oil & gas, hospitality, retail, business, and others – and so did expand access to registered apprenticeship programs through the growth and extensive use of pre-apprenticeship programs.
Pre-apprenticeship programs are designed to be inclusive and equitable. They equip individuals with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to be successful. These programs are a tool used to strengthen and diversify the talent pipeline of skilled workers to fill entry-level positions.
Pre-apprenticeship programs combine academic knowledge with skills training tailored to specific jobs and industries. They also facilitate access to career counseling, work-readiness skills, and an array of support services – from transportation, driver’s license recovery assistance, to referrals for childcare – under one condition: you need to persist in the program and progress into a registered apprenticeship program.
In a nutshell, quality pre-apprenticeship programs are a great way for you to:
- Become aware of specific industries, and explore and learn about exciting careers within those industries
- Benefit from hands-on, and classroom and technology-based training
- Build your financial literacy, math, English, and work-readiness skills employers desire
- Get a start on career-specific training with viable career pathway opportunities
- Be given an opportunity to earn an industry-recognized credential
- Qualify to meet the minimum requirements for selection to a registered apprenticeship program
- Advance into a registered apprenticeship program
Below you’ll find examples of institutions in Alaska that offer pre-apprenticeship programs – programs that serve as pathways to registered apprenticeship opportunities:
Quality pre-apprenticeship programs can play a valuable role in preparing individuals to enter and succeed in registered apprenticeships, and in the development of a diverse and skilled workforce. If you’re interested in crossing the bridge to an impressive career opportunity, take advantage of a pre-apprenticeship program.
Stop by the Success Center, or reach out to our College & Career Specialists by e-mail or phone to discuss the advantages of pre-apprenticeship programs in detail.