Youth Apprenticeship Opportunities

Joe’s is proud to be associated with local schools who offer a Youth Apprenticeship Program consisting of a one or two year “earn while you learn” program for high school juniors and seniors, consisting of work and related classroom instruction in a chosen occupation. Training is received on-the-job where the employer teaches the skills of the occupation.

Apprenticeship is a structured system of training designed to prepare individuals for skilled occupations. It combines on-the-job learning under the supervision of experienced journey workers with related classroom instruction. It is sponsored by employers, employer associations, or labor/management groups that can hire and train in a working situation.

The employment opportunity is the most basic requirement for an apprenticeship. Without a job, there is no “on-the-job” learning, and such training represents about 90 percent of the program. Apprentices who successfully complete the prescribed number of training hours in an apprenticeship program become certified skilled workers.

Youth Apprenticeship is not the same as apprenticeship. Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is a part of a statewide School-to-Work initiative. It is designed for high school students who want hands on learning in an occupational area at a worksite along with classroom instruction. For more information about youth apprenticeship, please visit the Department of Workforce Development’s Youth Apprenticeship Programs page.

Apprenticeship is postsecondary education like a college or university. But there’s a big difference. Apprentices learn only a portion of their skills in a traditional classroom. They receive most of their training on-the-job, while working for an employer who pays a good wage. The employment is the primary requirement for an apprenticeship – a job must exist in order for the apprentice to be trained. The classroom instruction is usually provided through the Wisconsin Technical College system.