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Youth Apprenticeship
For High School Students
Youth Apprenticeship
For High School Students
Hands-On Learning + Real-World Experience
To build Washington State’s educational capacity to meet the talent development needs of employers, programs must be developed and offered through the school systems that are responsive to the labor market and better aligned to the growing economy.
Washington State’s high school students deserve an education that prepares them to take part in our economy and hands-on career connected learning is a key part of this preparation.
Our Programs
AJAC currently operates two registered Youth Apprenticeship programs for high school students. AJAC’s Production Technician (Youth) and Automation Technician (Youth) are 2,000 hour programs designed for high school juniors and seniors to develop career-ready skills in the advanced manufacturing industries.
These apprenticeship programs combine paid on-the-job training at an AJAC employer and college-level classroom instruction which can lead to a high school diploma, a nationally-recognized journey-level certification, a short-term college certificate, and high school credits.
15
Partnering School Districts
$
28,000
Average Earnings
178
Youth Hired
Your Pathway to Apprenticeship
AJAC has restructured our Youth Apprenticeship program due to the COVID-19 global pandemic to ensure our students and apprentices can maximize the opportunity to participate while maintaining safety guidelines and taking any necessary precautions.
AJAC has developed 3 pathways for prospective students interested in participating in the 2022 school year. These pathways provide flexibility to our school districts, students, and employers for different levels of engagement.
3 Steps to Becoming a Youth Apprentice
Step 1: Bootcamp
Each July, AJAC will conduct a week-long virtual Youth Apprenticeship bootcamp to ensure our apprentices are prepared for classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Bootcamp will cover OSHA-10 safety, CPR/First-Aid certification, employment readiness training, industry knowledge, and apprenticeship exposure.
Step 2: AJAC Classes
Youth Apprentices will begin taking AJAC's apprenticeship classes in the fall. AJAC staff will follow-up with each apprentice after the first quarter to gauge their progress. Apprentices will also participate in company tours, job shadowing, and network with industry professionals.
Step 3: Apprenticeship
Youth Apprentices will interview with AJAC's partnering employers and if they are hired, they will begin logging their 2,000 on-the-job training hours. Simultaneously, apprentices will attend their high school classes full-time while finishing their three AJAC apprenticeship classes.
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Information for Principals, CTE Directors, CTE Instructors on how your school can partner with AJAC.
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Benefits of Youth Apprenticeship
- Career-Oriented: Learning is structured around knowledge, skills, and competencies that lead to careers with family-supporting wages.
- Equitable: Learning is accessible to every student, with targeted supports for those adversely impacted by long-standing inequities in our education system and labor market.
- Portable: Learning leads to postsecondary credentials and transferable college credit that expand options for students.
- Adaptable: Learning is designed collaboratively to be recognized and valued across an industry or sector.
- Accountable: Student, employer, and program outcomes are monitored using transparent metrics to support improvement.
Pathways After Apprenticeship
Upon completion of AJAC’s Youth Apprenticeship program, high school students will:
- Complete their high school education and a career training program
- Work, earn a paycheck, and college credits simultaneously
- Utilize AJAC’s advanced apprenticeship programs to continue their education as an adult apprentice, or pursue post-secondary education at a 2-year or 4-year institution.
Equal Employment Opportunity
This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official positions of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warrantees, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for commercial use is permissible. All other uses require the authorization of the copyright owner.
This project received $490,000.00 (100% of its total cost) from a grant awarded under the ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion grant, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
This program is an equal opportunity program. Training of apprentices shall be without discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or as otherwise specified by law. AJAC also encourages women, minorities and veterans to apply with their employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.