Apprenticeships

Do you like working with your hands?

Are you mechanically inclined?

Does the thought of working in an office make you cringe?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may find an apprenticeship would lead to a rewarding, well-paying career.

step 1:

Determine what Trades would suit your skills and interests

 

The first button below leads to a short quiz from Build Your Future that will help determine what trade would be a good fit. The second button links to a state by state search. This second tool predicts how many jobs will be available for each craft in each state.

 

Step 2:

Explore apprenticeship opportunities

 

Now that you have an idea of what trades you may enjoy, use the links below to watch a few short videos to learn what each of these trades men and women do.

 

 

 

Step 3:

Connect with a local union

 

To connect with a local Union or Trade, click on the logos below to visit their apprenticeship page.

 

more benefits of becoming an Apprentice

The average annual cost of college tuition in the U.S. is around $24,000. With college costs soaring, it is not surprising that many recent graduates struggle with student loan debt. While many careers require some college or a college degree, Unions and Trades train apprentices on the job and incorporate trade school as part of the benefit package. This means apprentices work in their chosen field while attending trade school and graduate debt free.

College is not the only pathway to success in a CTE field. The first graphic below examines the potential cost of college vs. the potential wages earned if attending a trade school.

The second graphic compares the average wages at the start of an apprenticeship vs. the going rate of a journeyperson to the  average starting wages for non-trade workers with various levels of education.

From these graphics, one can see that a career in the trades provides high income and zero school debt.

Apprenticeship Expo 2019

VALEES works with several local unions and trades each year. VALEES offers regional students opportunities to tour apprenticeship training centers, connect with apprenticeship recruiters, and attend the Apprenticeship Expo.

The Apprenticeship Expo allows students, educators and members of the public to participate in hands-on activities such as sheet metal bending, virtual simulators, sky-jack rides and much more with local union representatives. This free event is made possible with the partnership of Painters District Council 30 and IBEW 461.

Due to COVID19 the 2020 Apprenticeship EXPO will be presented in a virtual format. Talk to your teacher or school counselor to inquire about attending.