This year National Apprenticeship Week (Nov. 13-17) comes right on the heels of Veterans Day. And that couldn’t be more appropriate. The goal of the annual apprenticeship celebration is to give apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities and apprentices in their community—and also to highlight the benefits of apprenticeship in preparing a highly-skilled workforce to meet the talent needs of employers across diverse industries. Coincidentally, apprenticeships are one of the best ways that the federal government and private employers can address the shared goal of helping veterans enter high-skill, well-paying jobs.
What are apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships combine a training with a full-time job—and prepare people to enter specialized fields. Apprentices are trained by master craftsmen, who are experts in their field. Apprentices also take classes to make sure they master all aspects of the job.
The Registered Apprenticeship program is a way to enter about a thousand careers, including these top occupations:
- Automobile Mechanic
- Electrician
- Pipefitter
Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by employers, labor unions, and associations. Programs last between one and six years, with apprentices earning wage increases as they gain work experience. CareerOneStop’s Apprenticeship Finder lets anyone search for employers and other sponsors of apprenticeships in any state.
How can veterans enter an apprenticeship program?
The U.S. Department of Labor has gathered several Registered Apprenticeships resources for veterans,
If you’re a veteran interested in an apprenticeship, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the VA. The VA provides a comprehensive list of employers, by state, that offer apprenticeships (note that on this page you will need to select “on-the-job training/apprenticeship” next to “Program type.”)
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.