To get an apprenticeship, choose a field, find registered programs through unions, employers and the federal apprenticeship finder, meet the basic requirements (often age, a diploma or equivalent and some math), then apply and prepare for any aptitude test and interview. Openings can be competitive and some programs take applications only at certain times, so start early and apply to more than one.
What a registered apprenticeship is
A registered apprenticeship is a paid job with structured training, approved by the US Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency. Apprentices learn on the job from experienced workers and also take related classroom or online instruction. Pay usually rises as skills grow, and finishing earns a nationally recognized credential. Programs run from about a year to five years or more depending on the occupation. The building trades are best known, but apprenticeships also exist in health care, manufacturing, IT and other fields.
- Joint union and employer programs, often run by a joint apprenticeship committee with its own training center.
- Employer-sponsored programs, union or non-union, sometimes organized through contractor or industry associations.
- Unregistered training programs, which can still be good. Ask what credential you earn and whether it is recognized in other states.
How to find openings
- Narrow to one or two fields. Our guide on how to choose a trade helps, as do the career guides for electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians.
- Search the Department of Labor’s online apprenticeship finder by occupation and zip code.
- Call local union training centers for your trade and ask when they accept applications and what they require.
- Contact contractor and employer associations in your area, which often run their own programs.
- Visit your local public workforce center. Staff can point you to openings and to pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare you to apply.
- Ask community college career programs, which often partner with apprenticeship sponsors.
- Still in high school? Ask the counselor about youth apprenticeship options in your district.
Keep a simple list of each program, its requirements and its application window. Some accept applications year-round; others open for only a few weeks a year.
Applications, aptitude tests and interviews
- Basic requirements. Commonly a minimum age (often 18 for construction trades, sometimes younger for youth programs), a high school diploma or equivalency, and documents such as a transcript and ID. Some programs also require a driver’s license and a drug screening.
- Aptitude test. Many trades test math (often through algebra), reading comprehension and sometimes mechanical reasoning. Ask whether practice materials are available and use them.
- Interview. Often a panel. Expect questions about why you chose the trade, your reliability, teamwork and safety. Our job interview prep guide helps.
- Ranking. Some programs rank applicants on test scores, interviews and experience, then hire from the list as openings come up.
- Persistence. Not getting in on the first try is common. Ask how to strengthen your application, take the steps, and reapply.
How to prepare in high school
- Take math through algebra and beyond; geometry helps in many trades.
- Take shop, construction, engineering or other courses in career and technical education.
- Keep attendance strong. Programs care about showing up on time, every day.
- Get a part-time job that shows reliability. See a teen’s first job.
- Earn a driver’s license if you can; many job sites are not near transit.
- Talk with people who work in the trade and ask what their first year was like.
Families weighing this path against a four-year degree can read trade school vs college and our hub on paths after high school.
Where a mentor helps
Getting into an apprenticeship is a project with many small steps: researching programs, tracking application windows, practicing for the aptitude test, gathering documents and following up. A mentor helps a young adult break that project into weekly tasks and keeps them moving, then supports the transition once they start. A mentor does not place anyone in a program. Learn more about career and education mentoring and read our first-year apprenticeship tips.
Related
- How to become an electrician
- How to become a carpenter
- Certificate vs associate degree vs bachelor’s
- Paths after high school
- Is a Coding Bootcamp Worth It? How to Decide
Common questions
Do apprentices get paid?
Yes. In a registered apprenticeship you are an employee from the start, and pay usually rises in steps as you gain skills and hours.
Do I need a high school diploma for an apprenticeship?
Most programs require a diploma or a high school equivalency credential. Some youth programs start while students are still in high school.
How long does it take to get accepted?
It varies. Some programs hire as openings arise, while others take applications once or twice a year and rank applicants, so the wait can be weeks or months.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school?
They suit different people. An apprenticeship pays you while you train but can be competitive to enter; trade school is easier to start but you pay tuition. Some people do a short program first to strengthen an apprenticeship application.
Get started
Want help planning the road to an apprenticeship? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.