WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – As artificial intelligence continues to impact the job market, more high school students are pursuing trade careers through apprenticeship programs that are seeing increased enrollment.
Northcentral Technical College’s apprenticeship program allows students to spend part of their day learning trade skills on campus and the other half working at a job site, applying their skills in real work settings.
“For the apprentice, they get a work-based paid opportunity. They get either low or no tuition, so they get their opportunity paid for,” NTC Dean of Workplace Training Brad Gast said, “They stay in the central Wisconsin area, which is great for our businesses, great for our community as well.”
The apprenticeship program partners with over 30 businesses to give students opportunities to explore 15 different career paths through hands-on experience. The school continuously expands and updates programs to match workforce needs.
“As needs evolve, as AI and technology evolve, we get that information, we embed that in our curriculum and make sure that we not only have that curriculum updated, we update our labs,” Gast said.
Students who complete NTC’s apprenticeship program stay with their employers for five or more years 80% of the time.
The college also offers a youth apprenticeship program for high school students that covers over 26 schools in the consortium.
“Our area and our consortium covers over 26 high schools, so we have a really large consortium to make up that 500 students,” said Lauren Foley, NTC’s Manager of Student Recruitment.
High school students can earn college credit at NTC through the Youth Apprenticeship Program.
You can find more information here: www.ntc.edu/academics-training/youth-apprenticeships.
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