AJAC offers an incredible opportunity, but it’s tailored for a specific group of students. This program is perfect for those who want to jumpstart their careers in advanced manufacturing while still in high school. It’s designed for students seeking a non-traditional learning experience, where they can work in an adult environment and complete their high school credits simultaneously. To ensure we reach the students who will benefit most from this work-based learning experience, we prefer in-class presentations over the broad approach of career fairs.
Youth Apprenticeship
For High School Students
Youth Apprenticeship
For High School Students
Bring AJAC To Your Classroom!
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, college and high school credits.
14
Partnering School Districts
$
32,560
Average Earnings
178
Youth Hired
Your Pathway to Apprenticeship
AJAC has developed 3 pathways for prospective students interested in participating. These pathways provide flexibility to our school districts, students, and employers for different levels of engagement.
3 Pathways to Becoming a Youth Apprentice
Option 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.
Option 2: AJAC Classes
Youth Apprentices will begin taking AJAC's apprenticeship classes in the fall at their school or skill center.
Option 3: Apprenticeship
Youth Apprentices will tour local manufacturing facilities, 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.