Youth Apprenticeship

Introduction to Youth Apprenticeship (YA)

Youth Apprenticeship (YA) is a partnership among the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), the school, and an employer aligned with a student's career cluster and pathway. Together, they connect classroom instruction with meaningful work-based learning experiences.

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements to participate:

Be an 11th- or 12th-grade student.
Be in good academic standing and on track to meet graduation requirements.
Be employed by an employer whose work aligns with a career cluster and pathway offered by the school.
Be enrolled in a related course connected to the employment.
Obtain approval from the building principal and YA consortia lead.

Meeting these eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the Youth Apprenticeship program. In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, students must secure employment with an employer that is willing and able to fulfill the responsibilities required under the Youth Apprenticeship program.

Benefits of Participating in a Youth Apprenticeship

Youth Apprenticeship transforms a student's work experience into a structured learning opportunity aligned with competencies established by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD). These competencies are designed to develop transferable employability skills and industry-specific knowledge, preparing students for continued education, future employment, and career advancement.

Students who successfully complete the YA program, including the required 450 hours, will earn a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency from DWD. This industry-recognized credential may be included on resumes and college applications.

Students may earn up to 1.5 high school credits each semester based on hours worked in their YA position.

Youth Apprenticeship Employment

YA Program Employment Requirements

Employment is a key element of a youth apprenticeship. Attachment to an employer as an employee is a program characteristic that distinguishes youth apprenticeships from many other career-related opportunities for high school students, including job-shadowing and short-term internships. The following are program requirements established by DWD related to YA employment.

A mentor for the youth apprentice must be identified by the YA employer and be trained by the YA consortium.
Youth apprentices must work at least 450 hours each year of their apprenticeship.
Employers must train the youth apprentices in the competencies listed in the appropriate OJL Guide.
At least two performance reviews must occur each year of the apprenticeship.

Use of the On-the-Job Learning (OJL) Guide

OJL Guides are key documents in the youth apprenticeship program. These guides enumerate and briefly describe the competencies that must be learned on the job for the apprentice to complete the program. The school-based or regional YA coordinator must share the appropriate guide in its entirety with employers prior to enrollment of the student as a youth apprentice to ensure that expectations are clear and that the job in question will allow for the learning of the required skills.

It is recommended that the OJL Guide be used as a workbook during the youth apprenticeship as it contains space for recording the results of the required performance evaluations.

Students Already Employed

A student may wish to become a youth apprentice while they are already working. If the job is in one of the approved YA occupational pathways and the other program eligibility requirements are met, the student is eligible for participation in the YA program. If the current employment will not allow for program requirements to be met, the student must gain alternative or additional employment.

How to Register for a YA

Secure employment with an employer who agrees to participate in the Youth Apprenticeship program as a mentor and provide training on the required competencies outlined in the On-the-Job Learning Guide. The employment must align with a related educational course.
Complete the Student Interest Form.
The YA coordinator will work with you and the employer to complete the Education and Training Agreement (ETA).
The YA coordinator will upload the ETA document and submit enrollment for the youth apprentice.
Youth apprentices who are permitted to work during the school day will need to work with their school counselor to modify their schedules to ensure they remain on track for graduation.