Workforce needs are evolving, and apprenticeships are rising to meet them. These programs bring together motivated individuals and forward-thinking employers, creating a hands-on learning experience that benefits everyone involved. Participants gain marketable skills and earn a paycheck while they train, making apprenticeship one of the most accessible routes to a rewarding, high-demand career. Businesses, in turn, gain dedicated employees who are trained from the ground up to meet their specific needs.

NTC's apprenticeship program continues to grow and currently partners with 30 businesses across 15 different apprenticeship programs. NTC is also advancing a major investment in regional workforce development with $3,207,000 in federal funding to support the North Central Wisconsin Firefighter and Paramedic Apprenticeship Program. This initiative will expand access to public safety careers while strengthening the region’s emergency response workforce.

NTC, in partnership with the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) is also announcing a major advancement that will help Wisconsin apprentices earn associate degrees more quickly and affordably.

Individuals who have completed a Wisconsin-registered apprenticeship can now apply their knowledge directly toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. If an apprentice has completed at least 400 hours of paid, DWD-approved classroom instruction, that learning will count toward the degree, regardless of whether the instruction was delivered by a WTCS college or another approved provider. Apprenticeship completers will receive 39 of the 60 credits required for the Technical Studies – Journeyworker AAS degree.

National Apprenticeship Week is a time to recognize the important contributions apprenticeships make to businesses, communities and the broader economy. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 90% of apprentices remain employed after completing their program, highlighting the effectiveness of this model in building lasting careers.

NTC will continue to lead the expansion of apprenticeship as a cornerstone of workforce development, aligning education and industry to build a stronger, more resilient regional economy. Employers and individuals interested in apprenticeship opportunities can learn more by visiting www.ntc.edu/academics-training/apprenticeships.