For more than 100 years, apprenticeships have been a cornerstone of technical education in Wisconsin, providing benefits to both students and employers.

At Fox Valley Technical College, the number of apprenticeship students has been growing, up 29 percent since 2021. The college is also continually looking at trends and ways to strengthen and expand apprenticeship, co-op and workplace learning opportunities in all areas of study.

“We will continue to see expansion in traditional trades,” like plumbing, electricity and machining, explains Dean of Service Trent Sorensen, “but apprentice opportunities are growing outside of the traditional trades in areas like healthcare and teaching.”

FVTC is also part of a new Teacher Apprenticeship program piloting in Wisconsin. The program is a partnership between the Wisconsin Technical College System, Lakeland University and the Department of Workforce Development, where apprentices earn an associate degree then a bachelor’s degree using the earn-while-you-learn structure. Locally, FVTC is partnering with the Appleton Area School District as the employer sponsor.

Apprenticeships in healthcare programs have been on the rise the past several years as well. “Medical Assistant, Nursing, Surgical Technology, and Medical Laboratory Technician are all FVTC programs that have been delivered as apprenticeship programs within the state,” explains FVTC Dean of Health Ben McKenzie, with other healthcare program options are being explored as employer demand increases. “We will be prepared to deliver when requested by our community partners.” 

Another trend is aligning apprenticeship training with degrees, to meet employers’ needs for workers with professional skills like communication and problem-solving. “As we look to the future, I think we will see a shift toward more degree-aligned apprenticeships because of the inclusion of general education classes,” says Jennifer McIntosh, associate dean of Agriculture. One such program is the Agriculture Equipment Apprentice. Apprenticeship students take the same classes as students enrolled in the Agriculture Equipment Service Technician Technical Diploma however their schedule allows them flexibility to work for a sponsoring employer at the same time.

Finally, there’s more interest in Youth Apprenticeship (YA) programs, which allow high school juniors and seniors to train on-the-job and learn related skills in the classroom at the same time. Wisconsin's YA program is the largest by participation in the country, with nearly 10,000 youth apprentices participated during the 2023-2024 year. In Fall 2024, Gov. Tony Evers announced that four new career pathways were being added to the YA program: law enforcement, fire protection, project management and barbering/cosmetology.

“Youth Apprenticeship is a great option for students because they can work full time and take courses on a part time basis to earn a degree at the same time, at potentially no cost to them,” says Jennifer Van Thiel, FVTC Manager of K-12 Partnerships. “Education is important even if an employer hires the students on right after graduation. Exploring purposeful pathways that align with the business they are working for will ensure that they have opportunities for future growth and a backup plan, should they want or need to make a change.”

Apprenticeships 101

Confused about what an apprenticeship is and what it's not? Here's a handy guide.

An apprenticeship is:

• On-the-job learning: apprenticeships are an arrangement in which a worker receives hands-on job training, technical instruction and a paycheck, all while learning to do a job. The employer pays the apprentice a wage as well as the cost of their education. The apprentice takes classes taught by the college. It works well for employers because they can have qualified employees, and it works well for the apprentice because they are gaining skills without having to pay out of pocket.
• Regulated by the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (BAS), a branch of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The BAS oversees training and certification for apprenticed trades in conjunction with employers, the Wisconsin Technical College System, and trade advisory committees.

An apprenticeship is not:

• Not a job service: while apprenticeships are jobs, they are more than that. They provide training and skill development alongside work.
• Not free for the employer.
• Not an internship: Internships are often shorter and may not be paid, and do not necessarily lead to a credential.
• Not always for new employees: they can also be used to help existing employees advance to higher-level roles.

Learn more about apprenticeships at FVTC >