An apprenticeship is a job that allows you to earn money while gaining skills and experience through both academic instruction and on-the-job learning. As an apprentice, you start working on day one and receive pay increases as you learn new skills and take on more responsibilities.
Delta College provides the hands-on training that is one of three core components of all apprenticeships, along with on-the-job learning and Mentorship. Utilizing the wide variety of courses that are available at Delta College, we help our regional employers design programs that train apprentices for their future career.
Because our employers use the same courses that are available to you here at Delta, you can make yourself a more competitive candidate for employment by having the training our employers are looking for. Remember, apprenticeships are employer-driven. Delta College does not ‘place’ you in an apprenticeship, your employer does.
How to find an apprenticeship
Because an apprenticeship is a job, you find an apprenticeship the same way you would look for any other work. Some resources to help are listed below.
- Great Lakes Bay Job Fair
- Michigan Works!
- Pure Michigan Talent Connect
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (Career Seekers)
- Apprenticeship USA
Frequently asked questions
Apprenticeships can last for 1 to 6 years, depending on the employer, the industry, and the complexity of the Occupation.
No. Any job with a hands-on component can be an apprenticeship. This includes jobs in information technology (IT), cybersecurity, healthcare, hospitality/food service and education.
Usually, internships are for shorter durations than apprenticeship (just 1 to 3 months), they do not usually follow a structured training plan, and they do not result in a nationally-recognized credential.
Some industries, like construction, hire people and immediately enroll them into an apprenticeship program because of the high level of skill that is required. These are often referred to as ‘direct entry.’ Conversely, many entry-level positions in manufacturing rely on very short training periods. Support positions often require a higher level of skill and rely on the apprenticeship training model.
Because there over 1,200 apprenticeable positions, start by knowing what kind of work you want to do. Talk with career counselors at your school or a workforce development agency (like Michigan Works!). Take an interest profile test (like the Interest Profiler on O*Net.
Contact us
Apprenticeship & Operations Manager
Gerald (Jerry) Russell
Business and Technology Division
Apprenticeship Office
M122
geraldrussell@delta.edu
989-686-9476
Apprenticeship
apprenticeship@delta.edu
Hours
Monday – Thursday, 7:30am – 5:30pm
