Apprencticeship Programs at Community Colleges

A growing number of community colleges are developing apprenticeship programs in a variety of fields in partnerships with local employers.

Here's a program between Alpena Community College, Kalitta Air and Michigan Works that prepares students for an apprenticeship program at Kalitta Air in Oscoda, Michigan, that offers the opportunity for participants to be certified as an airframe and/or powerplant (A&P) technician in as little as 30 months.

In Littleton, Colorado, Arapahoe Community College’s Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program has developed a registered apprenticeship program with the Kaiser Permanente Laboratory Department, and has other health and allied health apprenticeship opportunities in the works.

Other examples (including a number at minority-serving community colleges) are featured in this Workforce GPS resource page on the role of community colleges in apprenticeships.

What is your college's experience? What have you found to be most beneficial and most challenging in developing these programs?