Durham Firefighter Cadet Program (Apprenticeship)

• Must be 17 – 24 years old by the first day of the program.
• Must have completed 11th grade
• Students currently enrolled in high school must have and/or maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and must submit the two most recent report cards or progress reports.
• Students NOT enrolled in high school must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must submit two written letters of recommendations from NON-familial teachers or community leaders such as coaches, mentors, work supervisors, religious leaders, etc.
• Must not have criminal convictions or serious/frequent traffic violations
• Must provide written parental or legal guardian approval (if younger than 18)
• Must submit a typed letter stating why you would like to participate in the program
• Must provide a COPY of birth certificate, driver's license, and social security card or green card (I-9 documents)

See the website HERE for additional details, application and interest form.

Propel Accelerated Workforce Training

Launch a new career or up skill in your current profession for free or at a reduced cost. Propel is a training initiative to help students obtain workplace skills and certifications for jobs that are in high demand. These accelerated, nondegree Workforce Development courses lead to industry-recognized or state credentials, and most can be completed in three to six months.

Learn more about Wake Tech Propel HERE.

North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program

Juniors & Seniors looking for a unique opportunity, check out the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program. Free college tuition and a paycheck. Earn while you learn! For more information, visit nctap.org

NCTAP will be hosting Facility Tours for students and parents to visit up to six companies. Please see the sign-up link on our website at https://www.nctap.org/events

At a company’s Facility Tour, students and their parents will learn much more about the company, the careers they offer, the free college degree, and tour the company. See this flier for all the details.

Town of Wake Forest Inspections

Building Inspection apprenticeships are available. Ideal for students interested in construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. See their website for career opportunities. No college degree needed.

Durham Tech’s Lineworker Program

It is 10–16 weeks of training at almost no cost to the students as a Pre-Apprentice! You can be hired immediately after graduation from this program at a starting salary of around $40,000. For more information, visit: Durham Tech Check out Durham Tech's Guided Career Pathways. 

Duke University School of Medicine OpTech Program
A 1-year certificate program for a career in eye care. Ophthalmic Technicians (OpTechs) work closely with ophthalmologists, who are specialty eye doctors, to assist in caring for patients with eye diseases or injuries. An OpTech holds many important roles in ophthalmology practice to prepare a patient to see their eye doctor. Click HERE for more information.

• No college degree or prerequisites required!
• 9 months of clinical rotations at Duke Eye Center
• The starting pay is $22-24 per hour.
• 90% employment rate after program completion
• Affordable tuition
• Financial aid available

Website: dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/optech

Raleigh-Durham Electrical J.A.T. C. Apprenticeship Program

The Raleigh-Durham Electrical J.A.T.C. apprenticeship program is a state-registered 4-year curriculum that includes the study of electrical theory, the National Electrical Code and OSHA safety regulations.

Apprentices are required to complete a minimum of 900 curriculum hours and 8,000 hours of work-based learning (OJT). They must also pass written and hands-on exams. Upon completion of the program, all apprentices receive state and national certifications as a Journey-Level worker, as well as a North Carolina Department of Community Colleges completion certificate and the National J.A.T.C. completion certificate. See website for details. 

HCLTech IT Apprenticeship Program 
The Apprenticeship Program offers paid opportunities to aspiring tech professionals, providing comprehensive technical instruction, hands-on training, mentorship and support. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be offered full-time employment at HCLTech. The HCLTech IT Apprenticeship Program creates new career pathways for high school graduates. If you’re a motivated learner, this unique opportunity is your door to an IT career. Upon completion of your program, you earn a bachelor’s degree in Tech with HCLTech’s tuition assistance benefit. See all the details on the website.

Caterpillar Clayton Apprenticeship Program
Collaboration between Caterpillar and Johnston County Community College for graduating seniors. Caterpillar will be recruiting for several open positions in our apprenticeship program, for individuals to join our program in June.  This program is open to high school graduates who are interested in working part-time with Caterpillar while achieving their Associates Degree in Applied Engineering at Johnston Community College (JCC). See details on the website.

ThinkBig - A Caterpillar Dealership Academy  sponsored locally by Gregory Poole Equipment Company. This work/study program provides high school graduates with a college degree and direct work experience. ThinkBig is a two-year program that combines both classroom and hands-on learning. Students attend Florence-Darling Technical College to earn an Associates degree in Applied Science with a major in Caterpillar Service Technology. Students get hands-on experience while being trained as service technicians for Caterpillar machinery. To learn more about this program, please visit this link. 

UNC Health Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program (MAAP)
See this link for details.
Participants must be 18 and a high school graduate. The current application for our 2nd cohort is closed. We will likely repost the application for our third cohort in the new year for hires to start in March – May. If a current high school student wants to apply, and they are graduating in the next couple of months, I would encourage them to include their graduation date in their resume, and they​ would be eligible to start following graduation. 

Wake Emergency Medical Services Certification Program
Become a paramedic with Wake County EMS. Register to attend an information session and complete an EMT course before you graduate! No student loan debt. Click HERE for EMT course information. See flyer HERE for more information.
Please direct questions related to the EMT program and application to Carissa Lewis.Carissa.Lewis@Wake.Gov or 984.268.0194 

Biotility Applied Biotech Training offers short courses to earn a certificate to prepare students to become a Biotechnician Assistant in the Bioscience industry. Visit the website  for more information.

Lowes Home Improvement Track to the Trades Program
Lowes has a program to assist you in learning a trade. Areas include: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and appliance repair. See website for details!

IBM Apprenticeships
Interested in IT? Look into this senior year after graduation!
​Link HERE.

NCRAW Pre-Apprenticeship Program
6 week summer program for ages 16-24 that introduces you to water and career pathways in wastewater. By participating in the pre-apprenticeship, you will gain direct entry into the NCRWA Water and Wastewater Systems Operations Specialist Registered Apprenticeship program upon successful completion of the 6-week pre-apprenticeship program, completion of a high school diploma or equivalency and are 18 years old. See website HERE for more details!

Glaxo-Smith Kline

Supply Chain Associate Apprenticeship

Who is Eligible?

Earned a high school diploma or equivalent by June 2025
Have less than 30 college credits
Will be 18 years of age by August 1, 2025

This apprenticeship provides a fully funded Associate’s Degree from a partnering community college, paid hands-on experience, and zero college debt—a fantastic way to start a career in supply chain!

See flyer HERE

Wake Tech Apprenticeships - Healthcare

An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. Hands-on and theoretical training prepares workers for highly skilled and specialized occupations. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by the individual employer and/or employer associations, or by joint employer and labor groups. Participants should be employed full time by an apprenticeship sponsor while still attending classes. See all healthcare apprenticeships HERE.

See each program using the links below:

Medical Assisting 

Mammography

MRI

CT Technician

Neurodiagnostic Technologist

Wake Tech Apprenticeships - Trades
An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. Hands-on and theoretical training prepares workers for highly skilled and specialized occupations. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by the individual employer and/or employer associations, or by joint employer and labor groups. Participants should be employed full time by an apprenticeship sponsor while still attending classes. 

Receive Nationally-Recognized Credentials!
Students who successfully complete the Contren® Learning Series through an accredited training sponsor will receive industry-recognized credentials. Students completing coursework combined with on-the-job training through a registered apprenticeship program will receive Journeyman credentials. 

• Carpentry Apprenticeship
• Electrical Apprenticeship
• HVAC Apprenticeship
• Plumbing and Pipe fitting Apprenticeship
• Welding Apprenticeship

​Learn more at the Wake Tech website: www.waketech.edu/programs-courses/wakeworks/orientation
Anyone interested in becoming an apprentice must first be employed by an apprenticeship sponsor.  ​

Pro Trades Pay Well
Apprenticeship program for 18-year-olds with a high school diploma. Offering: Welding, Pipe fitting, HVAC and Plumbing. 
Website: protradespaywell.com/​

Heavy Equipment & Transport Technology Department at Wake Technical Community College
The Heavy Equipment & Transport Technology Department at Wake Technical Community College is excited to offer a one-year Forklift Technician Diploma Program that is partnered with Carolina Handling, Carson Material Handling, Crown, G&W Equipment, Gregory Poole Lift Systems, and Southeast Industrial Equipment.

The partnering forklift dealers sponsor students in the program, who attend classes on Monday and Tuesday during the Fall, Spring and a Summer Semesters and work for the sponsoring dealer on Wednesday through Friday – and possibly Saturday – while in school. The students would earn a fair hourly wage while working at the dealership and, upon graduation, would be entitled to tuition and textbook reimbursement, based on their dealer sponsorship contract. A tool program incentive also may be available.

The program prepares students to become forklift technicians who can service, troubleshoot, and repair various types of lift trucks in the material handling industry. Diesel, gasoline, propane, and electric machines are covered in detail, and the program consists of electrical, hydraulic, engine and powertrain courses, to name a few.

Coursework will include transportation systems theory, braking systems, design parameters, drivetrains, electrical/electronic systems, engine repair, engine performance, environmental regulations, materials, product finish, safety, steering/suspension, transmission/transaxles and sustainable transportation.

Graduates of this Forklift Program should be prepared to take professional licensure exams, which correspond to certain programs of study, and to enter careers as entry-level technicians in the forklift industry.
This is a one-year, hands-on program where students will be in the classroom Monday and Tuesday and working in our shop Wednesday through Friday. It’s geared toward students and future employees that learn best in a hands-on environment. 
For their participation, we are offering students:

• Fully paid tuition and textbooks
• Uniforms (to be worn in class and while working in the shop)
• A tool set – the tools will be their own after one year of employment following successful completion of the program
• $19.00/hour while working in our shops

Click this link to apply.

NC Resources:
Learn more about how apprenticeships work by visiting Apprenticeship NC
See a list of apprenticeships in NC HERE