Pre-Apprenticeship

What is an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is...

• a work based learning experience that is registered and approved by the State of Connecticut's Department of Labor and supported at the National level
• the functional equivalent of a college internship for those pursuing careers in the skilled trades
• an opportunity to "earn while you learn," where you are compensated while you build tangible, real-world skills and accrue hours towards particular checkpoints (i.e. 2000 hours) which allow you to advance in your career.
• Click here for more information on apprenticeships in the State of Connecticut
• Click here for more information on how apprenticeships are being supported at the National level

What is a Pre-apprenticeship?

Pre-apprenticeship is...

• a work based learning experience that is approved by the State of Connecticut's Department of Labor 
• the functional equivalent of a high school internship for those pursuing careers in the skilled trades
• an opportunity to "earn while you learn," where you are compensated while you build tangible, real-world skills
• an opportunity to try out the "real world" within a particular trade before taking out sizable financial commitments for your post-secondary education
• an opportunity to transition upon high school graduation into full-time employment with a registered site for apprenticeship

Who is eligible for a pre-apprenticeship?

• Provided that families, students, and their sponsoring companies file the appropriate paperwork with the State of Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship, candidates as young as 16 are legally permitted to work in a manufacturing pre-apprenticeship.
• Click here for more information on laws and regulations that support the employment of minors

When would a pre-apprenticeship take place?

• Start: late January/early February
• Frequency: At minimum, two days per week for 2.5 hours per day
• Duration:  Times typically range from 11:30AM - 2:30PM. 
• End:  late May/early June
• Special Considerations:  Scholars can work additional shifts on evenings, weekends, and holidays, as long as they can provide their own transportation and their employer is in support
• Goals:  Scholars seeking full-time work, post-graduation, can begin the transition to full-time employment as early as June.  Scholars seeking part-time work, or internship opportunities throughout college can also begin this transition as early as June.

Where would a pre-apprenticeship take place?

• On site, at one of our many partner organizations throughout the Hartford region. 
• For a list of companies who have participated in our pre-apprenticeship program, click here.

Why should scholars participate in pre-apprenticeships?

• To gain valuable experience in the day-to-day operations of the advanced manufacturing industry, such that critical future decisions around pursuing college and/or career are informed
• To help diversify Connecticut's manufacturing workforce 
• To find a good match in starting a post-high school, full-time career

How is a pre-apprenticeship set up?

• Scholars research our partnering companies during the first semester and provide input regarding their preferred work locations
• Interviews are conducted in December with human resources departments from each of our partner companies
• Scholars and companies provide their preferences to district leadership, and official partnerships are established in January
• Labor-related agreements between employers and employees are submitted to the Office of Apprenticeship at the Department of Labor
• Transportation to and from the work site is provided by school bus for those who cannot transport themselves
• Optimally, scholars may elect to transport themselves, allowing them to work additional hours
• Scholars’ progress is monitored by their course instructor on a weekly basis until program completion

For more information about pre-apprenticeships, contact Keith Sevigny at ksevigny@goodwinmagnetsystem.org or (860) 913-6738.

For more information about ECAMP, contact Nicole Morin at nmorin@goodwinmagnetsystem.org or (860) 929-3801.