Apprenticeship for Students & Youth
This page is intended for youth and students (ages 16-24) interested in exploring registered apprenticeships in Colorado.
Apprenticeship by the Numbers
3,500+ Youth Apprentices
The number of apprentices ages 16-24 in Colorado
$80K Average Starting Salary
The national average starting salary after an apprentice completes an apprenticeship program
1,000+ Different Occupations
The number of registered apprenticeship occupations approved by the US Department of Labor
90% Employment Retention
The national percentage of apprentices who retain employment after apprenticeship completion
$300k+ Lifetime Earning Advantage
Apprentice graduates earn more over their lifetime compared to peers
25%+ in New & Emerging Industries
The percentage of apprentices in Colorado that are in new & emerging industries such as healthcare, hospitality, education, IT/cybersecurity, etc.
*Data taken from the US Department of Labor and the Registered Apprenticeship Partner Information Database System (RAPIDS)
Success Stories
“Apprenticeship has helped me achieve goals that will set me up for greater success in my future by learning skills I never thought I’d ever have, [like] administering vaccines, drawing blood, and being more outspoken with and for patients. Being part of the healthcare field for the betterment of patients’ lives is something very special to me, and I cannot wait to continue doing what I do.” - Anhal Chavez, Medical Assistant Apprentice (Watch Ana’s Success Story)
Explore Apprenticeship Resources for Students
The Apprenticeship Directory
Explore a database of apprenticeship programs across Colorado! These programs cover a wide range of careers like healthcare, education, hospitality, clean energy, and construction. Visit the Apprenticeship Directory!
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Discover your passions early! CTE programs in middle and high school help you figure out what you love. Plus, CTE students graduate high school at a higher rate (90%) than the national average (75%), and you can earn college credits, saving your family money. Learn more about CTE programs.
Get 1:1 Support
Apprenticeship Colorado partners with Qualified Talent Intermediaries to provide 1:1 support to students interested in apprenticeship. Check out this list of organizations that can help you. This list includes their contact information, how they can help you, and if there are any specific costs or eligibility requirements.
Apprenticeship Outreach Specialist Pilot Program
- What is the Apprenticeship Outreach Specialist Pilot Program?
Are you a high school student in Weld County School District RE-3J or Colorado Springs School District 11? Did you know that you have access to Outreach Specialists in your school district to help you explore what apprenticeship is and if it is a good fit for your career aspirations?
Discover apprenticeships as a path after high school! Established by HB23-1212: Promotion Of Apprenticeships, this pilot program runs until June 2025 and is led by the Access Team at Apprenticeship Colorado.- How Do I Get in Contact with an Outreach Specialist?
If you attend school in selected districts, you can connect with our Outreach Specialists to learn more:
- Vacant, Outreach Specialist Weld County School District RE-3J
- Debbie Shackelford, Outreach Specialist Colorado Springs School District 11, debbie.shackelford@state.co.us
- What if I Don’t Attend a District with an Outreach Specialist?
Colorado Workforce Centers are a great place to connect with local career coaches to get support and receive information about local registered apprenticeship opportunities.
How to Use the Apprenticeship Directory for Students
The Registered Apprenticeship Directory is a great resource for career exploration for youth. Within the Directory, you can learn about the various apprenticeship opportunities across the State of Colorado. Filters are provided to focus on specific occupations, industries, counties, programs hiring this year, and more.
How to use the Registered Apprenticeship Directory to find apprenticeship opportunities:
- Reflects all Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPS) in Colorado as well as some National RAPs operating in Colorado
- The Registered Apprenticeship Programs are responsible for providing their own information on the Directory
- You can focus on specific opportunities by using the filters on the left side of the home page:
- Search occupation by name: be aware the term you input must match an occupation name as listed by the RAPs
- Program: If you know the name of a program you can find it here
- County: Search by specific county/counties
- Will reflect only the Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) whose main location is located in that county
- Only RAPs primarily located within a given county will be displayed.
- For statewide programs, they will only show up in the county where their main location is
- Industry: Search for programs across multiple counties
- National Program: Search by National programs that are registered and overseen by the US Department of Labor and operating in Colorado.
- New Programs: Search programs registered in the last 60 days
- Multi-Employer Programs: Search programs with more than one employer partner delivering on-the-job learning
- ETPL: Reflects programs listed on the Colorado Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). The ETPL indicates programs that are approved for funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
- GI Bill® Benefits: Reflects programs that are approved for GI Bill® benefits. Programs approved for GI Bill® benefits allow veterans, spouses, and their children to take advantage of their benefits while participating in a RAP.
- Hiring this year: Reflects programs that have indicated that they are hiring this year.
- Get more information about a specific program by clicking on the arrow icon in the top right corner of the program’s listing. This icon will link you to the full Program profile, which includes more information like:
- The contact information and website for the program
- The program’s wages
- How many apprentices completed the program
- How many apprentices will the program be taking on next year
- Information on how to apply
- For more detailed information on how to use the Directory, check out the Directory Desk Aid.