Youth Apprenticeship Program

Youth Apprenticeship (YA) is a school-to-work program designed to help employers identify and employ young workers interested in their field. In turn, these juniors and seniors in high school continue toward graduation, gain valuable work experience and specific job skills, earn a wage, and upon completion are awarded a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Youth Apprenticeships are possible in a wide range of occupations, from Construction and IT to Health Sciences and Agriculture. Between 75 and 85 percent of YA employers offer their youth apprentices permanent positions at the completion of the program, the best testimonial possible of the program’s value. To find out more about Youth Apprenticeship, visit http://ya.wi.gov.

For a quick one-page description of the program’s main elements and answers to frequent questions we receive from employers, see Hiring Youth Apprentices: Fact Sheet for Employers available at: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/youthapprenticeship/pdf/hiring_ya_fact_sht.pdf. And feel free to contact YA staff at the Department of Workforce Development with any questions by calling (608) 267-6705 or emailing [email protected].