Q&A: Finding the right WA-based apprenticeship gig for you

If you've ever been curious about completing an apprenticeship, you're in good company with fellow Washingtonians.

Apprenticeships here are booming, and the number of apprentices jumped more than 70% in the past decade. The concept is straightforward and undeniably appealing: start working and getting paid on day one, while your training is built around the job you're already doing.

Getting a registered apprenticeship means the program has been vetted by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, with guaranteed wage progression and a completion credential transferable across state lines. Six months out from completing an apprenticeship, the average salary is more than $100,000.

And apprenticeships aren't just limited to careers in the building and construction trades. The state is actively increasing apprenticeships in other areas like healthcare and education.

But how competitive are these programs? What does the path actually look like? And how do you get started?

Rachel McAloon, program manager of registered apprenticeships at Washington's Department of Labor and Industries, has answers. The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.

What are the main advantages of completing an apprenticeship?

If you think of the traditional college model, you go to college and you get a degree in education. Then at the end of that you're left looking for a job or a career. Registered apprenticeship gives you the paid work experience and the job on day one, so your education is all related to the job that you're working and skilling up in.

What salary can apprentices expect to earn after completing an apprenticeship?

The (Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board) does a report every year, and apprenticeship is always the top performer for that report for the wages outcomes. It's also important to recognize that, since 80% (of registered apprenticeships are) in the building and construction trades, those (overall high) wages are very specifically tied to the great wages we see in the building and construction trades.

What about during the apprenticeship?

The starting wage depends on the occupation completely. We do have all of the same requirements, just as any other employer in Washington state: You can't pay (apprentices) less than minimum wage, and (the employer has) to meet the other workplace requirements. One of the core components of a registered apprenticeship is called wage progression - as (the apprentice's) skills and abilities increase, so do their wages.

Which apprenticeship programs in Washington are currently the most competitive to get into?

At a high level, it's the skilled building trades occupations. A buzzword in apprenticeship is always electrician. It's also one of the higher wages, and typically the demand is tied to the higher wages. In (Washington), that's primarily the (union-backed) building trades - the higher skilled degrees (such as) plumber, pipefitter, sheet metal worker.

The high-wage, high-demand apprenticeship programs can have waitlists that are a year or two long. But it's also important to stay grounded in the fact that a registered apprenticeship starts with a job.

What advice would you give to someone who's interested in an apprenticeship but worried they don't have enough experience or connections?

I would say keep at it. Apprenticeships often change lives, because it's really more than a job, it's a career. (It's ideal if you) have applicable work experience and apprenticeship prep completion. There's a lot of things you can do to make yourself more competitive. If there's a specific program or occupation that you're interested in, I would reach out to that program and build that relationship and connection.

Are there certain types of prerequisites that some apprenticeships require more than others?

Every apprenticeship program has to list out what the minimum requirements are, and you can find those on our Apprentice Registration Tracking System (ARTS) database.

It really depends. One of our education registered apprenticeships through the Washington Education Association (statewide K-12 teachers union) requires a bachelor's to start it. Whereas there's other programs that might even not require a GED.

Most of the apprenticeships right now, 80%, are in the building and construction trades. What else is out there?

We have worked especially over the last decade to expand to what's considered a nontraditional industry … Cosmetology is one we consistently see new programs; and education is one we've moved into. We've had huge growth in our healthcare apprenticeship programs.

What is the biggest misconception about apprenticeships?

We often hear society say, especially to our youth, if you want to be successful, you have to go to college. That's just not true. If you look at the earnings that our completers make, registered apprenticeship is absolutely a viable way to be successful. Matter of fact, if you look 10 years out, my question would be, how are we measuring success? Because apprentices usually have little to no debt.

How should people go about exploring what they might be interested in?

Apprenticeship prep is typically unpaid training that's designed to take a worker and make them competitive to enter the registered apprenticeship program. For example, in the building and construction trades, it also gives the worker the chance to see if they like working outside all day, if they like working with their hands. (Apprenticeship prep) exposes them typically to multiple trades. So you can see if you like welding or HVAC, or where your interest lies. If you're not sure if you want to try it out, look for apprenticeship preps in your area, and we have them all listed on our L&I website.

Are there any programs or resources to help apprentices cover living expenses during their on-the-job training?

There are community-based organizations that work with apprentices. And the apprenticeship prep programs sometimes have things like tool vouchers or PPE vouchers, or things that they can provide for the apprentice or the preapprentice.

Anew is a community based organization, geared at nontraditional employment for women. Another one is BuildUp, which is associated with the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council.

Does completing an apprenticeship guarantee a job?

Yes. Registered apprenticeship starts with a job. There is no registered apprenticeship that doesn't include paid on-the-job training. That's why it's called "Earn While You Learn."

Where is the best place for people to get a holistic view of apprenticeship opportunities in Washington?

If you truly have no idea where to start, go to the ARTS database. It lets you filter by county and occupation. It's going to give you a list of every active program that meets that criteria. Spend some time there. There's going to be a lot of personal choices and things you're going to have to look at, and the minimum qualifications are on there.

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