Summary: My last post ( https://archive.is/67uEd ) was about how a degree isn't always the ideal way of advancing your career. This post is about how STEM Registered Apprenticeships are an alternative education track that is officially as of last week coming to a city near you. There are 34,000 slots created with the new grant program. You can be one of them.

Body: Two and a half years ago I sponsored a man who became the first state-registered software engineering apprentice in Virginia. I was overcome with enthusiasm for the success of our pilot apprenticeship program and wrote a letter to the White House and my congressman explaining the advantages of apprenticeship versus college, and how I believed apprenticeship is part of the solution to the education cost crisis that is still escalating in America.

Perhaps my message moved opinions or perhaps it came as part of a confluence of thoughts for registered apprenticeship being recognized as a degree replacement. Whatever happened last year, the effect was the White House released a series of announcements that made its intention clear: apprenticeship is a priority for the American education system.

This week I was pleasantly surprised to see the awards announcement ( https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/americanapprenticeshipinitiativegrantsawardsummaries.pdf ) of the American Apprenticeship Grants program ( http://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/grants.htm ). This program is part of a fundamental shift in America that is acknowledging apprenticeship as an alternative education track for more careers.

If you are interested in going back to school but can't afford to quit working, look through the award summaries I linked above and find the apprenticeship programs near you. I looked through and found they varied from high skill factory jobs to programming and medical technology. There might be something you're interested in.

Here are some facts about Registered Apprenticeship, some of which are taken from the fact sheet provided by the white house ( http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20151762.htm ):

  • All apprentices do work and are payed while they learn
  • Programs last 1 to 3 years
  • Completing an apprenticeship counts as college credit at over 200 colleges
  • Average salary after completing an apprenticeship is over $50k (includes tradesmen)

There is only a limited amount of space for candidates in these programs. Get to it red pillers. Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer in the comments.