If you learn best “on the job” while being mentored by experienced professionals, you may benefit from pursuing an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships are an excellent way to launch your career or help you transition into a new field. One of the main benefits of an apprenticeship is that you “earn while you learn,” meaning that you are paid while being trained. According to Apprentice Florida, apprentices have an average starting salary wage of $15.00, and the annual salary for someone who completes an apprenticeship is $60,000.
Apprenticeships equip you with the skills you need for a specific role at the company you train with, and your certificate of completion opens up future job opportunities.
Recent Growth of Apprenticeship Opportunities
Since the establishment of November’s National Apprenticeship Week in 2015, the National Apprenticeship System has expanded dramatically. There have been 2.3 million new apprentices across the country who work in a variety of industries. Construction apprenticeships have reached an all-time high, and less traditional apprenticeships for roles in manufacturing and project management have also grown.
Florida’s apprenticeship programs continue to flourish, with a 14% increase in active apprentices during the 2023-24 program year. Florida offers 329 registered apprenticeship programs, and more than 2,000 apprentices complete a program each year. Many Northeast Florida businesses have implemented successful apprenticeship programs, including Miller Electric.
Apprenticeship growth has helped people transition into new careers and find success seamlessly. Learn about the experiences of a few apprentices in Northeast Florida below.
Apprentice Spotlights
Julian Martinez
In his sophomore year of high school, Julian Martinez decided to drop out of school. Three years of working part-time and struggling to make ends meet showed Julian the importance of gaining employable skills. He earned his GED and enrolled in the Electrical Apprenticeship program with the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) in 2023. Currently, NEFBA offers programs in carpentry, electrical, HVAC and plumbing for students who have earned a high school diploma or GED. The four-year program is tuition-free and offers on-the-job training with an employer while students attend school to earn a trade license. Julian trains with T&M Electric, Inc. in Orange Park and supplements training with classroom instruction two nights a week. At the end of the program, Julian will be eligible for a journeyman certification and will be accredited 27 program hours by Florida State College of Jacksonville (FSCJ) to apply towards an Associate’s degree.
Mar Tyndall
After working for Volkswagen for two years, Mar Tyndall wanted a new challenge in his career. He explored opportunities to become a diesel technician and enrolled in Republic Services Technical Institute. This next-generation trade school provides on-the-job training, high-tech classrooms and computer-based learning. After a free, nine-week training program at the Technical Institute in Dallas, Mar began working full-time at Republic Services’ Jacksonville location doing maintenance and critical repairs on the company’s trucks. Republic Services’ certified diesel technician program promotes apprentices after approximately 18 months on the job, setting Mar up for a secure and well-paying profession.
Erin Virgin
Almost ten years at a desk job made Erin Virgin search for a career that allowed her to work with her hands. Erin was accepted into the Electrical Training Alliance of Jacksonville (ETA) in 2018, where she began a five-year apprenticeship program. Erin worked on the construction of a NICU/PICU for Baptist Health and was exposed to a range of electrical training. In addition to on-site training, Erin attended school in the evenings twice a week and is able to attribute the credits she received from ETA towards an A.S. degree in Industrial Management Technology at FSCJ.
Julian, Mar and Erin all have different journeys towards long-term career success, but they each knew that an apprenticeship could help them get started. Apprenticeships can be a great pathway for students out of high school or college, veterans entering the workforce and adult learners looking for a career change.
If the benefits of on-the-job training seem like a good fit for you, you can learn more about programs through Apprentice Florida, search for nearby offerings on Get There Florida’s website and check out other resources available through Earn Up.
