Opportunities in professional trades and medical assisting are available
An important success story for Schoolcraft College and area businesses has been told through the College’s registered apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for those already passionate about an occupation to “earn while they learn” as they gain important professional experience. Since 2020, 15 Schoolcraft College students have completed their apprenticeship in professional trades or medical assisting.
Those students will be recognized in a program on Tuesday, April 19, at the VisTaTech Center on the main campus. Attendees scheduled to appear include Livonia Mayor Maureen Brosnan; U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens; Detroit and Michigan Department of Labor officials; apprenticeship employer-sponsors; and businesses with apprenticeships in place.
The apprentices are from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties and represent a wide range of communities, including Ann Arbor, Canton, Farmington Hills, Garden City, Warren, Westland, Wixom and Ypsilanti.
“Apprenticeships are really a win-win for the student and the employer,” said Pamela Linton, Apprenticeship Coordinator for Schoolcraft College. “The employers are gaining students who are establishing a foundation with their educational training and bringing that to the workplace where they’re receiving on-the-job training, customized specifically to the employer!”
“And for the students, they have a job in their profession with a company they like that has invested in them. Our latest data on medical assistants, for example, shows that after five years about 80% of the student apprentices are still with the company that sponsored them. Further, at the end of the training, students have little to no student loan debt.”
Apprenticeships at a glance
| Topic | What apprenticeships offer |
| Emphasis | On-the-job training |
| Usual duration | 1 to 4 years |
| Structure | Focus on mastering specific skills |
| Mentorship | Individualized training with experienced mentor |
| Pay | Always paid, wages at or above industry standard at conclusion |
| Do you earn a credential? | Yes, you get a national credential from the Department of Labor |
| Do you earn college credit? | Yes, and often complete Schoolcraft College certification(s) also |
Linton collaborates with area businesses and the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish apprenticeship programs to meet talent needs. As part of this role, Linton assists employers in creating curriculum related to their occupations, and helps students determine if apprenticeship is the right path for them.
Apprenticeships offer opportunities in a wide array of areas, covering almost every student interest. There are currently over 1,200 apprenticeable occupations through the DOL, with more added every year. Currently, Schoolcraft College is proud to have placed over 70 apprentices, representing 20-plus occupations, placed at over 25 area companies.
The College has been at the forefront of collaborating to create new opportunities. One example is student Logan Leinbach, who is the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice and will recognized at the event.
Schoolcraft and Leinbach’s employer, Burke Architectural Millwork in Livonia, helped develop the apprenticeship for the Department of Labor over the course of two years, including working with The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Burke was able to move Leinbach from his CAD apprenticeship into the Woodwork program, which he recently completed.
For more information about apprenticeships, please contact Pamela Linton by email at [email protected] or by phone at 734-462-7372.