Apprenticeships

The Schoolcraft College apprenticeship program, reintroduced in 2016, is a popular employment option for both businesses and students.

Helping Students and Employees

The College works with students to find the best fit for apprenticeships with area businesses, or works with established employees at area businesses to assist them in becoming Schoolcraft students and apprentices with their existing employers.

As a recipient of federal and state grant monies to assist in the expansion of apprenticeship, the College assists employers in the simple process of registering each apprenticeship with the U.S. Dept. of Labor. These grants often offer incentives to businesses and sometimes to students, to help offset apprentice training costs. The funding can usually be braided with other monies that may be available at the time through such resources as MI Works.

It is important to note that apprenticeships are employer-driven. There must first be employers that are – or are willing to become – apprenticeship employer-sponsors before we can assist students in becoming apprentices.

collage of trades in welding, machinery and computers

Why Choose Apprenticeship?

Benefits for Students

  • Wages earned and steadily increased while in apprenticeship, eliminating the main reason for frequent job-changing
  • One-on-one training with subject matter experts (SMEs) in a career that inspires passion and offers growth
  • As full-time employee, benefits provided which generally include tuition reimbursement
  • National credential earned at successful conclusion of program
  • Zero to very minimal student loan debt incurred during apprenticeship
  • Two to four years of experience gained and wages earned through the apprenticeship

Benefits for Employers

  • Apprenticeship offers ability to create flexible training options that ensure right-skill development
  • Develop a stable, reliable pipeline of highly skilled workers specific to business needs
  • Commitment and investment by apprentice contributes to productivity, profitability and bottom line
  • Increase employee retention:
    • 92% of apprentices remain with original employer 5 – 7 years post-apprenticeship
    • 80+% of apprentices remain with original employer 10 years or more
  • Save money on wages
    • The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) estimates that in 2022, the average cost of turnover to an employer is 6 to 9 months of an employee’s salary to replace and train each person that leaves the company
  • Apprenticeship offers a positive return on investment (ROI):
    • For each $1.00 spent on hiring and training, employers realize an average of $1.42 within a year of the apprenticeship

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:

Pamela Linton
Apprenticeship Coordinator
[email protected]

Karen Maxton
Internship and Employment Coordinator
[email protected]

Schoolcraft College
Manufacturing and Engineering Center (MEC)
13001 Merriman Rd.
Livonia, MI  48150