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When I graduated from high school, you had two options – enroll in college or get a full-time job. At Miami Dade College (MDC), you can do both.
Each February, we celebrate national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and the many exciting opportunities we offer students to earn while they learn through a variety of unique apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and paid internships with top employers.
As Florida remains committed to training the talent for the future of work, over the last few years our state has seen an increase of about 84 percent in the number of registered apprentices. In Miami-Dade County, the growth has been significant at nearly 106 percent.
Recognizing the demand, MDC launched the Registered Apprenticeship Program, becoming the first education institution in the state to be designated a Program Sponsor by the Florida Department of Education. We currently lead the state by offering 22 apprenticeships across various industries, from HVAC, electrical and plumbing to automotive technician, teacher assistant, personal banking, information technology and more.
Apprentices are part-time students with full-time jobs. Here’s how it works: Local businesses come to us to create an employer-driven training model that helps upskill their current and future workforce. Together, we develop the program and determine the appropriate combination of classroom learning and on-the-job training.
Apprenticeships can be completed in one to two years. In addition to classroom instruction, they complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of hands-on training alongside seasoned professionals and mentors. Upon graduation, participants earn an industry credential and continue employment with the employer.
There is zero tuition cost for registered apprentices and thanks to over $15 million awarded in grants from the Florida Department of Education, U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), the Florida Department of Health, Bank of America and other private donors, the program provides toolkits, uniforms, and other educational materials and supplies. CareerSource South Florida can cover up to 40 percent of wages to eligible employer partners who hire and train apprentices, offsetting training costs.
On average, apprentices earn an average annual salary of $84,000 after completing their apprenticeship and gain a $300,000 lifetime earning advantage compared to their peers.
Our apprenticeship with Bean Automotive Group, one of the first employers to join the program, is currently in its third cohort training tomorrow’s automotive technicians. Other partners include Lowe’s, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Johnson Controls, and Bank of America, Warren Henry, Siemens, and Hellmann, among others. We are currently serving hundreds of students through this program.
Career and Technical Education is thriving in Florida and we are proud to be leading that effort at MDC with hundreds of student apprentices and over 40 employer partners. We are hard at work creating even more opportunities for students to learn and gain hands-on experience while securing a source of income, helping to support and empower our communities.
MDC was recently recognized by the USDOL with an Exceptional Achievement Award for demonstrating rapid growth and expansion of the program. Our goal is to continue expanding and connecting with more local business seeking for top-notch talent.
If you’re interested in joining the apprenticeship program at MDC, email apprenticeship@mdc.edu or visit www.mdc.edu/apprenticeships.
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