HomeMaine Apprenticeship Program → For Career Seekers

For Career Seekers

Where do you want to go with your career? Healthcare, construction, manufacturing, clean energy and infrastructure, IT, education, hospitality? All those industries and more have apprenticeship programs. And they’re waiting to put you on a path to a career that’s in demand, with good pay, job security, opportunities for advancement, and meaningful work.

As an apprentice you earn while you learn. You won’t run up educational debt as an apprentice—in fact, apprentices make more over their lifetime than those without the apprenticeship credential. It really comes down to whether you want to pay for your education…or get paid for it.

Woman in a wheelchair working on a laptop

Did you know?

$300K+

Lifetime Earning Advantage: Amount apprentice graduates earn over their lifetime more than peers who don’t have the credential

$27.44

Average wage of apprentices who completed their programs during 2022

250

Number of women who pursued training in non-traditional occupations (2022)

Filter by type?

Filter by occupation?

 

    Having trouble finding an apprenticeship?

    Contact the Maine Apprenticeship Program and will help you find an apprenticeship that is right for you.

    The Benefits of Apprenticeship in Maine

    Apprenticeship is the smart choice. Here are just a few of the benefits:

    • Don’t pay for your education…get paid for it
    • No debt from education
    • Earn credentials and certifications you can take with you
    • Guidance from experts in the field
    • Job security
    • Career path to advancement
    • Meaningful, hands-on work
    • The more you learn, the more you earn
    Conversation icon

    “I had applied for all of the jobs and was just like, ‘hire me, please.’ And when I came in for the (apprenticeship) interview…I said ‘Wait, that sounds like I can get college, and I can get paid, and there’s benefits? Well…that was better than I was expecting.”

    (Apprentice, Education)

    The Pre-Apprenticeship Program

    The Pre-Apprenticeship is a pathway for students and adults, aged 16 or older, to enter into apprenticeship training. As a Pre-Apprentice, you get first-hand experience in occupation and can carry up to 1,000 hours of on-the-job experience into your registered apprenticeship program upon graduation. Try a few different fields and see what you like before you commit to a specific apprenticeship.  

    Find pre-apprenticeship programs

    Consider a pre-apprenticeship if you’re:

    • Student and adult 16+
    • In good academic standing 
    • Able to work part-time for a registered employer/sponsor
    • Intending on becoming a full-time registered apprentice after graduation
     

    Looking for additional training opportunities?

    If apprenticeship isn't the right path for you, check out Maine CareerCenter.

    Go to Maine CareerCenter

    Frequently Asked Questions

    From healthcare and IT to architecture, farming, and more, there are all types of apprenticeship programs available to Mainers who want to jumpstart their careers.

    Any existing employee or new hire can become an Apprentice as long as they:

    • Are at least 16 years old
    • Are committed to furthering their education, both in the classroom and on the job

    Yes. There are currently over 800,000 apprentices working across the United States. Upon completion of their program, apprentices receive a certificate that is recognized by and transferable to every state.

    Apprenticeship is the smart way to jumpstart your career. Through an Apprenticeship program, you can obtain paid, relevant workplace experience while acquiring the skills and credentials that employer’s value. 90% of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship retain employment. And apprentices enjoy a $300K+ Lifetime Earning Advantage over their peers who don’t complete a program.

    Absolutely. All American Apprenticeship Initiative apprentices experienced earnings growth. Between the year prior to starting their apprenticeship programs and a year after completing, the average apprentice’s earnings increased by almost 50 percent.

    Apprenticeships can be found on employer websites found here as well as on Maine JobLink, a free and easy-to-use job board. It features job search and job matching functions, notifications of job match by email, a professional resume builder, support for more than 60 languages using Google Translate, and a mobile-friendly design for smartphones and tablets.