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Apprenticeship (effective July 1, 2026)

Category

Early Care and Education

Child's Age

0-1 years, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, 4-5 years

Participant

ECE Owner/Operator, ECE Teachers

Languages

English, Spanish

Brief Description

Apprenticeship programs support individuals who want to enter the early care and education (ECE) field, as well as ECE professionals seeking to advance their education with credentials, certificates, or degrees. Apprenticeship creates a pipeline of talented and high-quality educators, increasing the ECE workforce and providing opportunity for growth within the field. Classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and mentorship with reflective supervision enhance this career pathway.

Expected Impact

  • Increase in ECE provider’s knowledge and confidence
  • Increase in ECE workforce 

Core Components for Model Fidelity

  • Registered Apprenticeship Program: The apprenticeship program must be a Registered Apprenticeship program with the United States Department of Labor or ApprenticeshipNC. Learn more about Registered Apprenticeship Programs on ApprenticeshipNC’s website.
  • Mentoring and On-the-Job Learning: Apprentices and pre-apprentices benefit from paid work experience supported by an experienced mentor. As the apprentice completes on-the-job learning, their mentor uses a competency checklist created by their employer based on the U. S. Department of Labor’s Competency-Based Occupational Framework or Work Process Schedule. View the Department of Labor’s Occupation Finder for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education for additional information.
  • Progressive Wage Scale: Apprentices and pre-apprentices receive progressive wage increases as their skills increase. This must include a starting wage that is above minimum wage, at least one increase at the halfway point, and a final wage.
  • Related Instruction: The apprentice or pre-apprentice takes courses from an accredited institution of higher education that are part of an industry-recognized early childhood degree, credential(s), or certificates, such as North Carolina Early Childhood Credential (NCECC), Child Development Associate (CDA), ECE Certificate (e.g., Preschool, Infant/Toddler), and/or Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. The apprentice or pre-apprentice also completes trainings, such as CPR, that may be provided by the local Red Cross or other reputable trainers and subject matter experts.
  • Portable Credential: The apprenticeship program culminates in a portable, industry-recognized credential such as NCECC, CDA, ECE Certificate, and/or Associate Degree or bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Participants also receive an apprenticeship credential on top of any credentials earned through their instruction.

Languages Materials are Available in

English, Spanish

Delivery Mode

Apprentices and pre-apprentices receive in-person, on-the-job training at a child care center while taking related classwork at the high school or community college level, earning both school credit and industry-recognized credentials, certificates, or degrees, such as North Carolina Early Childhood Credential (NCECC), Child Development Associate (CDA), ECE Certificate (e.g., Preschool, Infant/Toddler), and Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Classes may be taken online or in person.

Dosage

ApprenticeshipNC requires that for every 144 contact hours of Related Instruction (this refers to seat time in a class, not credit hours), the apprentice or pre-apprentice must work 2,000 paid hours. 

Requirements for the number of hours worked and spent with instruction vary depending on the apprenticeship design but typically run anywhere from 6 weeks for a pre-apprenticeship to several years for an apprenticeship. The length of the apprenticeship depends on several factors, such as the credential or degrees identified as Related Instruction by the employer and the apprentice’s prior educational and professional experience.

Infrastructure for Implementation

Space: Office space for local administrators, as well as space to facilitate small group coaching or community of practice sessions as needed.

Staffing Requirements

The Smart Start Local Partnership can serve several roles to support apprenticeship:

  1. Sponsor: The Local Partnership can register its own apprenticeship program with ApprenticeshipNC, where it would be considered the “sponsor” organization. In this role, it provides administrative oversight of all participating employers, and it is responsible for all program requirements. This includes being the point of contact for the program, coordinating with ApprenticeshipNC, and entering data into ApprenticeshipNC’s database. It may also choose to provide additional support services as identified below.
  2. Support System: In this role, the Local Partnership serves only as a local support system for any employers participating in a registered apprenticeship (under any sponsor organization), not as the sponsor. Support might include coaching apprentices, supporting mentors, training participants, helping with education and recruitment, and coordinating access to outside resources.

To learn more about the different roles and common terms associated with a registered apprenticeship program, visit Building Bright Future’s webpage for a Glossary of Commonly Used Apprenticeship Terms.

Training for Model Fidelity

Training is provided to Employers and Sponsors once registered with ApprenticeshipNC. Apprenticeship employers and sponsors receive training in reporting, standards, and other requirements. Find out more by contacting your local Apprenticeship Consultant via ApprenticeshipNC.

Additional support is provided by Building Bright Futures. Please contact Morgan Ford (morgan.ford@nc.gov) for more information.

Contact Information

https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/businesses/apprenticeships/contact/

Building Bright Futures: Morgan Ford, Program Director: morgan.ford@nc.gov 

https://www.buildingbrightfuturesnc.org/ 

Cost Estimates

Cost estimates vary based on wage standards in the community. 

Apprenticeship programs use progressive wage scales, such that apprentices’ wages increase as their skills increase. The timing and number of increases or steps can be flexible. NCPC requires that apprenticeship programs supported by Smart Start dollars follow the Building Bright Futures recommendation of at least 3 steps in a progressive wage scale: 

  1. A starting wage that must be above minimum wage
  2. At least one increase at the halfway point
  3. A final wage

Purpose Service Code (PSC)

3105 - Accessing Professional Certification and Course Work

Minimal Outputs for NCPC Reporting

FY 26-27:

  • ECE Professional Participant ID
  • ECE Facility ID
  • ECE Professional's Employment

Minimal Outcomes for NCPC Reporting

FY 26-27:

  • Apprenticeship Progress
  • ECE- For Cash and Non-Cash Grants (optional, based on selection of incentives)

Minimal Measures for NCPC Reporting

FY 26-27:

Apprenticeship

NCPC Evidence Categorization

Evidence Informed – Industry Standard: Supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, ApprenticeshipNC, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning, among other experts.

Research Summary

Apprenticeship programs are an industry-standard approach to providing on-the-job learning and credentials to individuals seeking work experience and mentorship. Apprenticeship is defined by ApprenticeshipUSA as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable credential.”1 Apprenticeship programs are characterized by paid work experience, job-related classroom instruction, on-the-job learning under the direction of a mentor, and culminate in a portable, industry-recognized credential. Apprenticeship programs address challenges such as shortages of qualified teachers, low retention rate among new teachers, high attrition rate among experienced teachers, and the need for mentorship, support, professional development, among others.2 Employers participating in an apprenticeship program benefit from the opportunity to observe an individual in action before they are hired and recruit a highly skilled workforce.3 Career seekers participating in an apprenticeship program avoid student debt, work toward a degree, credential, or certificate, and gain paid work experience in their field of choice.

  1. ^ See What is Apprenticeship? (n.d.). On this webpage, apprenticeship is defined as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable credential.” Apprenticeship is different from other work-based training models because it includes “paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable, nationally recognized credential.” 
  2. ^ See Registered apprenticeship in education: A top talent development strategy for states and schools (2025). This fact sheet focuses on the need for apprenticeship programs in the education sector. Registered apprenticeship programs address the shortage of qualified teachers; the lack of on-the-job training before becoming a teacher; low retention of new teachers; high turnover of experienced teachers; the limited access of affordable pathways to entering the field; and the need for mentorship, leadership, and professional development. Registered apprenticeship programs support teacher pipelines, enhance retention of new teachers, support teachers in leadership roles and those seeking career advancement, and offer affordable career entry pathways.
  3. ^ See Apprenticeship 101 factsheet (n.d.). This resource identifies the need for apprenticeship programs throughout the workforce. It defines apprenticeship as “an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable credential.” The fact sheet highlights benefits for employers and career seekers. Through an apprenticeship program, employers can verify workers’ skills before hiring, demonstrate their interest and investment in the community, and recruit and develop a highly skilled workforce. Career seekers earn wages while they participate in the program, earn college credit or work towards certifications, avoid student debt typically associated with college, and gain experience in their field of choice.

Researched Population

  • Early childhood educators
  • Individuals seeking employment or further education in the ECE field

Clearinghouse and Compendium References

Bipartisan Policy Center

National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning

U.S. Department of Labor. (2025). Registered apprenticeship in education: A top talent development strategy for states and schools. https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/Edu_FactSheet_2.7.25_0.pdf

U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Apprenticeship 101 factsheet. Apprenticeship.gov. https://www.apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/Apprenticeship_101_Factsheet.pdf

U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). What is apprenticeship? Apprenticeship.gov. https://www.apprenticeship.gov/help/what-apprenticeship

Date Last Reviewed by NCPC: March 2026



Local Partnerships Currently Implementing

Local Partnerships in purple have adopted Apprenticeship (effective July 1, 2026). Local Partnership contact information can be found here.