Youth Work Experience

Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is a part of a statewide School-to-Work initiative. It is designed for high school juniors or seniors who want hands on learning in an occupational area at a worksite along with classroom instruction. This one or two year elective program combines academic and technical instruction with mentored on-the-job learning.

You can learn more about the Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program on the Department of Workforce Development’s website.  There are frequently asked questions relating to students, parents, schools, employers, etc.

Students

What is a youth apprenticeship?

  • Opportunity to get paid and learn about a potential career
  • 450 hours of paid work experience
  • High School course credit and depending on area college credit
  • Mentor at the employer and chamber
  • Related coursework (1 class per semester)
  • Earn a recognized skills certificate of occupational proficiency from the State of WI
  • Develop a network of contacts in your career field

Who is eligible?

  • High School juniors and seniors at Oshkosh Area School District and Lourdes Academy

Current Youth Apprenticeship Positions Open:

  • Machine Operator – Marine Supply Company
  • Machine Operator – Stadler Machinery
  • Production Control – Marine Supply Company
  • Assembly – NEW Hydraulics
  • Automotive Technician Career Exploration – Fleet Farm
  • Certified Nursing Assistants Career Exploration – Advent Aurora, Mercy Ascension, Bella Vista, Miravida, SSM Franciscan Courts, Edenbrook
  • Healthcare Support Service Aid (No CNA Required) – Evergreen 
  • Culinary Career Exploration – EAA

If you are interested in applying for these positions, please email: [email protected].

Employers

Why get involved in the state of WI youth apprenticeship?

Benefits:

  • Develop a recruitment pipeline
  • Provide supervisory opportunities for staff
  • Work with highly motivated students
  • Reduce employee turnover and retaining costs by hiring youth apprentice graduates as full time and college interns

Employer Role:

  • Youth apprentices work 10 to 20 hours per week. Summer employment is encouraged. Students are given release time to work during the school day.
  • Competency checklist – Students complete an industry-established competency checklist with the assistance of an employer mentor.
  • Student selection – Employers interview candidates and select the student(s) they wish to hire.
  • Pay – Youth apprentices must receive minimum wage or higher.
  • Workers Compensation – All youth apprentices must be provided worker’s compensation coverage.
  • Child Labor Laws – Employers must abide by state and federal child labor laws and regulations as they apply to student learners.

Student Interviews

The Oshkosh Chamber and OASD have partnered with the following area businesses to provide students with youth apprenticeship placements:

  • Aurora – Certified Nursing Assistants
  • Ascension Mercy Hospital – Certified Nursing Assistants
  • Bergstrom Automotive – Automotive Technician
  • Cliff’s Tire and Battery – Automotive Technician
  • C.R.E.W. Inc. – Marketing, Machining, Engineering
  • Culvers – Culinary and Management
  • EAA – Culinary
  • Felix Auto – Automotive Technician
  • Gartman Mechanical – Plumbing
  • Humane Society – Animal Basics
  • J. Stadler Machine, Inc. – Machining
  • Kingsbury – Machining
  • Kitz & Pfiel – Accounting
  • Kobussen – Automotive Technician
  • Miravida– Certified Nursing Assistants
  • Northpoint – Certified Nursing Assistant
  • Oshkosh Area School District – Information Technology Help Desk
  • Oshkosh Corporation – Electrical, Software, and Mechanical Engineers, and Manufacturing
  • Oshkosh Marine Supply – Maintenance and Repair of Industrial Equipment
  • Overton Farms LLC – Animal Basics
  • Parkview Healthcare – Certified Nursing Assistants
  • Powergrid Solutions – Engineering, Accounting, Procurement
  • Service Oil – Automotive Technician
  • Shea Electric – Electrician
  • Stainless Piping Specialists – Welding and Machining
  • Team Winnebagoland – Automotive Technician
  • The Waters – Landscaping
  • Tony’s Auto Body – Automotive Technician
  • Valley Visiting Nurses Association – Certified Nursing Assistants