Two ways in: try the career, then build the career.
Pre-Apprenticeship and Internships
Experience a career pathway before committing to a full apprenticeship. You don't have to know exactly what you want to do after high school.
- Explore a specific career field
- Gain hands-on experience with a local employer
- Develop workplace and technical skills
- Earn industry certifications when available
- Connect with employers building their future workforce
- Explore related college programs at CCC&TI
Registered Apprenticeship
Paid, on-the-job training plus related classroom instruction, following a structured plan toward a nationally recognized credential.
- Paid employment
- Industry-recognized credentials
- College credentials and coursework
- Increasing wages as skills develop
- Career advancement
- Long-term employment with a local employer
Interested in an internship or pre-apprenticeship?
High school students: reach out to your school's CTE Counselor or Transition Advisor. They can help you explore opportunities and take the next step! Recent graduates: contact us and we'll help you find the right starting point.
RISE Caldwell–Watauga offers internships and pre-apprenticeships with local employers across Caldwell and Watauga counties, in partnership with Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute.
See RISE Caldwell–Watauga in action
EdNC visited students in paid work experiences across the High Country, from local employers to the emergency room at Watauga Medical Center.
Read the full EdNC storyMore than a paycheck.
Through RISE Caldwell–Watauga, youth apprentices receive stipends and support that help remove barriers and reward their progress.
Transportation stipend
Help getting to and from work and class every month.
Performance bonus potential
Apprentices can earn a bonus that recognizes strong performance.
Waived at CCC&TI
Covers related instruction, credentials, and degree paths at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. See eligibility below.
Completion bonus
Some in-demand industries also offer a bonus when apprentices complete their pathway.
Who is a youth apprentice?
Youth apprentices are students ages 16–18 who complete their pre-apprenticeship before graduating from high school.
To keep the tuition waiver after high school, a pre-apprentice must enter a registered apprenticeship pathway with an employer within 100 days of graduation.
A student completes a Health Support Specialist pre-apprenticeship during senior year, then starts a Registered Nurse registered apprenticeship with an employer the fall after graduation — keeping the tuition waiver for related instruction at CCC&TI.
Nationally and state-recognized credentialsAll pre-apprentices and registered apprentices receive credentials from the North Carolina Community College System and the U.S. Department of Labor when they complete their pathways.
Find your field.
These are the registered apprenticeship occupations currently available through RISE Caldwell–Watauga in collaboration with ApprenticeshipNC. We connect students and employers to opportunities in each of them, and the list continues to grow.
Healthcare & Allied Health
- Registered Nurse
- Nurse Assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Pharmacy Technician
- Central Sterile Processing Technician
- Medical Office Assistant
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Ophthalmic Medical Personnel
- Health Support Specialist
Manufacturing & Technical
- Machinist
- Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Maintenance Engineer
- Pharmaceutical Process Technician
Skilled Trades & Construction
- Welder, Combination
- Construction Craft Laborer
- Electric Lineworker
- Substation Relay Technician
Automotive & Transportation
- Automotive Technician Specialist
- Diesel Mechanic & Heavy Equipment Operator
Hospitality & Culinary
- Hotel Associate
- Cook
- Culinary Specialist
Education & Human Services
- Early Childhood Educator
Business & Digital
- Digital Marketer and Marketing Coordinator
Don't see your field?
Opportunities vary by employer, occupation, and program requirements. We'll help you find the right next step.
Talk to RISE Caldwell–Watauga →Apprenticeship starts with a connection.
An apprenticeship is more than a job. It's a structured pathway that connects education, experience, and employment — and RISE Caldwell–Watauga works alongside employers and educators to help students answer five questions.
- 1What are you interested in?
- 2What skills do you need?
- 3Where can you gain experience?
- 4What credential or training comes next?
- 5How can you turn that experience into a career?
- A typical pathway: Career Exploration → Work-Based Learning → Pre-Apprenticeship → Registered Apprenticeship → Credential → Career Advancement
For students
- Gain real-world experience
- Learn from experienced professionals
- Earn while you learn
- Build technical and professional skills
- Earn industry-recognized credentials
- Connect classroom learning to the workplace
- Explore before a long-term commitment
- Start your professional network in high school
See what a career really looks like.
For employers
- Develop a pipeline of future employees
- Introduce students to your industry
- Train to your company's needs
- Develop technical and workplace skills
- Strengthen ties with local schools and colleges
- Support retention and advancement
- Grow the next generation of skilled workers
RISE Caldwell–Watauga supports the process, start to finish.
Apprenticeship works because education and industry work together.
RISE Caldwell–Watauga brings together students, schools, employers, community partners, and Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute. Our employers provide the experiences, mentorship, and career connections that show students what it means to work in their field.
