Build Your Career: Paid Skilled Trade Apprenticeships
Launch a high-paying, debt-free career in Northern Virginia’s construction industry through registered apprenticeships. Earn a full-time paycheck, gain hands-on jobsite experience, and complete your technical education—all with zero student debt.
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
- Earn While You Learn: Receive competitive wages from day one, with guaranteed pay increases as you master new skills.
- 100% Employer-Funded Training: Avoid college debt while earning industry-recognized credentials and certifications.
- High Regional Demand: Secure long-term career stability across Northern Virginia’s booming data center, commercial, and infrastructure sectors.
- Direct Career Progression: Move directly from apprentice to certified craft professional, foreman, or project manager.
How a Registered Apprenticeship Works
- On-the-Job Training (OJT): Paid, full-time employment where you work alongside experienced mentors on active construction sites across Northern Virginia. You earn a wage from day one and receive regular raises as your skill level increases.
- Related Technical Instruction (RTI): Classroom and lab instruction through regional partners—such as Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Virginia Chapter, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and local CTE centers—to master industry safety, codes, and technical theory.
- Industry Credentials: Upon completion, you graduate with a nationally recognized Journeyworker credential—opening doors to lifelong, high-paying career paths without college debt.
Additional RTI providers may include:
- Germanna Community College
- Laurel Ridge Community College
- Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs operated by local school divisions
- Trade association training centers
- Industry-specific workforce training organizations
- Employer-sponsored training academies
- Trade specific Unions for specialized crafts (Electrical, Plumbing, Steamfitters, Operators, Carpenters, and many more)
Together, these organizations, and many more, provide flexible pathways for individuals pursuing skilled trade careers while helping employers meet workforce demands.
Meet Jacob Baker: Carpentry Apprentice
By combining a paid job, structured training, and zero college debt, an apprenticeship can provide a direct path to a high-paying career right out of school.
- Role: Carpentry Apprentice at Hensel Phelps
- Path: Paid On-the-Job Training + Technical Credentials