Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Program
Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship (YA) dates back to 1991 as an innovative idea: a school-to-work initiative that prepares students for careers. Now 30 years later, we’re continuing the work to show high school students every year how youth can get a head start in their field of choice.
YA is designed to shape and skill young talent for the needs of the profession. Think of it as an early recruitment and training strategy for your future talent pool. By design, YA integrates school- and work-based learning to instruct students on employability and professional skills as defined by Wisconsin industries.
Local programs help students gain real-world experience while following the statewide YA curriculum. Students learn from qualified trainers and skilled mentors at a participating business while also earning credits in a YA-related instruction class to meet graduation requirements.
Program Areas
The Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship program allows high school juniors and seniors to explore a field of their choice. There are currently 16 program areas available, and within each program area, is a number of more specific occupational pathways.
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Careers involving plants, animals and the environment
Architecture & Construction
Careers involving designing & building homes, roads, & other structures
Art, A/V Technology & Communications
Careers involving creative tasks, such as performing or writing
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Careers involving public systems such as fire protect, law enforcement & citizen safety
Health Sciences
Careers involve helping people with the medical care they need to get or stay healthy
Hospitality & Tourism
Careers involve providing people with food, lodging, and related services
Manufacturing
Careers involving making products such as food, cars, plastic, and household goods
Information Technology
Careers involving working with computer hardware, software, or network systems
Government & Public Administration
Careers involve project management and execution strategies for organizations
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Careers involve moving people and products from one place to another
Business Management & Administration
Careers involve planning, oversight, and organizational tasks required to run a business
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
Careers involving solving problems through research and design
Finance
Careers involving managing and working with money such as accounting and banking
Education & Training
Careers involve planning and providing education services and other tasks related to schools, libraries, & museums
Human Services
Careers involving client services and customer satisfaction such as cosmetology and hair styling
Marketing
Careers involving promoting and selling products/services
How Do I Get Started?
Based on where you attend school, you can find more details on specific YA program areas, how to apply, who to contact, and more.
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MMSD High School Juniors and Seniors:
Madison Metropolitan School District
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High School Juniors and Seniors in Dane County:
Dane County School Consortium
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High School Juniors and Seniors in Jefferson County:
Jefferson County School to Career Consortium
Additional information is available at the Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship webpage. More student testimonials are available on the Dane County School Consortium website.
YA Alumni Testimonials
Hear from Youth Apprenticeship Program graduates on how the program helped them explore different industry pathways.
Interested In Hiring a YA?
Hiring a YA means gaining a new employee that is ready to learn the business, alleviating challenges like skilled worker shortages. The program allows you to tailor your future employee to match your standards, in your facility, and on your equipment. If you want to hire a YA but want more info, watch our YA 101 session.