How to Get an Apprenticeship and Avoid Student Loan Debt
Student loan debt in the USA has been a growing issue for a long time. Today’s total student debt is more than $1.7 trillion, with the average college graduate owing $20,000 to $25,000. If you’re thinking about your higher education journey or counseling someone who is, it’s important to weigh the alternatives to traditional college that could significantly lower your financial burden.
One of the most desirable non-traditional career paths is registering in an apprenticeship program. Not only does this offer a viable path to a fulfilling career, but they also alleviate the financial burden commonly linked with higher education.
The Apprenticeship Advantage: Hands-On Learning
Apprenticeships blend hands-on experience with a theoretical foundation. As opposed to traditional higher education that might leave you mired in student loan debt, apprenticeships allow you to “earn while you learn.” These programs have been underutilized in the past but are gaining renewed interest from employers and academic institutions as they understand the value of practical experience in career development.
Why the Resurgence in Apprenticeships?
Apprenticeship programs aren’t just about debt avoidance; they’re also about employability and skill mastery. Traditional degree programs frequently focus on theoretical knowledge, which is certainly important but lacks the real-world application that employers covet. Apprenticeships bridge this gap by helping you get job-ready and outfitting you with the tools needed to stand out in your desired field right from the start.
Apprenticeship Styles: Trade and Academic
Understanding the kinds of apprenticeships available will help you make a more informed decision. Here’s an explanation of the two major options.
Trade Apprenticeships
These programs prepare you for careers where a college degree is often not required. While society’s focus on higher education has resulted in a decline in these sort of apprenticeships, the lack of skilled tradespeople has produced a surge in demand and, consequently, higher salaries.
The Department of Labor states that apprentices in trade fields earn around $15 per hour throughout training, or $31,200 yearly if training full time. When the program is completed, the average apprentice could earn the following salaries upon joining the workforce:
- Electrician: $49,840
- Plumber and pipe-fitter: $49,140
- HVAC technician: $43,640
- Solar panel installer: $37,900
- Auto mechanic: $36,610
- Construction worker: $30,000 to $45,000
Academic Apprenticeships
Academic institutions more and more are incorporating apprenticeships in their degree programs, in particular for professions such as engineering, health care and information technology (IT). The advantages are two-fold: students obtain real-world experience while fulfilling academic requirements, and they earn a wage, reducing the need for loans.
How to Get an Apprenticeship
A few good resources are at your disposal to assist you in securing an apprenticeship. Here’s places that may have more details:
- Trade organizations and unions: Start by reaching out to specific institutions associated with your field of interest to see if they have any offerings.
- US Department of Labor: The DOL website has a searchable database of apprenticeship programs that you can search by geographic region, which is an excellent resource for career seekers nationwide.
- Educational institutions: If you’d like to work while seeking a degree, colleges and universities are the first point of contact. The programs most likely to integrate apprenticeships as part of the degree program are in computer and IT, engineering, nursing, business management or consumer science.
- Trade company websites: Lots of companies identify apprenticeship opportunities on their help wanted pages.
- Networking: In some cases, the traditional way is the best approach. Talking to people in the business can offer you insider information on upcoming opportunities.
Selecting the Right Apprenticeship for You
When you follow the traditional college route, you choose a major based on your interests. Then, you explore job opportunities aligned with that major. However, pursuing an apprenticeship will require you to think in reverse.
Start off by identifying the majors and career paths that incorporate or require apprenticeships. Then, pick one of the available apprenticeships from your narrowed-down list that sparks your interest, meets your skill set or offers the highest annual income, depending on your priorities. This strategy helps you coordinate your educational pathway with real-world opportunities, which makes for a smoother transition into the job market and a satisfying career for years to come.
Earn While You Learn at Service Experts Career Academy
Are you looking to avoid the student loan trap while pursuing a satisfying career? Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning offers a top-of-the-line apprenticeship program called Service Experts Career Academy (SECA). SECA offers modern HVAC training and on-the-job learning facilitated by knowledgeable industry professionals. The curriculum is created to equip you with critical skills and make you a master in your field—all while averting your own student debt crisis.
The path to a satisfying, debt-free career should begin with making informed choices. If you’re prepared to take control of your future with help from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, please contact us to learn more about Service Experts Career Academy. Contact us at 954-736-4314 today to learn more!
