Earn While
You Learn.
A paid, state-registered apprenticeship taking Tehama County high school students from the classroom into skilled careers in agriculture, manufacturing, and natural-resource trades — no college debt required. Now recruiting the next cohort.
Why It Matters
A Real Job. A Real Credential.
A Real Future.
Industrial Maintenance Technicians keep the mills, food processors, and manufacturers of the North State running. Demand is high, wages are strong, and local employers are ready to train the next generation — starting in high school. The first apprentices are already on the job at Bell-Carter Foods, PJ Helicopters, and Crain Walnut Shelling.
Paid On-the-Job Learning
Apprentices earn a progressive wage while logging supervised hours with a local employer and a dedicated mentor.
State-Registered Credential
Complete the program with a nationally recognized journey-level pathway credential registered with the State of California.
High-Wage Career Path
Industrial Maintenance Technicians in Northern California typically earn $55,000–$85,000+ as they reach journey level.
Local Mentors & Employers
Learn from experienced technicians at Tehama County employers who are invested in growing local talent.
SEC.02 // THE PATHWAY
Five stations. One machine.
Keep scrolling — the gear indexes through every step of the program, from first application to journey-level credential.
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01
Apply
Junior or senior year at a Tehama County high school. Ten-minute application, no experience required.
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02
Match & Sign
Interview with host employers, get paired with a journey-level mentor, and sign the apprenticeship agreement.
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03
Foundations
Safety certification and mechanical fundamentals — paid from the first hour on the floor.
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04
Skills & Raises
Electrical, controls, and fluid power blocks. Every competency signed off moves your wage up a step.
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05
Journey Level
2,000 hours + 288 hours of instruction = a state-registered credential and a $55–85K career.
The Pilot at a Glance
Funded by the California Jobs First Catalyst Grant and led by the Job Training Center on behalf of the Tehama County CTE Coalition.
What You Get
Four things most jobs can't offer
A real paycheck
Progressive wages starting around 50% of journey rate — with raises earned by demonstrated skill, not just time served. Two years of income before your classmates start job hunting.
A personal mentor
A journey-level technician who teaches you their craft, signs off your competencies, and vouches for you in the industry. That relationship is worth more than any classroom.
A state credential
Registered apprenticeship completion is recorded with the State of California and respected by employers nationwide. It travels with you for the rest of your career.
A head start on life
Graduate with experience, income, and a credential — while four-year peers are still paying tuition. Specialist and leadership tracks reach $90K+ from here.
For the Region
A Replicable Model for Rural Northern California
This pilot is bigger than eight apprentices. Everything we build — training plans, employer onboarding kits, HR templates, outreach materials — is being packaged into an open-source Youth Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning Toolkit so any rural community can launch its own program without starting from scratch.
Explore the ToolkitGet Involved
Two Ways to Join
Students: Tehama County juniors and seniors interested in hands-on, mechanical, and electrical work — this is your shortcut into a skilled career.
Employers: Host an apprentice, shape your future workforce, and get structured support from the Coalition every step of the way.
Life in the Program
See It in Action
Real Tehama County students, shops, and worksites — photography courtesy of the Tehama County CTE Coalition.
Our Partners
Built by the Tehama County CTE Coalition
A collaboration of education, workforce, and industry partners working to create stronger career pathways from high school into high-wage, high-demand industries.