How the Youth Apprenticeship Works
Goals, benefits, eligibility, timeline, and the partners who make it possible.
Program Goals
What We're Building Together
1. Launch the Pilot
Launch and support a pilot youth registered apprenticeship serving approximately eight (8) Tehama County high school students pursuing careers in Industrial Maintenance.
2. Build the Toolkit
Develop a replicable Youth Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning Toolkit for educators, employers, and workforce partners throughout rural Northern California.
3. Share What We Learn
Document lessons learned, best practices, and sustainability recommendations to support long-term systems improvement and regional expansion of work-based learning.
Student Benefits
What Apprentices Get
- A paycheck — progressive wages from day one, with raises tied to skill milestones
- A mentor — one-on-one guidance from an experienced journey-level technician
- A credential — a state-registered apprenticeship record and industry-recognized certifications
- Related instruction — technical coursework aligned to on-the-job learning
- High school credit — apprenticeship hours integrated with your school schedule
- A career head start — graduate with up to two years of paid experience
Eligibility
Who Can Apply
- Current high school junior or senior (16+ at program start)
- Enrolled in a Tehama County high school
- Interest in mechanical, electrical, or hands-on technical work
- Able to commit to scheduled work hours alongside school
- Reliable transportation to the worksite (assistance options available — ask us)
- Parent/guardian consent and school counselor sign-off
Timeline
Program Timeline
Select a milestone to see what happens at each phase. Dates are finalized with school and employer partners each term.
Recruitment & Applications Open
Information sessions at Tehama County high schools; online applications accepted; employer host sites confirmed.
Interviews & Matching
Students interview with host employers; apprentice–mentor matches finalized; apprenticeship agreements signed.
Cohort Launch
Orientation, safety training, and first paid on-the-job learning hours. Related technical instruction begins.
Earn, Learn, Advance
Apprentices progress through competency milestones with wage increases; quarterly check-ins with school, employer, and family.
Credential & Career
Apprentices complete on-the-job hours and instruction toward journey-level status — many continuing full-time with their host employer.
Partner Involvement
Who Does What
| Partner | Role in the Program |
|---|---|
| Job Training Center | Lead agency and grant administrator; program coordination, student support services, and employer engagement. |
| Tehama County CTE Coalition | Strategic oversight; alignment of CTE coursework and career pathways across districts. |
| Corning, Los Molinos & Red Bluff High Schools | Student recruitment, academic scheduling, school credit, and counselor support — all three Tehama County high schools participate. |
| Host Employers — Bell-Carter Foods, PJ Helicopters, Crain Walnut Shelling | Paid on-the-job training, mentorship, safety supervision, and skills evaluation. |
| Expect More Tehama | Backbone and communications partner — facilitation, stakeholder engagement, storytelling, and brand development. |
| California Jobs First | Catalyst Grant funding to pilot and expand innovative work-based learning models. |