How to Enter the Skilled Trades – Your State by State Guide

Apprenticeship Resources:

Many states have apprenticeship portals to begin your career entry or switch into the skilled trades.

The skilled trades have remarkably high job satisfaction, with the meaning and value in doing the work itself one of the primary reasons.

Here is a nonexclusive list of resources in every state to take your first steps to entering the skilled trades:

National Resources:

• Federal Guide to Become an Apprentice: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/become-apprentice
• States that offer Tuition Support for Registered Apprentices: https://www.doleta.gov/oa/taxcredits.cfm#tuitionsupport

State Resources:

Each state has its own rules and regulations governing workforce training, licensing, educational support, credentialing criteria, and licensing for specific jobs and tasks.

So in order for you to best begin the process of entering the skilled trades, below is a link to each state’s portal to follow a prescribed apprenticeship path:

• Alabama: http://www.alapprentice.org/
• Alaska: https://jobs.alaska.gov/apprentice/job-seekers/index.html
• Arizona: https://des.az.gov/services/employment/registered-apprenticeship/apprenticeship-job-seekers
• Arkansas: http://www.discover.arkansas.gov/Education/Education-Related-Websites/Apprenticeship-Programs
• California: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/descOfAppr.html
• Colorado: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/apprentice/programs
• Connecticut: https://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/progsupt/appren/WorkSchedules/apptoc1.htm#build
• Delaware: https://det.delawareworks.com/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-benefits.php
• Florida: https://apprenticeflorida.com/apprentices/
• Georgia: https://tcsg.edu/for-students/apprenticeship-programs/
• Hawaii: https://labor.hawaii.gov/wdd/home/job-seekers/apprenticeship/join/
• Idaho: https://www.labor.idaho.gov/dnn/Job-Seekers/On-the-Job-Training/Apprenticeships/About-Apprenticeships
• Illinois: https://www.illinoisworknet.com/ApprenticeshipIL/Pages/WhatareApprenticeships.aspx
• Indiana: https://www.indianacareerready.com/Apprenticeships
• Iowa: https://www.earnandlearniowa.gov/apprentice
• Kansas: https://ksapprenticeship.org/job-seekers/
• Kentucky: https://education.ky.gov/CTE/Pages/default.aspx
• Louisiana: https://apprenticeshipla.com/job-seekers/
• Maine: https://www.maine.gov/labor/jobs_training/apprenticeship/
• Maryland: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/apprenticeship/Welcome.aspx?user=A&access=0&results=0&details=0&sessionGUID=0bff0826-9d4c-4af2-acec-7ed54ccdf02f
• Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-to-become-an-apprentice-in-the-trades
• Michigan: https://miapprenticeship.org/apprentices/
• Minnesota: https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/workforce/be-apprentice
• Mississippi: https://msapprenticeship.works/apprentices/
• Missouri: https://jobs.mo.gov/content/moapprenticeships
• Montana: http://apprenticeship.mt.gov/
• Nebraska: https://dol.nebraska.gov/EmploymentAndTraining/Training/RegisteredApprenticeship/JobSeeker
• Nevada: https://www.buildingtradejobs.org/apprenticeships
• New Hampshire: https://apprenticeshipnh.com/industries/construction-infrastructure/
• New Jersey: https://www.nj.gov/labor/career-services/apprenticeship/findaprogram.shtml
• New Mexico: https://www.dws.state.nm.us/en-us/Job-Seekers/Explore-Career-Options/Apprenticeship
• New York: https://labor.ny.gov/apprenticeship/general/registration.shtm
• North Carolina: https://www.apprenticeshipnc.com/
• North Dakota: https://www.workforce.nd.gov/workforce/apprenticeship/BecomeanApprentice/
• Ohio: https://apprentice.ohio.gov/careerseekers/
• Oklahoma: https://oklahomaworks.gov/work-based-learning/work-based-learning-for-job-seekers/
• Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/boli/apprenticeship/Pages/apprenticeship-opportunities.aspx
• Pennsylvania: https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/Common/Apprenticeships
• Rhode Island: https://dlt.ri.gov/apprenticeship/
• South Carolina: https://www.apprenticeshipcarolina.com/become-an-apprentice.html
• South Dakota: https://dlr.sd.gov/workforce_services/individuals/training_opportunities/apprenticeship.aspx#workers
• Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/apprenticeshiptn.html
• Texas: https://www.twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/registered-apprenticeship-training-programs-job-seekers#becomeARegisteredApprentice
• Utah: https://jobs.utah.gov/apprenticeship/
• Vermont: https://labor.vermont.gov/apprenticeship
• Virginia: https://www.doli.virginia.gov/apprenticeship/
• Washington: https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/apprenticeship/become-an-apprentice
• West Virginia: https://workforcewv.org/job-seekers
• Wisconsin: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/apprenticeship/individuals.htm#2
• Wyoming: http://buildourwyoming.org/apprenticeship/