CAREER RESOURCES

Apprenticeships & Internships

Get paid training and real work experience. Learn the difference between each option and where to find one.

Compare Your Options

Many programs use these words in different ways. Here's what each one usually means.

Registered Apprenticeship

Officially registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Pay:
Paid
Length:
1 to 5 years
You learn about:
One occupation
Structure:
  • Set steps for building skills
  • The same standards at every job site
How you learn:
  • On the job
  • In a classroom
What you get:
  • Experience and skills
  • A credential that employers across the industry recognize

Non-Registered Apprenticeship

Many internships are called "apprenticeships" by mistake.

Pay:
Usually paid
Length:
A few months to a couple of years
You learn about:
One occupation
Structure:
  • Set steps and a clear goal
  • Standards may or may not be the same at every job site
How you learn:
  • On the job
  • In a classroom
What you get:
  • Experience and skills
  • A credential that may or may not be recognized by other employers

Internship

Short-term work experience, often for students.

Pay:
Paid, stipend only, unpaid, or for school credit
Length:
A few months to a year
You learn about:
An occupation, field, or industry
Structure:
Rarely has set goals or a plan
How you learn:
  • On the job
  • Sometimes: professional development classes
What you get:
Experience and skills

Tech Apprenticeships

OpenClassrooms Apprenticeships

If you're an eligible U.S. resident, you can get paid to learn and gain experience. Apprenticeships are remote. Sign up for an education program and pick "apprenticeship" as your way to pay.

Visit OpenClassrooms

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps pays a stipend, not an hourly wage. There are many different AmeriCorps programs.

Conservation Corps

Conservation corps have locations all over California and the U.S.

Internships

  • CA Intern Network – part-time, paid internships across California for college and graduate students
  • Handshake – for current students and graduates
  • Internships.com – make a free profile to find internships

Registered Apprenticeships

Jobs with Registered Apprenticeships

Many kinds of jobs have registered apprenticeships, such as:

  • Labor trades
  • Manufacturing
  • Automotive
  • Communications
  • Healthcare
  • IT
  • Customer service
  • Transportation
  • Office admin
  • Education
  • Culinary

Where Apprentices Work

Apprentices work at all kinds of places: private businesses, corporations, and unions. Union jobs cover large areas, so you may be sent to job sites in many places. Classes take place at a central training center. There are several in the Sacramento area.

How to Get a Registered Apprenticeship

  1. Use the links below to find an open apprenticeship, or the organization that offers one.
  2. Apply. You may need to fill out an online application, take tests, and do an interview.

Tip: A pre-apprenticeship program can make it easier to get in. It teaches you the basics first.

Find Registered Apprenticeships

Non-Union Organizations with Registered Apprenticeships

Unions with Apprenticeships

See the list of all unions in California.

See All Guides