Registered Utah Apprenticeship - High School Counselors

Myth Busters for High School Counselors

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs are available in only urban areas of the state.
Busted:	Apprenticeship opportunities are available throughout the state. A wide range of occupations are available, from financial teller to automotive technician specialist to air transport pilot. Not all programs are available in every part of the state. The array of available apprenticeable occupations depends on local industry needs.

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs are available only in the building trades.
Busted:	Apprenticeship is not only for the building trades. There are over 800 other trades, arts, occupations, professions, etc. that fit under this training model. New and emerging apprenticeships can be found in the health care and aerospace industries.

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs lack direction and clearly defined standards.
Busted	High school students must be in a registered apprenticeship program. Federal Registration Standards are a set of papers required by the US Department of Labor to establish a registered apprenticeship. Those who complete their training program earn nationally recognized work credentials.

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs exploit cheap student labor.
Busted	Apprentices are not a source of cheap labor. Apprentices actually earn a wage while they train. They usually begin at half the salary of journeymen and receive pay increases as they learn to perform more complex tasks. It is expected that companies who train apprentices will keep them as permanent workers.

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs are for those students not going to college.
Busted:	Apprenticeship in the 21st century requires related instruction as well as on-the-job training. Many apprenticeable occupations require at least an associate’s degree, while some professions require a bachelor’s degree. Many professions require extensive math skills, i.e. electronics, electricians, computer repair technicians, etc. The difference is students immediately get to put academic theory into practice. Skills are used in context. Learning makes more sense.

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs are only for those students not succeeding in regular high school programs.
Busted:	Apprenticeship programs are not a dumping ground for high school students who cannot make it in college. Apprentices work with their hands and brains. They use skills such as math and English in a contextual manner. The apprenticeship training model allows for a student achieve personal and financial success in a career suited to his/her interests and abilities.

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs are not monitored by school personnel.
Busted:	School personnel monitor the student’s required related instruction and on-the-job training while the apprentice is still in high school.

Myth:	Apprenticeship program lead to a dead-end job.
Busted:	High school students can get a head start on a path to a successful career with improved job security, long-term commitment by the employer sponsor, a broader based for advancement and full-time employment. Apprentice graduates are more likely to become supervisors and less likely to experience unemployment than non-apprenticed workers. Upon completion, apprentices gain work credentials that are recognized throughout the nation and world.

Myth:	Apprenticeship programs take a student off track to high school graduation.
Busted:	The SEOP is a vital part to a successful high school apprenticeship experience. The student and counselor develop a plan for graduation. The student is able to graduate and get a head start on his/her career.

Myth:	A student cannot change his/her mind once he/she starts an apprenticeship program.
Busted:	An apprenticeship program requires strong commitment the student’s part. If the student finds he/she has chosen the wrong career direction, a six-month probationary period (or 1000 hours) of training exists for both the employer and the student.