Explore a career path, work with professionals and develop marketable job skills -- all while getting paid for the hours you work.
The Youth Apprenticeship Program (YAP) is designed to offer high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to see direct connections between school learning and employment while working in their occupational field of interest. Students are interviewed and hired by local employers for paid positions in four career areas: Engineering/Technologies, Business and Information Systems, Health Services and Human and Public Service.
The New York State Education Department has approved youth apprenticeship as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program where students earn up to five Regents credits over two years. A one-year option is available in some companies specifically for seniors. Students receive two credits each year for the work experience and one credit for the Senior Project, which must meet a need or solve a problem for the business.
Apprentices work alongside professionals and, where possible, rotate through several areas of the business or department. In each rotation, students work under the direction of one or more coaches, or mentors, who are directly responsible for teaching and supervising them.
All youth apprentices are required to take online courses taught by a BOCES teacher: Electronic Portfolio (fall), for which students can earn articulation credit from Broome Community College, and Work Readiness (spring), for which students take an online written assessment and can earn a technical endorsement on their high school diploma.
Applicants should be passing all their courses and have the potential to attend college. The application process includes completing an application package, including a resume, working papers, course schedule, grades, attendance records, and recommendations from an educator and community member. Participating employers interview selected candidates and make their hiring decision based on the student's qualifications and interest in the occupational area.
"The long journey to becoming an attorney started with my experience at Levene Gouldin &
Thompson, LLP through the Youth Apprenticeship Program. The program provided me with not just a
high school job, but with skills and expereiences that I was able to carry with me
throughout my academic career into the beginning of my legal career."
- Eric A. Scalzo, Esq.
Former Youth Apprentice
Union-Endicott High School '04
This program is a no-cost, value-added option for any district participating in
BOCES Career and Technical Education.