When choosing apprenticeship courses, it is your responsibility to determine whether the course is recognized as part of the apprenticeship program in which you are enrolled. It is also important to evaluate the quality of the course providers and instructors. In many cases, you may have the opportunity to take apprenticeship courses as part of a program that can lead to an academic degree, and if this option interests you, you should choose a course provider who can also issue academic credit for your coursework. Other considerations include course schedules, locations, and tuition.
Apprenticeship is a form of preparation for a trade that involves learning through supervised work. In many cases, however, there is a formal education component to apprenticeship programs. This means that in addition to actually working in a particular trade, the apprentice must also complete formal course work either in a classroom or through distance learning. As taking apprenticeship courses is often crucial to successfully completing an apprenticeship, it is important that you ensure that the courses are actually compatible with the apprenticeship program in which you are enrolled. The best way to do this is to speak to the coordinator of your apprenticeship program about which apprenticeship courses are approved for you to take.
Once you have a list of apprenticeship courses, you should begin to investigate the schools or organizations that provide them. Although they may all be recognized as providers by your apprenticeship supervisor, some may offer a higher-quality education than others. Ask other people in your trade their opinions of the schools and their instructors. In some places, apprenticeship courses may be taught through colleges and universities, giving you the opportunity to earn academic credit that you can later apply to an undergraduate degree. If you aspire to earning a college degree or think that you may wish to change careers later on, taking courses through an academic institution might be a good idea.
Other considerations include the logistics of attending and paying for apprenticeship courses. In some cases, you may receive financial assistance through your apprenticeship or the government for paying for your courses. Alternatively, you may be responsible for paying tuition and fees on your own. In such cases, you'll want to pay attention to course costs before enrolling. You should also consider enrolling in courses at a location convenient to your workplace to reduce your travel time and stress while you complete your program.
