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The Workforce Solution for the Information Technology (IT) Industry
Employment in Information Technology (IT) occupations continues to be one of the fastest growing parts of the U.S. economy. Businesses are continuing to have challenges meeting their IT talent needs and creating a diverse workforce, which is why they are turning to apprenticeship programs to train the highly-skilled employees needed for this fast-paced field.
"Apprentice programs align academic classes, with the teamwork, problem solving, and adaptability of on-the-job training. Apprentices develop a thorough understanding of workplace dynamics in addition to training in current technology."
Ned McCulloch, Global Issue Manager for Skills Development, IBM
Apprenticeship LEADERs in IT
and more
Apprenticeship Works for the IT Industry
For more than a year, the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council has been running the Central Illinois Center of Excellence for Secure Software (CICESS), the first secure software Apprenticeship program in the nation. The apprenticeship was developed by local employers, in partnership with Illinois Central College, who were concerned about the availability of secure software development professionals in their region.
Apprentices are employed part-time during the 32 months of the program, and test for IT certifications at the end of the apprenticeship. The program was designed to address national issues at a local level:
- A significant increase in the number of cyber-attacks by hackers exploiting defective/insecure software
- Unmet need for a workforce capable of developing software which is secure from cyber-attacks
- Unaffordable cost of higher education and unemployment of college graduates
Ready to Get Started with Apprenticeship?
If you want to create your own Apprenticeship program, these resources provide the information and building blocks you need to start designing.
- Read the Apprenticeship FAQs to understand more about the apprenticeship model
- Check out the Quick-Start Toolkit for a step-by-step guide to building apprenticeship programs
- Learn about federal programs that can support apprenticeships in the Federal Resources Playbook
- Access the Apprenticeship Registration Tool for help with registering your program
Additional Resources for the IT Industry
- IT Industry Solutions Factsheet
- On-the-Job Learning and Related Instruction Outlines for IT Apprenticeships
- Information Technology Generalist Occupational Framework
- Cyber Security Support Technician Occupational Framework
- Competency Models for Information Technology
For more resources, program examples, and marketing materials, go to the Information Technology Community of Practice page.
IT Industry Partner Corner
Apprenti
Apprenti, powered by the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA), is an industry-recognized, state and nationally accredited program. Apprentices receive two to five months of full-time training then begin one year of paid on-the-job training with one of the program's hiring partners. Apprenti provides a reliable pipeline for underrepresented groups such as minorities, women and veterans to gain training, certification and placement within the talent-hungry technology industry.
On July 11, WTIA hosted a Tech apprenticeship Summit in Denver, CO, including employers, American Apprenticeship Initiative grantees, education and training providers, workforce development organizations, business associations, foundations and state apprenticeship agencies.
"Apprenti offers an innovative approach to an issue of increasing urgency for employers in Washington State: a skilled workforce that reflects the diversity of its partners, customers and communities. It is essential to our company's and the technology industry's long-term, competitive growth that we recruit and retain talent from a more diverse population."
Julian Eames Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at F5 Networks
Apprentice Success Stories
Rami is an immigrant from Tunisia who has an ICT degree. When he came to the US, he was unable to get a job in a tech career so he worked as a truck driver delivering food to food banks. Through the Apprenti program, he was selected for a software developer apprenticeship at Microsoft. He is currently receiving five months of full-time training through Code Fellows and TLG to prepare for his new occupation. His starting wage in the Windows Devices group will be $51K. Apprenti gave him a pathway to a high-wage career in a high-demand field.
Darcy graduated with a fine art degree and was unable to advance out of low-wage customer service jobs. Through Apprenti, she was selected for a web developer apprenticeship at F5 and received five months of intensive training through Code Fellows prior to going on the job. She is currently earning $45K as a starting wage and committed to supporting future tech apprentices to reach their career goals.
When Bevin got out of the Marines, he worked as a bouncer at a bar while pursuing a bachelors degree in computer science. He applied to Apprenti and was selected for a Cloud Support Specialist apprenticeship at Amazon. He received three months of full-time training where he received a certification in Network+. He is currently working at Amazon at a starting wage of $50K plus benefits, which enables him to support his young daughter. While he is working at Amazon, he will also pursue certifications in MCSA, Linux+ and Security+.
Questions?
Contact your State Apprenticeship Office or e-mail Apprenticeship@dol.gov.
