An apprenticeship is a job. You are hired, you are paid from day one, and your classroom instruction happens alongside the work rather than before it.
Kansas runs its own program. The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship (ksapprenticeship.org) operates as a State Apprenticeship Agency, administering the program directly in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor. Employer participation has grown substantially, with more than 4,000 active apprentices across the state in 2026.
The structure. Paid on-the-job learning supervised by an experienced mentor, combined with related technical instruction, ending in a nationally recognized, industry-specific credential. Wages progress as your skills do.
You can start in high school. Kansas Youth Apprenticeship is a paid employment and training opportunity that can begin as early as age 16. Youth apprentices may work part-time, and on-the-job training is not tied to your graduation date, so it can continue after you finish high school. Most adult programs set a minimum age of 18, though each industry sets its own requirement and there is no upper age limit.
College credit often applies. Many Kansas community and technical colleges award credit for the required related instruction, so classroom hours can count toward a degree later.
How to apply. Apply directly with employers, or create a job seeker account at kansasworks.com. For opportunities outside Kansas, apprenticeship.gov is the national finder.
Fields available. Construction, healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, culinary arts, and a growing list of others.
Sources: Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, ksapprenticeship.org, ksapprenticeship.org/youth-apprenticeship, ksapprenticeship.org/become-an-apprentice; Kansas Department of Commerce, kansascommerce.gov/workforce/kansasregisteredapprenticeship; KANSASWORKS, kansasworks.com; Apprenticeship.gov.