OK CareerTech to expand apprenticeship program

Gov. Kevin Stitt called for more apprenticeship opportunities during his recent State of the State Address last week. Oklahoma CareerTech, whose apprenticeship program already leads the state, responded with support and excitement for the future.

The Governor's call to action

"I'm calling on businesses, schools, and universities to create 250 new apprenticeship programs this year. Let's get it done," Stitt said during his speech.

It's all part of his continued efforts to make Oklahoma a business-friendly state.

Brent Haken, state director of OK CareerTech, said he supports this mission and agrees investing in Oklahoma's workforce is one way to do it.

"We just couldn't be more excited about the attention that the governor gave to this effort," Haken said.

What is an OK CareerTech Apprenticeship?

With 29 campuses across the state, Oklahoma CareerTech already offers countless apprenticeships that allow students to earn wages, gain on-the-job experience, receive mentorship, and obtain industry-recognized credentials in their chosen fields.

The opportunities span multiple disciplines, from healthcare to mechanics.

For students in high school, they can spend half their days at a CareerTech technology center learning a trade. For adults, they can split time with an employer partnered with a technology center to learn while they work.

"It's a really unique situation and lets people earn while they learn," Haken said. "We want to provide opportunities for people to have real experiences, hands-on experiences in work, but get that education they need to be successful as well."

What's next?

"I think we'll far exceed the 250 apprenticeships that the governor is seeking," Haken said.

He explained the flexibility of their apprenticeship program, fostering the creation of new opportunities through customization.

"Really what that means is you're adding pathways that can be built out," Haken said. "One student may be successful in that and then another student could follow in that same pathway."

In 2024, a federal grant of more than $500,000 helped CareerTech expand U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeships in the state, and agency leaders now hope the increase in state support sets them up for success in 2025.