For most apprenticeship programs, you must be 18 years old and a high school graduate. And most apprenticeship programs pay a lot of attention to how well you did in high school… to see if you’re ready for the responsibility of a skilled career.

So, how can you prepare?

	Work hard in high school and take as many math and science classes as you can. Most apprenticeships today are in highly technical fields. You’ll need a good background in math and science to do well. Take as many math and science classes as you can. And see if your school offers advanced classes.
	Do well on the HSPE. Your 10th grade exam scores matter for high school graduation. They also matter to employers who run apprenticeship programs. They want to know that their apprentices have good basic skills in reading, writing, and math. Work hard, and remember that you can retake the exam if you need to.
	Explore different careers. You will probably have many opportunities during high school to explore different careers. Find out what you’re interested in and what you want to do. Once you have selected a dream career, you can see if that career offers an apprenticeship program. Your high school’s Career Center will have many different aptitude and interest tests you can take to help you decide on a good career choice.
	Get college credit during high school. Starting when you’re a junior in high school, you may be able to earn college credit. You may even be able to take courses to prepare for your apprenticeship. Your school’s Career Center can help you learn about two programs that allow you to earn college credit during high school: Running Start and Tech Prep.
	Find an apprenticeship program and enroll! Once you’ve decided on a career path, your high school’s Career Center can help you find and apply for an apprenticeship program or apply for a job at a business or organization that will then start you in an apprenticeship program. There are currently over 12,000 apprentices working in Washington State. Maybe someday you can be one too!