Apprenticeship Carolina™
Apprenticeship Carolina™ helps South Carolina employers develop registered apprenticeship programs that combine paid, on-the-job learning with job-related education and structured wage progression.
A division of the South Carolina Technical College System, Apprenticeship Carolina provides no-cost consulting and technical assistance to help employers create, register and maintain programs built around their workforce needs.
Overview
Registered apprenticeships give companies a structured way to develop skilled employees while building a longer-term pipeline for hard-to-fill and high-demand occupations.
Programs combine:
- Paid employment
- Supervised on-the-job learning
- Job-related education
- Progressive wage increases as skills are gained
- A nationally recognized credential upon completion
Apprenticeship programs can be developed for new hires or existing employees who need additional skills, giving companies flexibility to use the model for both workforce recruitment and employee development.
Apprenticeship Carolina works with employers across industries including advanced manufacturing, construction, energy and utilities, health care, information technology, tourism and service industries, and transportation, distribution and logistics.
Employer benefits
Registered apprenticeship allows companies to develop training around the skills their own operation requires while creating a more structured pathway for employees to grow into those roles.
Benefits may include:
- Developing a pipeline of skilled workers
- Creating consistent, standardized training
- Improving employee productivity and job readiness
- Supporting employee retention
- Transferring institutional knowledge and technical expertise
- Strengthening succession planning
- Building career pathways for new and existing employees
Job-related instruction can be provided by a South Carolina technical college, the employer, another training provider or a combination of resources. On-the-job learning takes place at the employer’s worksite and is customized to the occupation and business need.
Tax credit
South Carolina employers with qualifying registered apprenticeship programs may be eligible for a state tax credit.
The credit may equal the greater of:
- $1,000 for each qualifying apprentice employed
- Up to $4,000 of eligible apprenticeship costs
- Up to $6,000 for a qualifying youth apprentice
The amount available depends on the apprentice and qualifying program costs.
More than a tax incentive
The financial benefit is only one part of the program.
Registered apprenticeship gives employers a framework for developing talent over time, combining workplace experience with structured education and measurable skill progression. That can be particularly valuable for occupations where experienced workers are difficult to recruit or where companies need to develop specialized skills internally.
How it works
Employers do not have to design a registered apprenticeship program alone.
At no cost to the employer, an Apprenticeship Carolina consultant can help:
- Explain the registered apprenticeship model
- Identify established apprenticeship models for relevant occupations
- Connect the company with appropriate training and workforce resources
- Develop program standards and a training and education outline around the employer’s needs
- Prepare and submit registration materials to the US Department of Labor
- Support program updates as workforce needs evolve
Apprenticeship Carolina also provides ongoing implementation support after a program is established.
Programs built around the employer
Registered apprenticeship is not limited to traditional skilled trades.
The model can be adapted to occupations across manufacturing, health care, information technology, logistics, energy, hospitality and other industries. Programs may also serve youth apprentices, adult employees or existing workers moving into more advanced roles.
Learn more about Apprenticeship Carolina
Explore registered apprenticeship models, employer resources, program development assistance and examples of apprenticeship programs operating across South Carolina.
