Apprenticeship is a voluntary system of employee training.
The person learning the trade is called the Apprentice , and is taught by a skilled worker, called a Journeyman . The technical education may be provided by either the employer, a local community college or technical institute, or through correspondence courses. The programs usually take 3 to 4 years to complete and require at least 144 hours of related instruction per year. Apprenticeship Programs are registered with the North Carolina Department of Labor Apprenticeship and Training Bureau. The Bureau provides free assistance to the employer and the Apprentice, and certifies the training program and the newly-trained graduate.