Colorado: Where It All Began
Colorado is CareerWise’s flagship hub and the birthplace of our youth apprenticeship movement in the United States.
A Proven Success
Since launching in 2016, CareerWise Colorado has partnered with employers, school districts, and community organizations across the state to create pathways that connect high school students to meaningful careers.
With support from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Colorado Department of Education, and a robust network of partners, CareerWise Colorado has built a proven model that’s now being adopted by states and communities across the country.
The Program
CareerWise Colorado offers a 2–3 year youth apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Students work with employers across 10+ school districts, earning wages while gaining real-world experience and industry-recognized credentials. To ensure both students and employers succeed, CareerWise provides comprehensive support:
For Supervisors: Quarterly supervisor trainings equip mentors with the tools and strategies to effectively support apprentices in the workplace
For Apprentices: Training modules include Business Essentials, CareerWise Orientation: Unboxing Apprenticeship, Unleashing Your Authentic Self, and Apprentice Alliance–all designed to help students build professional skills and confidence.
Teacher Degree Apprenticeship
CareerWise Colorado’s Teacher Degree Apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn program designed for working adults who want to become educators. Apprentices gain paid classroom experience, earn teaching degree credits, and take online courses to apply new skills immediately, all while working for their local school district.
Apprentices count paid, on-the-job learning toward their teaching degree requirements, take college classes for their teacher licensure remotely, and work for their local school district while completing their degree and licensure.
Participating School Districts:
- Ft. Morgan School District
- Bayfield School District
- Salida School District
- Summit School District
- Eagle County School District
- Garfield RE2 School District
- Harrison School District 2
- Garfield County School District 16
- Aspen School District
Apprentice Occupations:
CareerWise collaborates with industry leaders to develop in-demand apprenticeship pathways and training aligned with employer needs to ensure mutual value for businesses and students alike. From healthcare and advanced manufacturing to IT, business operations, and financial services, Colorado apprentices are building careers in industries that are hiring now and will continue to grow for decades to come.
Interested? Find out more about each occupation here:
Colorado Occupations
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Automotive
- Business Operations
- Construction
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial Services
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Information Technology (IT)
- Maintenance Technology
- Real Estate Management
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced Manufacturing occupations
Prepare detailed technical drawings using computer-aided design software.
Set up and operate computer-controlled machine tools to make precision parts.
Assist in designing efficient manufacturing processes and production layouts.
Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments.
Lubricate, clean, or repair machinery, equipment, or parts for industrial operations.
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery.
Assist engineers in designing, developing, and testing mechanical devices and industrial machinery.
Automotive
Automotive occupations
Diagnose, adjust, and repair automotive vehicles and systems.
Business Operations
Business Operations occupations
Plan and coordinate the operations of organizations to ensure efficiency.
Create visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers.
Recruit, screen, and interview applicants. Handle employee relations and benefits. Maintain personnel records and provide clerical support for the HR department.
Translate oral or sign language into another language for clients or organizations.
Coordinate marketing materials, social media, and PR activities to maintain a favorable public image.
Plan, initiate, and manage information technology (IT) projects and guide the work of technical staff.
Support sales teams by managing leads, coordinating contracts, and maintaining client data.
Maintain financial records, process payments/receivables, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Construction
Construction occupations
Prepare cost estimates for product manufacturing or construction projects to aid management in bidding.
Education
Education occupations
Assist a teacher with instructional duties, classroom management, and student support.
Assist special education teachers to provide academic, social, or life skills to students with learning or physical disabilities.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship occupations
General management role involving the coordination of production, sales, or distribution of products/services.
Financial Services
Financial Services occupations
Process insurance claims and record new insurance policies.
Evaluate and authorize approval of commercial or credit loans.
Evaluate insurance applications to decide whether to provide insurance and under what terms.
Handle customer financial transactions and provide advice on banking products and services.
Healthcare
Healthcare occupations
Provide basic patient care under the direction of nursing staff.
Provide basic patient care (monitoring health, feeding, bathing) under the direction of licensed nursing staff.
Clinical Healthcare
Provide basic nursing care for sick or injured patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities.
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician.
Provide basic patient care such as feeding, bathing, and monitoring vital signs under medical supervision.
Surgical Technologist
Hospitality
Hospitality occupations
Direct the preparation and cooking of food and manage kitchen staff under an Executive Chef.
Information Technology (IT)
Information Technology (IT) occupations
Design and develop digital interfaces and back-end web functionality.
Analyze data processing problems to improve computer systems and enhance system compatibility.
Use mathematical and statistical techniques to analyze data and develop insights for business intelligence.
Use mathematical and statistical techniques to analyze data and develop insights for business intelligence.
Provide technical assistance to computer users and troubleshoot hardware/software issues.
Write, test, and maintain the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run.
Test software or products to ensure they meet quality standards and identify defects.
Design user interfaces and digital products, focusing on user experience, layout, and functionality.
Create and maintain website interfaces, graphics, and performance capacity based on user needs.
Maintenance Technology
Maintenance Technology occupations
Plan, direct, and coordinate the operations and maintenance of buildings and facilities.
Real Estate Management
Real Estate Management occupations
Manage the operations of income-producing residential properties (apartments, condos).
Upcoming Events
CareerWise Colorado hosts events throughout the year to connect students, employers, educators, and community partners. From apprentice orientations and career expos to employer engagement sessions and policy meetings, these events bring the apprenticeship community together to learn, network, and celebrate success.
Building Pathways Takes a Village
CareerWise Colorado’s impact wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community. From employers and school districts to workforce boards, funders, and policymakers, our partners share a commitment to creating pathways that work for young people. Together, we’re building a future where every student has access to meaningful careers–and every employer has access to the skilled workforce they need.
