New apprenticeship pathway places recent high school graduates in Governors’ Offices while they earn college credit toward a bachelor’s degree
Washington, D.C. — CareerWise today announced a groundbreaking partnership with the National Governors Association (NGA) and Western Governors University (WGU) to establish the Governors Youth Apprenticeship Program—a first-of-its-kind pathway designed to cultivate the next generation of state government leaders.
The inaugural Government Policy Specialist Youth Apprenticeship is a competency-based program that places recent high school graduates directly in a Governor’s Office or executive branch agency. Apprentices will gain hands-on experience in public policy, operations, and project management while earning affordable, transferable college credit toward a bachelor’s degree. The program blends real-world application with structured academic learning to strengthen state public service workforces and create a scalable, modern model for government talent development.
“Governors are continuing to rely on apprenticeship as a key strategy for economic growth,” said Jack Porter, Program Director, Workforce Development and Economic Policy Program at the National Governors Association. “As part of that, Governors are standing up apprenticeship programs in executive branch offices under their jurisdiction to address workforce shortages in the public sector. This new effort will provide Governors with the tools they need to develop and scale programs that help build the next generation of talent in state government.”
“This partnership gives apprentices a distinct advantage,” said Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson, Executive Director of Work-Based Pathways at Western Governors University. “Our competency-based model recognizes what students already know and allows them to advance as they demonstrate mastery. By integrating paid, real-world experience into the academic pathway, WGU ensures graduates leave with not just a credential, but the skills, experience, and confidence to lead in public service.”
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to reimagining how young people enter public service and expanding that workforce to meet the need,” said Brent Parton, CareerWise President and CEO. “Careerwise is proud to be the connective tissue between Governors’ Offices and emerging talent and together we are building a scalable pathway that benefits states and students alike.”
As NGA Chair, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has placed a significant emphasis on career-connected learning through his Chairs Initiative, Reigniting the American Dream. “America’s story is one built on gritty ambition, where the future isn’t dictated by the circumstances of your birth but by what you’re willing to work hard to build,” said Gov. Stitt. “That spirit, the belief that opportunity is earned – not inherited – and that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, is the heartbeat of the United States of America.” (as cited in 2/21/26 NGA press release)
The Governors Youth Apprenticeship Program demonstrates how states can harness youth apprenticeship to inject innovation, efficiency, and long-term talent pipelines into state government. The program addresses two urgent national priorities: strengthening state government talent pipelines and expanding affordable postsecondary pathways for young people. By integrating paid, high-quality work experience with degree-aligned learning, the program offers a debt-conscious alternative to traditional education pathways while preparing apprentices for impactful public service careers.
Through this partnership, NGA, CareerWise, and WGU will provide governors with comprehensive, turnkey support to launch and scale the program in their states.
Apprentices will earn stackable, competency-based credentials that can build into bachelor’s degrees at WGU or articulate to local universities—ensuring portability and long-term career mobility.
Media Contact: Shauna Harman, Director of Marketing & Communications at CareerWise, shaunaharman@careerwiseusa.org, 317-345-1496
CareerWise is a national nonprofit organization leading the movement to connect young people to meaningful careers through education-to-career pathways. Moving beyond the limitations of a one-size-fits-all college model, CareerWise architects and advances real solutions that connect education with meaningful careers through career accelerator infrastructure, including its gold standard youth apprenticeship programs. Drawing on nearly a decade of hands-on experience, the organization directly implements programs supporting 2,500+ high school aged apprentices, touching hundreds of communities and school districts across the country. Careerwise also supports 80+ intermediaries across 35 states and partners with businesses of all sizes, from innovative startups to Fortune 500 companies. CareerWise is not just envisioning a new system—it’s actively building it, giving more young people a path to economic success while ensuring new talent for the most critical sectors.
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the voice of the leaders of 55 states, territories, and commonwealths. Our nation’s Governors are dedicated to leading bipartisan solutions that improve citizens’ lives through state government. Through NGA, Governors identify priority issues and deal with matters of public policy and governance at the state, national and global levels.
WGU’s mission is to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity. That mission drives lasting impact for individuals and communities while strengthening the talent economy of tomorrow.
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors, the nonprofit was founded on the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not—and that education is a powerful catalyst for upward mobility and workforce resilience. Purpose-built as a tech-enabled, competency-based university, WGU expands access to affordable, high-quality education through workforce-aligned programs and pathways that deliver value for students, particularly those not well served by traditional higher education.
By continually reimagining how education is designed, delivered, and accessed, WGU connects talent to opportunity and advances economic mobility for individuals and families. This model prepares learners for in-demand roles and supports a workforce equipped to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving economy.