• Be at least 16 years of age and a sincere interest in the occupation or career.
• Enrolled in a local high school, alternative or adult education, or home schooled program.
• Be of junior or senior year status and on track for graduation.
• Be physically and mentality capable of performing the tasks and duties of the occupation or career.
• Meet all employer pre-hiring and hiring requirements, including completion of paperwork and successfully passing a drug test and/or a physical.
• Complete all STRA Program and Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training paperwork, provide any requested documentation, and secure appropriate signatures, including parent signatures when applicable.
• Have access to reliable transportation to and from the work site in the summer and during the school year.
• Be available a minimum of 6 weeks during the summer for any initial classroom instruction, as well participation in the Summer Work Experience.
• Meet all local school and/or technical school work-based learning participation requirements.
• Maintain an "on time" graduation status at all times.
• Agree to abide by all STRA Program, Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training, technical school, and local school rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

In addition, employers prefer candidates who:

• Have a serious desire to become a professional in a specific occupation or career.
• Exhibits a willingness to work hard to achieve education, employment, occupation, and career goals.
• Has had some occupational classroom instruction and/or work experience.
• Has shown satisfactory academic and technical classroom progress and performance.
• Has exhibited good work habits and exhibits the ability to follow directions and complete assignments.
• Is committed to doing quality work in a timely manner.

Employers wishing to be considered for STRA Program must meet the following minimum requirements:

• The business must have training personnel who have appropriate and sufficient experience, and are capable to properly training an apprentice.
• The ratio of apprentice to professional provides proper supervision, training, and safety.
• The training facility and equipment must be up-to-date, in working order, and safe.
• Apprentices must receive proper safety training.
• The business must comply with all state and federal employment and training laws, rules, policies, and regulations.
• Must provide and include The of Compliance with EEO Laws with all Occupational Standards.
• Employers with more than five apprentices must also adopt a written affirmative action plan.

In addition, careers and occupations offered by a business or employer must be Apprenticeable. An Apprenticeable Occupation or Career is defined by the requirements listed below:

• It is a high skilled, high quality, and high wage occupation or career.
• It is an occupation or career whereby there is systematic, continual, and progressive occupational task mastery based upon previous task competency achievement, resulting in the individuals eventual obtainment of the status of "professional" for that specific occupation or career.
• The occupation is one that provides a starting wage at the recommended amount of half what a professional earns at that business performing the same occupation.
• It includes a wage progression scale whereby the individual's wages are increased, given successful job performance, at pre-determined intervals until the individual reaches a professional's salary.
• It is an occupation or career that is clearly identified and commonly recognized by those throughout an industry.
• It can be learned in a practical way through a structured, systematic program of technical classroom instruction, and supervised on-the-job training.
• The occupation requires a minimum of 2000 hours of on-the-job training to learn the necessary skills.
• The occupation requires a recommended 144 hours per year of related technical instruction.

To learn about STRA, click on any item below and you will get information regarding:

• The Apprenticeship System of Training
• STRA and Michigan's Career Preparation System
• Program Benefits and Commitments
• Program Requirements for Students and Employers
• The STRA Program Student "Selection Process"
• Student Apprentice Summer & School Year Program Activities
• Program Completion and Nationally Recognized Credentials
• Career Pathways
  
  • Apprenticeable Careers and Occupations
• STRA Program Coordinators and Contacts
• STRA Program Resources, Activities, and Updates
• 50 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Apprenticeships