FRCC is the first college in Colorado participating in the federal ambassadorship program.
Front Range Community College has been named an Apprenticeship Ambassador by the US Department of Labor (DOL). The goal of this federal initiative is to expand, strengthen, promote and diversify apprenticeships around the country.
Fast-Track to a New Career
Apprentices get paid to learn new skills and certifications for their particular field of work—launching them quickly into new careers in growing industries like health care and information technology. These nationally recognized immersive training programs combine real work with learning—both on and off the job.
FRCC is the first educational institution in Colorado participating in the federal ambassadorship program.
Helping Employers Train Skilled Workers
“Apprenticeships are a critical component of the state’s workforce development strategy,” said Chris Heuston, who leads FRCC’s apprenticeship efforts. “They create a more direct training and hiring link between job seekers and employers.”
“Apprenticeships also help increase workforce diversity by giving historically underserved individuals access to career pathways in Colorado’s high-demand industries,” she added. “By connecting education and skill training with on-the-job learning, apprenticeships expand students’ career opportunities and help local businesses train the talent they need for hard-to-fill positions.”
FRCC Expanding Tech Apprenticeships
Front Range Community College currently partners with 27 local employers to offer apprenticeships in high-demand health care occupations, as well as manufacturing and tree care. The college is currently looking for new business partners to expand its offerings in health care, information technology and other fields.
“Cybersecurity is a special focus for the DOL’s work—and almost every business and government agency employs information technology professionals in cyber and other specializations,” said Janel Highfill, FRCC’s associate vice president of workforce development.
“With stiff competition for tech professionals, apprenticeships help employers open new hiring pipelines—and also give their current employees an opportunity to upskill. It’s a really effective way to fill these critical positions with highly-trained workers.”
What Do Apprenticeship Ambassadors Do?
As champions for registered apprenticeship, ambassadors will partner with the DOL to:
- Promote and expand awareness of the benefits of registered apprenticeship in the US;
- Identify and scale innovative practices and partnerships to modernize, strengthen and accelerate the adoption of the registered apprenticeship model;
- Increase access and support for underrepresented and underserved populations in registered apprenticeship—including women, youth, people of color, rural communities, justice-involved individuals and people with disabilities;
- Communicate the business case for registered apprenticeship as a mainstream workforce strategy for high-demand industries—one that creates opportunities for good jobs for all Americans across the economy.
As a group, ambassador organizations around the US have committed to hosting 3,367 outreach and recruitment activities, 892 training session and 717 promotional meetings related to apprenticeships. They have also pledged to develop 460 new registered apprenticeship programs and 387 resources in their first year as ambassadors.
Getting Paid to Start a New Career
Front Range Community College partners with area businesses to combine paid on-the-job training (provided by the employer) with related instruction (provided by the college). FRCC apprenticeships provide students a seamless transition from education to employment—and allows them to earn while they learn.
Over the last year, FRCC has served 324 apprentices and pre-apprentices in our health care, manufacturing and tree care apprenticeship programs. In addition to getting paid while going to school, 92% of our apprentices have completed their FRCC certificate while working in their chosen field.
Interested in Being an Apprentice?
Becoming an apprentice gives you the opportunity to get real-world, on-the-job training in a high-demand field—all while being paid competitive wages. Learn how you can gain a competitive advantage in the workforce, and open the door to higher wages and career advancement.
Explore FRCC’s apprenticeship options.
For individuals who want to work in health care, the college offers monthly information sessions for our apprenticeships in medical assisting, pharmacy tech, surgical tech and sterile processing.
Join us online:
• Second Wednesday of each month
• 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Register here to join us on Zoom.
Interested in Creating an Apprenticeship for Your Business?
Working with FRCC to create an apprenticeship helps employers attract and retain highly skilled workers. Apprentices complete these programs ready to succeed in your organization’s high-demand, hard-to-fill positions.
Each apprenticeship is unique because the structure and format is based on the needs of the employer and industry. FRCC’s team can help design an apprenticeship program that is tailored specifically to your organization’s needs.
More information about partnering with FRCC.
About Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College offers 200 degrees and certificates in a wide variety of programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County and Westminster—as well as online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving 138,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities.
