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NEXT EVENT: NCTAP Facility Tours | January – February 2027 | Partner company facilities | SIGN UP FOR A TOUR

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ANNUAL NCTAP SELECTION TIMELINE

Annual NCTAP selection timeline: Oct-Nov high school visits, Jan-Feb facility tours, Mar-Apr student orientation, Jun-Jul pre-apprenticeship, September apprenticeship begins

  • Entry into the NCTAP Apprenticeship Program is through the pre apprenticeship summer program.

  • High school Juniors and Seniors are invited to apply for the pre apprenticeship summer program. The selection process for the pre apprenticeship program is competitive. NCTAP companies are looking for students with a desire to work with their hands. Students must have the drive to work hard, be professional, and actively learn from the program.

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NCTAP CANDIDATE PROFILE

NCTAP IS LOOKING FOR...

  • High school juniors or seniors looking for a future-ready career with a 2.8+ unweighted GPA (4.0 scale)

  • Interest in a career in engineering, manufacturing, or automotive

  • Strong math skills, and an interest in physics

  • Good communication skills

  • Great attendance and a will to learn

TIMELINE DETAILS

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER — SCHOOL VISITS

Many local schools invite NCTAP companies to give a presentation about the apprenticeship program in October or November each year. Check with your high school Career Development Coordinator or Counselor to see when NCTAP will visit your school. All grade levels are welcome to attend, but only juniors and seniors may apply to the pre-apprenticeship program.

 

JANUARY / FEBRUARY — FACILITY TOURS

The first step in the selection process is to attend one or more facility tours held in January and February each year. Students interested in applying must attend at least one facility tour but are encouraged to attend as many as possible. If under 18, a parent/guardian is required to attend with their student. Check the Events page for dates and times.

 

MARCH / APRIL — STUDENT ORIENTATION

After attending the facility tours, students are invited to student orientation sessions held over four evenings (15 hours total) in March and April. At the end of orientation, students select their top companies, and NCTAP companies then make their selections for the summer pre-apprenticeship program. Students not selected are welcome to apply again the next year.

SUMMER & BEYOND

JUNE / JULY — PRE-APPRENTICESHIP

Students selected for the pre-apprenticeship program work for one of the NCTAP companies for 6 weeks during the summer while attending two classes at a local community college. Pre-apprentices are paid for their work. Pre-apprentices should be prepared to maintain excellent attendance at work and at the community college. Even one absence from one of the five week-long community college classes will cause the student to be removed from the class, which will eliminate them from the program. NCTAP companies expect their pre-apprentices and apprentices to display professional behavior on the job, with attention to detail, and achievement of good grades in their community college classes. At the end of the 6-week pre-apprenticeship, the top pre-apprentices are selected to move forward to the apprenticeship program.

 

SEPTEMBER — APPRENTICESHIP YEAR 1

If selected for an apprenticeship, the high school senior will attend high school classes for half a day and work for their sponsor company half a day. If a student has already graduated from high school, they will work at the sponsor company during the next school year.

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