CAT Youth Apprenticeship Program

The Caterpillar Apprenticeship Training in Welding Program allows high school juniors and seniors to work and study at the same time.  Students complete their final two years of high school while working and training inside Caterpillar's Sanford Fabrication facility and at The Innovation Center of Lee County. Welding-related college courses are provided by Central Carolina Community College.  Students also work 30 or more hours per week in the summer between their junior and senior years.

Once students have completed the two-year apprenticeship program and have graduated from high school, they will have earned:

• Industrial Systems Certificate from Central Carolina Community College

• North Carolina Department of Labor High School Apprenticeship Certificate

• Apprenticeship hours to transfer to an adult program

• Career Readiness Certificate

• Proprietary Caterpillar training

• Preferred employment opportunity at Caterpillar (pending meeting full-time employment requirements)