2. Employment & Training
3. Partners
4. YA Coordinator Resources
5. Related Instruction Requirement

YA Program Related Technical Instruction Requirement

What is required for YA related technical instruction?

Requirements

• A minimum of 1 high school credit (or 2 semesters of related instruction) or 3 college credits of related classroom instruction is required for each year of YA program participation. Apprenticeships are based on simultaneous related instruction and on-the-job learning, 250 of those work hours must coincide with the related instruction.
• The student must receive high school credit towards graduation for the Related Technical Instruction, no matter the provider
• The Program Area Learning Objectives are the foundation for the Related Technical Instruction
• Learning Objectives may be taught on-the-job and/or through the Related Technical Instruction, but all of the applicable Learning Objectives must be covered

Options

• Local Consortiums identify and/or develop course work that supports the work-based competencies on the Skills Standards Checklist. The consortium must ensure that the Related Technical Instruction meets with the approval of the school's administration and school board.
• Related Instruction may be offered by:
  • the employer
  • within the school district
  • at another school district
  • online
  • at a Wisconsin Technical College
  • at a Community College or University
  • by instructors qualified according to the Youth Apprenticeship Program Operations Manual
  • trade training center

Recommendations by Program Area

• Related Technical Instruction courses should coincide as much as possible to occupational program requirements if the student intends to continue in the Wisconsin Technical College System

Secondary and Post-Secondary Articulation

• The YA student's local school district must provide secondary credit toward graduation for the YA Related Technical Instruction and the work-based learning component of the program. The amount of credit is determined by the school district
• Local YA consortiums and school districts are encouraged to establish articulation agreements with their technical college for credits for students who complete one or two year YA programs and/or Related Technical Instruction courses

Instructor Qualifications

Instructor qualifications are flexible so that local consortiums may hire the most appropriate instructor for their program. Evidence of instructor qualifications should be documented in local program files.

• High school instructors who teach the Related Technical Instruction must be licensed to teach in that occupational area (if applicable) and have demonstrated knowledge of current business practices and techniques either through continuing education credits, recent work history in the industry,and/or technical college certification
• Technical college instructors who teach the Related Technical Instruction must be certified by the Wisconsin Technical College System to teach in the specific occupational area/industry
• Industry trainers who teach the Related Technical Instruction must have at least three years experience in the industry or business or be a qualified journeyman. It is recommended that trainers be certified by the local technical college and/or an appropriate trade or industry association (e.g. the American Institute of Business), and/or be team teaching with a certified instructor and have experience teaching high school age youth.

Classroom Evaluation

YA students must:

• Maintain good attendance at school and on the job, as defined by the local consortium
• Perform at an acceptable level in both the Related Technical Instruction class and at the worksite as determined by the local consortium

Classroom Evaluation:

• Employer mentors at the worksite rate the work-based competencies in the Checklist
• The instructor of the Related Technical Instruction class should rate the classroom competencies according to local consortium policy
• It is the responsibility of participating school districts and the local steering committee to develop comparable letter grading procedures for program performance if required by the local school district

Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Program Operations Manual 2025 (PDF)