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Apprenticeship programs in Florida report growth, push outreach and new career pathways
Summary
College and industry witnesses told a Florida House subcommittee that apprenticeship programs are expanding in numbers and occupations, yield high placement and pay, and increasingly target nontraditional students through outreach, virtual instruction and articulation agreements with colleges.
College leaders and industry representatives told the Florida House Careers and Workforce Subcommittee that apprenticeship programs in the state are growing in scale and scope and that apprenticeships offer a tuition‑free alternative pathway to steady, higher-paying jobs.
At the start of the hearing, committee materials and witnesses cited Apprentice Florida figures showing a total of 329 registered apprenticeship programs and 19,214 active apprentices between July 2023 and June 2024, with 6,043 new apprentices registered in that period. Panelists described employers (about 1,100) offering apprenticeships in 129 occupations and said average starting annual pay for apprentices was approximately $34,000 with average exit salaries above $57,000.
Panelists’ descriptions and outcomes
Dr. Paul Brodie, president of Santa Fe College, said the college’s career and technical education (CTE) programs report high placement: "When you get to our CTE programs, we boast a 95% job placement rate." Brodie said Santa Fe is expanding electrical, welding and HVAC offerings and is adding semiconductor and advanced manufacturing training.
Peter Daiga, of ABC Institute, said his organization is the largest apprenticeship education provider in the state and reported an enrollment snapshot: "We have a student enrollment of 923, 654 of which are registered apprentices and 239 craft trainees," and that 72% of their enrollment are minorities.
Employers and outreach
Chris Johnson, president of Piper Fire Protection, described employer-led recruitment through high schools and community groups and said incentives that resonate with parents include "the no debt and having a well paid career." He described company practices — paying some fees, buying tools and offering attendance or grade bonuses — to help apprentices succeed.
Panelists said apprenticeship is expanding beyond traditional trades. Santa Fe College described pilot or planned apprenticeship programs in accounting/bookkeeping, cybersecurity/networking and surgical technology. Panelists also described articulation agreements so apprenticeship-related credit can transfer to associate degrees or business degrees; Daiga recommended statewide credit recognition for registered apprenticeship completion.
Barriers and program supports
Witnesses listed recurring barriers: instructor shortages, facility space, caps tied to LEA contract terms, and inconsistent CareerSource funding by region. Panelists described administrative requirements (attendance and OJT reporting, RAPIDS records) and said virtual delivery for related technical instruction is emerging as an option while on-the-job training remains in person.
Panelists highlighted grants and local programs that helped growth: Santa Fe cited a $560,000 ERAP grant that expanded its apprenticeship program by 28%; Brodie and others pointed to Open Door funding used for short-term training (for example, CDL) that would otherwise not qualify for federal student aid.
Ending — workforce implications and outreach asks
Panelists urged sustained legislative support for apprenticeship expansion, recommended visits by legislators to local labs and graduation events, and provided contact resources (ABC Institute’s wetrain.org and the American Fire Sprinkler Association at firesprinkler.org). They emphasized apprenticeships’ role in producing locally based jobs that cannot be outsourced and encouraged investments to lower average apprentice age and increase high‑school recruitment.
