Looking to recruit, train, and upskill new or existing employees in youth-serving roles? FHI 360’s innovative Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship (YDPA) equips apprentices with essential job readiness skills and empowers them to become effective practitioners in youth development careers.
Both existing employees and new hires are eligible to participate in the YDPA. This apprenticeship is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and provides an opportunity for structured, on-the-job learning in roles such as intake counseling, after-school programming, outreach work, justice reentry, and more.
By investing in apprenticeships, employers demonstrate their dedication to access, inclusion, and professional development, all while building a pipeline of talented professionals passionate about serving young people.
Apprenticeships help young people build skills and community.
Read about the YDPA experience.
The Apprenticeship Commitment
Apprentices commit to 2,000 hours* of on-the-job learning, along with 165 hours of related coursework. Coursework for YDPA is completed online.
*Existing employees may receive a signed endorsement verifying up to 1,000 hours of previous on-the-job learning.
What apprentices learn: The 165 hours of related training are across nine distinctive modules.
1. Positive Youth Development Principles & Relationships
2. Coaching, Planning & Support
3. Group Facilitation
4. Career Pathways
5. Career Case Management
6. Leveraging Technology
7. Understanding How Youth Organizations Work
8. Professional Development
9. Self-Care
To learn more about becoming an employer that sponsors an apprentice in your organization or to learn about becoming an apprentice, schedule a conversation with a NIWL apprenticeship specialist by emailing apprenticeship@fhi360.org
A Week in the Life of an Apprentice
Each week, Youth Development Practitioner Apprentices spend about 60% of their time completing tasks aligned with their jobs, 30% of their time on the job with their mentor, and 10% of their time completing related training.
