Do I need to live in Guilford County to qualify for a GAP program?

@media screen and (max-width: 767px){.stk-558a4a9 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:16px !important;line-height:1.4em !important;}} No, students do not need to live in Guilford County, NC, or attend high school in Guilford County to qualify.

How does an apprenticeship at Guilford Apprenticeship Partners work?

@media screen and (max-width: 767px){.stk-b875c10 .stk-block-text__text{font-size:16px !important;line-height:1.4em !important;}} You can apply for our youth apprenticeship program starting your junior year of high school. If accepted, you start on-the-job training while you’re still in high school. You are paid for your work as an apprentice, and the cost of all of your tuition, books, and fees are covered as well. @media screen and (max-width: 767px){.stk-f989a6d .stk-block-text__text{font-size:16px !important;line-height:1.4em !important;}} You’ll earn a competitive hourly wage that increases as you progress through the program. Once you’ve completed the apprenticeship, you’ll have earned an associate’s degree from Guilford Technical Community College. If you’d like to continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree, your associate degree credits are eligible for transfer to most state 4-year universities.

Explore a Career in HVAC Technology

Q: Where are GAP apprenticeships available?

@media screen and (max-width: 767px){.stk-1e2c15d .stk-block-text__text{font-size:16px !important;line-height:1.4em !important;}} We provide apprenticeships for high school students throughout Guilford County, North Carolina, including Greensboro, Jamestown, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Oak Ridge, McLeansville, Pleasant Garden, Whitsett, and Sedalia.

Q: How much could I earn as a professional HVAC technician or plumber after I complete a GAP apprenticeship?

@media screen and (max-width: 767px){.stk-b1af83b .stk-block-text__text{font-size:16px !important;line-height:1.4em !important;}} On average, HVAC technicians in the U.S. earn nearly $27 an hour , according to job posting company Indeed, while plumbers average slightly more than that . Additionally, wages for overtime work account for about $6,750 each year. Keep in mind, pay rates will vary based on factors such as location and experience level.

HVAC Youth Apprenticeship

Want to help people and work with your hands?

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Like the idea of installing and repairing appliances and cooling systems?

If so, HVAC could be the right field for you.

Imagine it was a really hot summer day, and you wanted to make your home colder (or it was a really cold day, and you wanted to make it warmer). If your air conditioner or heater stopped working, what would you do? If you didn’t know how to fix it yourself, you’d call someone who could, but what if you could figure it out all on your own? You’d be a HVAC technician (well, almost)! With Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP), you can be.

HVAC icon — a house with a gear inside of it

As a GAP youth apprentice, you will:

Gain the hands-on skills you need

Get paid to go to school and train

Earn a college degree for free

Companies will pay you to work as a youth apprentice. Plus, you can earn a college degree for free, all while you’re still in high school — your fast track to a paycheck and a rewarding career.

Skills for Success as an HVAC Technician

If you’ve always been curious about how things work, enjoy fixing things, like helping people, and don’t like sitting at a desk, a career in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) could be the right fit for you.

Workers in this field often have the following traits in common. How many of these describe you?

Interests

Assembling
Repairing
Building
Technology
Troubleshooting
Electronics
Machines
System constructions

Skills

Technical ability
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Mechanical ability
Resourcefulness
Physical stamina
Customer service
Time management
Hands-on work

School Subjects

Math
Physics
STEM
English
Physical education
Electrical systems
Technical/shop class

Parents…

If this sounds like your child, discover how a GAP apprenticeship can prepare them for career success.

Download a Brochure

The Future of HVAC Careers

Demand is great for skilled HVAC technicians, thanks to a retiring workforce and a lack of qualified workers to fill these roles. In fact, about 40,100 new openings for HVAC technicians are expected through 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With the right training and experience, you could work in places like these:

Hotels
Schools
Businesses
Office Buildings
Shopping Malls
New Construction
Healthcare Facilities
Apartment Complexes
Home Repair Companies

What’s more, the head start you gain from a GAP youth apprenticeship could provide you with a higher-paying position sooner and help you build a more competitive income throughout your career. With experience, you could even become an apprentice mentor yourself — helping to train the next generation of workers.

Ready to jump-start your career?

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Potential Apprenticeship Providers and Employers

At Guilford Apprenticeship Partners (GAP), we work with top HVAC employers in the Piedmont-Triad area to provide the best hands-on youth apprenticeship training. Learn from experienced workers who live in your community, gain valuable skills, and develop strong connections.

Once your GAP apprenticeship is complete, you could continue working with your apprenticeship provider as a regular full-time employee. After all, our apprenticeship partners are looking to invest in you — building their next generation of skilled, loyal workers.

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Berico

Berico Fuels has provided residential heating and cooling fuels and service throughout Greensboro, Eden, and Burlington since 1924.

Learn More

Berkshire

Berkshire Corporation is the global leader in developing and manufacturing products for critical surfaces and controlled environments worldwide.

Learn More

Blue Ridge Companies

Blue Ridge Companies integrate all phases of real estate – development, construction and management in order to operate more efficiently on behalf of its clients.

Learn More

Brady

For 60 years, Brady has delivered reliable building solutions in North Carolina—from HVAC and security to boilers and equipment—tailored to enhance efficiency, safety, and performance.

Learn More

John’s Plumbing

At Johns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Water Purification and Electrical, we love what we do, and it shows in every service we provide.

Learn More

FAQs

Get answers to some of the common questions we hear from interested students just like you.

We provide apprenticeships for high school students throughout Guilford County, North Carolina, including Greensboro, Jamestown, Summerfield, Stokesdale, Oak Ridge, McLeansville, Pleasant Garden, Whitsett, and Sedalia.

No, students do not need to live in Guilford County, NC, or attend high school in Guilford County to qualify.

You can apply for our youth apprenticeship program starting your junior year of high school. If accepted, you start on-the-job training while you’re still in high school. You are paid for your work as an apprentice, and the cost of all of your tuition, books, and fees are covered as well.

You’ll earn a competitive hourly wage that increases as you progress through the program. Once you’ve completed the apprenticeship, you’ll have earned an associate’s degree from Guilford Technical Community College. If you’d like to continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree, your associate degree credits are eligible for transfer to most state 4-year universities.

On average, HVAC technicians in the U.S. earn nearly $27 an hour, according to job posting company Indeed, while plumbers average slightly more than that. Additionally, wages for overtime work account for about $6,750 each year. Keep in mind, pay rates will vary based on factors such as location and experience level.

See Where You Can Work a Youth Apprentice