Pre-Apprenticeship Industrial Readiness
Prep for Your Apprenticeship—In 6 Weeks, For Free
Get your foot in the door to the skilled trades industry. These jobs are the backbone of the Michigan economy. Employers are looking for the next generation of workers who can keep their shops moving forward.
Sign up for the details on this fast-track program. It can lead to a full-time paid apprenticeship or an entry level job at a competitive wage.
Apprenticeship = Earn While You Learn
Once you’re hired as an apprentice, your employer trains you in their systems, and you continue to take skills-based classes. You earn a paycheck, gain nationally recognized certification, and build the skills and precision to do the work professionally.
Get Ready in Just 6 Weeks
This pre-apprenticeship program walks you through the essential skills for entry-level jobs or an apprenticeship. At the close, we introduce you to employers looking to hire.
It’s a great choice if you’re ready for a change and don’t want to spend years in school to make it happen.
Program Information
- Cohort 3: September 21 - October 30, 2026
- Days/Times: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Program Length: 6 weeks
- Location: Auburn Hills Campus
- Cost: The program will be provided to the participant at no cost.
- Eligibility: You must be a minimum of 18 years of age or will turn 18 years of age prior to the completion of the program.
Fast Facts
Attend an Info Session
Online via Zoom
Learn more about this face-to-face program: classes included with the training, hands-on components, application details, opportunities to earn certifications, employer partnerships, and more.
Register For August 4 At NoonRegister For August 26 At NoonHands-On Training, Real-World Payoff
Spend six weeks learning beside fifteen other people. Learn theory in the classroom, then apply it in the lab:
- Blueprint reading
- Welding
- Safety
- Measuring systems
- Practical math
You Spend Only Time Here
You do not pay for the training, books, or any other part of the program. Even the application is free. (An employer-funded grant pays for the program.)
If you need help with transportation or childcare, contact Oakland County Michigan Works! They may be able to help.
Your time on the Auburn Hills campus is like a job:
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Monday through Friday
Employers Seek Our Grads
Defense contractors, automotive plants, specialized machine shops—all kinds of industries sign up to interview our students at the end of the pre-apprenticeship training.
They’re interviewing with an eye toward hiring:
- Apprentices
- Entry-level workers
In the six weeks leading up to Interview Day, we’ll help you brush up your interviewing skills and your resume. After Interview Day, you can compare your options with our guidance, too.
Make Math Work for You
Skilled workers depend on practical, applied math to make precise cuts, ensure a good fit, and deliver a profit:
- CNC Operators
- Machinists
- Pipefitters
- Welders
- HVAC Installers
Use your time here in a small class with an attentive instructor to learn what you need to make math work for you. That confidence and accuracy is at the heart of the skilled trades.
Practice Everything in Our Lab
In the lab, you bring the classroom words to life, learning your way around a blueprint, safety measures, and the actual tools. With your team and instructors around you, you move from books and screens to real-world skills.
Certifications, Courses & Credit
Gain knowledge and skills that are recognized by employers, industry, and educational institutions.
Certifications & Endorsements
Through this program, you may earn:
- OSHA 10
- Mike Rowe Work Ethic
- Precision Measurement and Inspection
- MARC Level 1
MARC = Michigan Apprenticeship Readiness Certificate. OCC worked with the state of Michigan to create this certificate. This pre-apprenticeship in skilled trades has a MARC Level I endorsement.
MARC Level 1 means you are ready to enter a registered apprenticeship program (RAP). Earning a MARC Level 1 makes you eligible for more interviews and openings.
Courses
You learn foundational technical skills to get started in high-demand skilled trades. This program includes special skills for maritime or defense applications (think submarines). When you're done, you're ready to work in advanced manufacturing or start an RAP (registered apprenticeship program).
Review the detailed program description for course specifics.
Credit
Most people take this program to get a job. You can also apply this education toward a college degree. Individuals who successfully complete the program are eligible to receive up to eight credits at OCC.
If you go on to an RAP (registered apprenticeship program), this program will count for 120 related technical instruction (RTI) hours towards your RAP.
From Now to Day 1
Sign up, and we’ll email you more information about the program. You can also register for an Info Session.
When you are ready to start down this path, become an OCC student—it’s easy and costs zero dollars.
Apply to OCC
The application process is five simple steps!
- Complete the OCC online application for admission (if you are not already an OCC student). Please allow two business days for processing. If you are a current student, proceed to the next step.
- Set up a MyOCC account and OCC student email.
- Complete the pre-apprenticeship application.
- Complete the online new student orientation. This is accessible through your MyOCC account.
- Optional if needed: If you experience barriers with getting to campus, you may contact Oakland County Michigan Works! They might be able to provide additional support such as mileage or other expenses associated with the training.
Pre-Apprenticeships
Build your skills and launch a career in the trades. Industrial Readiness is only one of your options.
Contact Information
Stefanie Karadian
Program Coordinator
(248) 232-4552