For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: April 27, 2026
Wisconsin apprentices gain new pathway to associate degrees
Fennimore -
As part of National Apprenticeship Week (April 26–May 2), Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, in partnership with the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) is announcing a major advancement that will help Wisconsin apprentices earn associate degrees more quickly and affordably.
This new pathway will especially benefit apprentices in the Southwest Tech district, where employers continue to need highly-skilled workers.
Individuals who have completed a Wisconsin-registered apprenticeship can now apply their knowledge directly toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. If an apprentice has completed at least 400 hours of paid, DWD-approved classroom instruction, that learning will automatically count toward the degree, regardless of whether the instruction was delivered by a WTCS college or another approved provider.
Apprenticeship completers automatically receive 39 of the 60 credits required for the Technical Studies – Journeyworker AAS degree.
To complete the degree, apprentices need only:
• 15 general education credits
• 6 elective credits
These remaining 21 credits can be completed at Southwest Tech. “Apprenticeships have always been about opportunity; earning a paycheck while building valuable skills,” said Dan Imhoff, program dean of Southwest Tech’s apprenticeship programs. “Now, we’re strengthening that model by ensuring those efforts translate seamlessly into a degree that can open even more doors.”
Southwest Tech offers apprenticeship training in these fields: Construction Electrician, Industrial Electrician, Plumbing, and Technical Studies – Journeyworker.
Wisconsin has been a national leader in apprenticeship since 1911, when the Wisconsin Technical College System and the state’s registered apprenticeship model were established. In 1991, Wisconsin introduced the first Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program in the U.S. Another option is the growing Certified Pre-Apprenticeship program, which prepares aspiring apprentices to enter a registered apprenticeship program. In recent years, apprenticeship participation has reached record levels, as more employers and learners join the system. Recently, apprenticeship opportunities have expanded beyond the trades to include such fields as health care, information technology, human services, and education.
Statewide, apprentices who complete their related instruction through a Wisconsin technical college earn a median salary of $93,000 (WTCS Apprenticeship Completion Report, 2023-2024).
Next Steps for Apprentices
Individuals interested in completing the Technical Studies – Journeyworker AAS degree can contact:
• The apprenticeship advisor at the college where they took, or want to take, their classroom instruction, or
• Any WTCS college where they already have, or are earning, 15 or more credits toward the degree
“Apprentice earnings continue to reflect strong demand among employers in Wisconsin,” said Layla Merrifield, president of Wisconsin Technical College System. “I don’t know of any other program where students can earn while they learn, often completing all training with zero debt. And now with the option to more easily turn their journeyworker credential into an Associate of Applied Science degree, apprentices will be even better equipped for future success.”
• Learn more: swtc.edu/academics/apprenticeships/