Apprenticeship

Future apprentices

How many hours per week do apprentices work?

Required program hours increase year over year and vary by year:

Year 1: 16 hours per week.

Year 2: 16 to 24 hours per week.

Year 3: 24 or more hours per week.

What transportation methods do apprentices use to get to Pinnacol?

There are numerous ways for our apprentices to get to the Pinnacol office.

Most rely on public transportation or personal vehicles. Others walk, get rides from their family, carpool or sometimes use a ride-sharing service such as Uber or Lyft.

Can apprentices go to college during their apprenticeships?

Yes. Many of our apprentices take college classes in their second and third years in the program.

Typically, their college courses are accessed through concurrent enrollment or are funded directly by Pinnacol, removing the burden of tuition from participants.

Apprentices are eligible for paid college courses in their third year.

Can apprentices get a job with Pinnacol at the end of the program?

Absolutely.

Though a full-time role is not guaranteed, our goal is to prepare apprentices for hire, ideally at Pinnacol, by the end of their third year.

We have hired multiple apprentices for full-time roles before or at their completion of the program—fourteen since 2017, to be exact.

How do apprentices balance school and the apprenticeship?

Our high school apprentices take morning classes and work at Pinnacol in the afternoons.

After apprentices graduate and shift to post-secondary education, their schedule adjusts to fit their needs. All apprentices work Tuesday and Thursday afternoons onsite at Pinnacol's office.

When does the apprenticeship program begin?

We review applications, interview and hire during the spring semester annually. Apprentices typically begin the summer after they are hired.

Who is eligible for the Pinnacol Apprenticeship Program?

Sophomores, juniors, and graduating seniors in participating CareerWise Colorado Denver Metro Area schools are eligible to apply each spring for the following fall semester cohort.

All applicants must also receive approval from a parent or guardian (if under 18) and a school counselor in order to apply.

Why apply for an apprenticeship at Pinnacol?

As one of the most well established and robust youth apprenticeship programs in the CareerWise network, Pinnacol’s Apprenticeship Program allows apprentices to gain in-depth industry and professional knowledge while exploring their career interests.

Our apprentices gain valuable skills and discover their professional strengths, interests and aspirations through shadowing our expert employees, gaining training and work-based learning opportunities in a variety of different teams.

In our cohort model, apprentices not only gain valuable work experience, but also develop a tight knit community with their supportive apprentice peers from other schools participating in the program.

Throughout the program, apprentices are exposed to a diverse range of professional training, experiences and opportunities to provide them with essential hard and soft skills needed to compete for desirable positions in the modern workforce upon successful completion of the program.

What careers can apprentices explore at Pinnacol?

Apprentices can work in support of as many as five teams over the course of three years. Long-term career paths leading to employment opportunities include:

Insurance claims processing.
Underwriting.
Customer care.
Software development.
Information technology.

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Do apprentices have to pay for the program?

No. There is no cost for entering the program.

In fact, apprentices make money through the program. Pinnacol pays our apprentices hourly wages.

How much are apprentices paid?

Apprentices earn a $18.24 per hour to start and are provided the opportunity to increase their pay through yearly merit increases and quarterly corporate bonuses.

Do you provide benefits for apprentices?

Our apprentices receive a range of benefits including but not limited to:

Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) contributions.
Quarterly bonus opportunities.
Paid time off.
Paid post-secondary education such as college or certifications.

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What do parents and guardians need to do for the apprenticeship?

There are no expectations of parents or guardians after they have expressed initial support and approval of the apprenticeship.

Find your path with a Pinnacol Apprenticeship

Find your path with a Pinnacol Apprenticeship

General questions

Future apprentices

Questions from businesses

Future apprentices