Navigating the Apprenticeship Superhighway: Skills as Currency

Kara McWilliams and Kennon Harrison

November 16, 2023

The Federal Reserve currently clocks student loan debt in the United States at the $1.77 trillion mark. It shouldn’t be surprising to anyone the staggering impact of that figure. Yet, the problem persists, and the number is only set to rise. With the cost of college degree facing significant pushback and discouraging participation in higher education — the prospect of so much debt for very little ROI has taken its toll on the American student and their family.

The rise of alternatives should surprise no one. Predating higher ed by quite a wide margin, apprenticeships are a “new” pathway that offer a hands-on approach to learning, where skills are not just taught but actively applied and honed. Apprenticeships offer a unique, distinctive platform for the development of a learner’s complete tapestry of skills. Authentic competency measurement requires a more comprehensive assessment of a learner’s capabilities — one where skills are the currency.

With the 9th Annual National Apprenticeship Week upon us, we’re reminded that education and career paths should not be confined to traditional structures. This year’s theme, “Registered Apprenticeships: Superhighway to Good Jobs,” calls for us to challenge the status quo and emphasizes the importance of experiential learning as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

The Skill Revolution

Considering the authentic demonstration of skills during apprenticeships, ETS is developing tools to reliably measure capabilities and integrate signals of development and mastery into a learner’s skill profile. Precision in measurement is paramount. Our scientists and engineers are working to validate novel approaches, capturing data from behavioral analytics to biometrics, affording learners personalized insights that help them realize their full potential. Validation of these equally difficult-to-measure and career-critical skills will help learners convey to future employers both their technical and transferrable capabilities.

A Balancing Act

Colleges and universities are looking at the rise of apprenticeships and finding a way to facilitate both career and college readiness. As the largest intentional workforce development engine we have, higher education is in the best position to serve the most students well. Mission-focused schools are doing some amazing work, and the apprenticeship degree is already here. Coupled with this decade’s revolution in skills-focused competency-based education and recognition of prior learning, we have the ability to secure student outcomes with just a few tweaks. Imagine a world where we can balance experiential learning and the durable skills gained in a traditional college environment at no cost and ensure students actually get paid to learn. It’s not a dream — it’s already being done.

A Competency-based Future

National Apprenticeship Week is about the future of work and opportunities, emphasizing that skills honed during apprenticeships serve as a compass in the nonlinear path between education and the workforce. Competency-based assessment becomes a valuable tool for career navigation, not just for demonstrating skills but identifying a path aligning with strengths and interests. Insights gleaned from apprenticeships act as signals, directing individuals toward sustaining careers.

This week we’re reminded that education and career paths are diverse, and success is measured in more ways than one. As we navigate the evolving work landscape, let's recognize and embrace the power of apprenticeships in fostering competency-based learning and the importance of skills-based assessment.

Kara McWilliams is the Vice President of Product Innovation and Development at ETS. Kennon Harrison is Associate Vice President of Workforce Partnerships at ETS.