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NC · Apprenticeship

North Carolina Apprenticeship Tax Credits and Employer Incentives Explained

North Carolina has no state cash incentive or tax credit for apprenticeship that could be confirmed. The state apprenticeship agency, ApprenticeshipNC, gives employers a free consultant and approves your Registered Apprenticeship Program. Money comes through your local workforce board under WIOA, which can pay for OJT wages, related classroom instruction or upskilling for apprentices. Every board must put 6% of its adult and youth WIOA funds into apprenticeship activities.

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  • State pre-filled: NC
  • Program type pre-filled: apprenticeship_grant
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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

  1. 1

    Contact your ApprenticeshipNC consultant

  2. 2

    Build and register your program, or join a group program

  3. 3

    Hire and train apprentices (on-the-job learning plus classroom instruction)

  4. 4

    Ask your local board about OJT, related instruction or upskilling funds

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the North Carolina money comes from.

Run by ApprenticeshipNC (NC Community College System) for registration; local Workforce Development Boards for WIOA funding. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

ApprenticeshipNC registration and consultant support

Free consultant, no cash
ONGOING
WHAT YOU GET

A dedicated consultant, help designing the program, your Standards of Apprenticeship and a Certificate of Program Approval.

HOW MUCH

No fee stated on the pages checked. No state wage subsidy is described.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

No cash. The employer receives free consulting and program approval from the state apprenticeship agency.

WHO QUALIFIES
  • Any employer, association or organization can sponsor a program
  • The program must combine structured on-the-job learning with classroom instruction
  • Employers can instead join an existing group program
Before you start: Yes. The program is approved by the ApprenticeshipNC Director before it is registered.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Contact your local ApprenticeshipNC consultant
  2. 2Design the program together
  3. 3Submit it for approval and receive your Standards and Certificate

Deadlines and windows: No deadline. Open to employers year round.

SOURCE: NCCOMMUNITYCOLLEGES.EDU

WIOA funding for apprenticeships through your local Workforce Development Board

6% of board funds set aside
THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD
WHAT YOU GET

State policy lists these uses for registered apprenticeships: OJT contracts, Individual Training Accounts for related instruction, work experience, customized training and incumbent worker training for apprentices.

HOW MUCH

Set by each board. Federal OJT rules allow typically up to 50% of wages, up to 75% in documented cases. All activities are subject to available funding.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer for OJT and incumbent worker reimbursements. A training provider for classroom costs paid through an Individual Training Account.

WHO QUALIFIES
  • Participants must be WIOA eligible
  • The apprenticeship must be registered
  • Pre-apprenticeship programs need a registered apprenticeship partner
Before you start: Yes. Contracts and training plans are set with the board before training starts.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Call your local board's business services team
  2. 2Ask which of OJT, related instruction or incumbent worker funds it will use
  3. 3Sign the contract or plan before the apprentice starts the funded training

Deadlines and windows: No statewide deadline. Funding is limited and each board spends by program year.

SOURCE: COMMERCE.NC.GOV
AVOID THESE

What gets North Carolina Apprenticeship claims denied.

  • Training in a program that is not registered. Only registered programs earn the transferable credential.
    SOURCE: NCCOMMUNITYCOLLEGES.EDU
  • Assuming funding is guaranteed. Board funds for apprenticeship activities depend on availability.
    SOURCE: COMMERCE.NC.GOV
  • A past pattern of not keeping OJT trainees on as regular employees can bar a new OJT contract.
    SOURCE: ECFR.GOV
STRAIGHT ANSWERS

North Carolina Apprenticeship questions.

Does North Carolina give a tax credit for hiring apprentices?

The federal apprenticeship site lists no North Carolina apprenticeship tax credit. It lists only a community college tuition waiver for high school students in Registered Apprenticeship.

SOURCE: APPRENTICESHIP.GOV
Who runs apprenticeship in North Carolina?

ApprenticeshipNC, which is the State Apprenticeship Agency inside the NC Community College System. It took over from NC Commerce.

SOURCE: COMMERCE.NC.GOV
Can I avoid registering my own program?

Yes. A group program sponsored by a community college, industry association or community group lets you join without registering your own.

SOURCE: NCCOMMUNITYCOLLEGES.EDU
Can WIOA money pay for apprentices' classroom costs?

Yes, where the board approves it. State policy says an Individual Training Account can cover the related instruction part of a registered apprenticeship.

SOURCE: COMMERCE.NC.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on . Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

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