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The decision to enter into a career in robotics is a big one. It involves a lot of work and dedication. After all, you’ll be at the forefront of a continually evolving technological breakthrough in manufacturing. While that’s exciting, it can also be a little daunting at first glance. 

Luckily there’s a way to get a glimpse into the world of robots in manufacturing while still in school or in the process of learning the necessary skills. It’s called an apprenticeship, and it’s a great opportunity to get a leg up on your future career while also doubling down on the decision to work in robotics. 

If you’re thinking about working with robots as a career, an apprenticeship might be exactly what you need to get that early boost on your journey. 

You might be reading this and wondering how to find such a program. Well, look no further! RoboticsCareer.org features a searchable database of robotics apprenticeship programs all around the country, so you’re sure to find the perfect match for you.  

What Is an Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is basically a form of education that’s also a paying job. It essentially involves working alongside experienced professionals in a field and learning from them while also earning money for your work. Apprenticeships are common in manufacturing, as hands-on experience is necessary. 

Not only can an apprenticeship be an amazing learning experience, but it can also have value in assisting future educational and career choices. During the program, an apprentice will have the opportunity to work in a setting that offers a glimpse of what it’s like to have a manufacturing career working with robots. You’ll learn the day-to-day tasks and challenges of the workplace and what it’s like to be a robotics technician or robotics-adjacent worker. 

An apprenticeship is also the perfect chance to discover whether or not working in robotics is really the career path for you. Maybe you’ll discover that you don’t have the affinity for the job that you thought you would. If that’s the case, it’s better to learn that early on in your journey. On the other hand, it could galvanize your resolve to work with robots and give you a boost to your ambition. 

Last but not least, an apprenticeship will help with getting a job when you’re ready to enter your career. It looks great on a resume and shows any potential employer that they’re already trained on the basics. On top of that, it demonstrates that you take their career goals seriously and are enthusiastic about pursuing their dreams. Managers love that sort of thing, trust us. 

Below, we’ll walk you through the process of searching for apprenticeships using the RoboticsCareer.org search tool. 

How to Search for an Apprenticeship Program

RoboticsCareer.org was built primarily to connect people who want to work in robotics with the resources to get them there. In this case, those resources are apprenticeship programs around the country along with the information needed to enroll. 

To begin your search, navigate to the search tool at the top of the homepage. 

In the Keywords field, enter “Apprenticeship”. 

Leave the Search Type on the default Program setting. 

Select your state from the drop-down menu, and then select your city. 

Click the Search button and off we go. 

We searched in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area and found four results. The top result is called the SMART Robotics Technician Program. We know that a robotics technician is an entry-level position on the robotics career path, so that program looks particularly good to us. 

Clicking on the program brings up more information. For instance, we see that this pre-apprenticeship consists of both on-site and online formats, and successful completion leads to a badge/micro-credential. 

The audience is apprentices, career change seekers, displaced workers, incumbent workers, and students new to manufacturing. That last one describes us perfectly. 

Clicking on the link at the bottom of the panel takes us to the program page on the Carnegie Mellon University site. There, we can learn all about the program and when it will be available for registration. 

It’s Never Too Early

If you’re interested in a career in robotics, it’s never too early to start working toward that goal. An apprenticeship is a perfect way to get your first look at what such a career might look like without making any long-term commitments. It’s a way to dip your toes in the future if you will. 

Best of all, it’s a step that can be taken right now. It takes a quick search at the top of the RoboticsCareer.org homepage and you’re on your way. 

Years from now, when you’re designing a robotics system using the latest bleeding-edge automation technology, you’ll look back at this moment as the point where it all began. We’re proud to be a part of your journey.