Empowering Women in Skilled Trades

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Explore practical skill breakdowns, and advice tailored for tradeswomen

Explore our trade breakdowns and field guides below.

Professional electrician working on wiring in an indoor setting, demonstrating skill and concentration. — **Electrician**

In most places across the United States, you can start preparing for or entering a trade apprenticeship starting at 16 to 18 years old.

Age 16 (High School & Pre-Apprenticeships):

You can enroll in career and technical education (CTE) programs, high school trade classes, or pre-apprenticeship programs.
Some youth apprenticeships allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work part-time in paid roles while completing high school.

Age 18 (Standard Registered Apprenticeships):

The vast majority of full-time, registered adult apprenticeship programs, require you to be at least 18 years old by the time you start working on full job sites.
This requirement is primarily due to federal and state labor laws regarding heavy machinery, hazardous work environments, and driving company vehicles.

A skilled trade is an occupation that requires specialized hands-on skills, technical knowledge, and practical training rather than a traditional four-year college degree.

Instead of sitting at a desk, trade workers focus on constructing, installing, maintaining, and repairing physical structures, equipment, and systems.

A Trade is the job itself (the profession or field of work).

An Apprenticeship is a method of learning a job (the training path to get there).

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