The West Virginia Community and Technical College System, U.S. Department of Labor West Virginia Office of Apprenticeship, and West Virginia Joint Apprenticeship Training Council recently entered into an agreement whereby individuals who have completed apprenticeship programs that require a sufficient combination of classroom and on-the-job training can receive up to 43 hours of academic credit toward an associate of applied science degree.  As a practical matter, this means that a journeyman need only take seven general education courses to earn an associate’s degree.

Creating an education pathway from apprenticeship training to associate’s degree: It’s a good thing.  Creating an additional pathway from associate’s degree to bachelor of applied science degree?  That would be a really good thing.