Maritime Technology Apprenticeship Program

Kingsborough Community College, part of the City University of New York system, offers a groundbreaking Maritime Technology Apprenticeship Program (MTAP), the first Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship for marine mechanics in the nation. An outgrowth of the college’s existing two-year maritime degree, this four-year apprenticeship offers students hands-on classroom and on-the-job training that prepares them for careers as service technicians aboard vessels or in shore-side settings. The program was developed in partnership with the Empire State Marine Trades Association (ESMTA), a New York State membership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of the marine trades industry.

Following a traditional “learn and earn” apprenticeship model, students in the MTAP will participate in classroom training once per week while working with an approved business partner the other four days under the guidance of a trained mentor. In total, students complete 8,000 hours of hands-on training in areas such as diesel and gasoline engine repair, electrical systems, welding, vessel systems, marina operations and basic boat handling. Wages start at $16 per hour, gradually increasing to $22 per hour as students enter the final year of the program.

Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in maritime technology, nationally recognized certifications, and, most importantly, they are guaranteed a job.