ApprenticeshipNC, North Carolina’s state apprenticeship agency, recognized Code the Dream as Outstanding Registered Apprenticeship Employer of 2026. The award honors CTD for the excellence and impact of its Registered Apprenticeship program.
“Each of this year’s winners exemplifies the strength of Registered Apprenticeship in North Carolina,” said Dr. Chris Harrington, Director, ApprenticeshipNC. “Their work not only advances their industries but also helps ensure the state’s continued success and economic growth.”
What is a Registered Apprenticeship?
Registered Apprenticeships combine paid, on-the-job experience with technical education in a professional field, ultimately creating a pathway to a high-paying job for participants. The programs are recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and must meet standards for technical education, mentorship, and compensation.
In North Carolina, Registered Apprenticeship programs play a critical role in ensuring a skilled workforce and a strong economy, and apprenticeships have a long history in the state. The 1939 Voluntary Apprenticeship Act was the first formalized apprenticeship training in North Carolina.
About CTD’s Registered Apprenticeship
At CTD, Apprentices apply for a spot in our competitive program after completing coding classes at CTD Learns. Once accepted into the Registered Apprenticeship, they receive a salary and benefits such as paid time off and health insurance. They also receive access to a comprehensive career development program
The Apprentices, who come from communities underrepresented in tech, bring unique and valuable lived experience to their roles on the CTD Labs tech team. There, they build cutting-edge impact technology that has reached hundreds of thousands of people nationwide.
Working closely alongside senior developers who provide mentorship, they build tech tools that support farmworker outreach, access to public benefits, government transparency, childhood literacy, and other tech-for-good solutions for urgent societal problems.
Apprentices gain real-world experience building for CTD clients, then launch their careers. More than 80% go on to full-time roles in tech, earning an average annual starting salary of more than $90,000.
Partnership with ApprenticeshipNC
Recognized by the Office of Apprenticeship to act on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor, ApprenticeshipNC is the federally recognized State Apprenticeship Agency authorized to register apprenticeship programs tailored to meet employers’ needs.
CTD’s partnership with ApprenticeshipNC has helped CTD scale its Registered Apprenticeship, support compliance, strengthen our model and ensure that CTD can expand access to opportunity without compromising standards.
“Registered Apprenticeship is a perfect fit for Code the Dream’s mission: expanding access to life-changing opportunity while building real-world skills through meaningful work,” said Dan Rearick, Co-Executive Director of CTD. “ApprenticeshipNC has been the ideal partner, making the process clear, practical, and easy to navigate as we’ve grown.”
