CFCC Launches Innovative Apprenticeship Program with Cape Fear Public Utility Authority

May 4, 2026

Alt text: Group of approximately eleven adult men wearing matching gray work shirts, jeans, and work boots stand in a conference room, posing for a photo. They are arranged in two rows in front of a large blank presentation screen, with a wooden podium on the right displaying a county seal. Behind them are three flags, including the United States flag and a North Carolina state flag. Most of the men wear hats and ID badges, and several have beards. The room has large windows on the left and patterned carpet flooring.

Wilmington, NC (May 4, 2026) – Cape Fear Community College, in partnership with Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, is proud to announce the launch of a brand-new apprenticeship program designed to fast-track workforce readiness through a competency-based model.

Unlike traditional apprenticeships that require participants to complete a set number of hours, this innovative program allows apprentices to progress by demonstrating mastery of specific skills under the supervision of experienced mentors. This competency-based approach enables participants to advance at their own pace, potentially completing the program more quickly as they successfully demonstrate required proficiencies.

“This program represents a significant step forward in how we prepare students for high-demand careers,” said Erin Easton, CFCC Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development and Career and Technical Education. “By focusing on skill mastery rather than time spent, we’re creating a more flexible, efficient pathway that meets both student and industry demands.”

The program includes an 11-week classroom training component at CFCC, where apprentices gain foundational knowledge before applying their skills in real-world settings with CFPUA. The full apprenticeship can be completed in up to one year, or less, depending on how quickly participants achieve the required competencies.

As with traditional apprenticeship models, participants earn progressive wage increases as they advance through the program, rewarding skill development and performance along the way.

“This apprenticeship program is the first of its kind for CFPUA, and CFCC’s partnership makes it possible,” said CFPUA Executive Director Kenneth Waldroup. “Our Pump Stations crews manage some of the most technically complex work in our organization. Operating the 170 sewer pump stations that serve our customers requires mechanical, electrical, and information technology expertise. Through this program, mentors from CFPUA’s staff will be empowered to train the next generation of Pump Station experts with the structure and resources of a CFCC academic program.”

For more information about Cape Fear Community College apprenticeship programs, visit cfcc.edu/capefear4careers/ . To learn more about Cape Fear Public Utility Authority visit https://www.cfpua.org/621/CFPUA .

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