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ACCESS BIO APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

The bioscience industry is at the forefront of innovation, providing stable, living-wage jobs with excellent benefits. Access Bio offers two Registered Apprenticeships programs: the one-year Bioscience Industry Technician and the two-year Bioscience Industry Quality Control Technician, with new cohorts starting every six months. Explore our Careers in Bioscience page to learn more about working in this industry.

The application window for the Fall 2025 cohort is now closed. Spring cohort dates will be available in early 2026.

Apprenticeship Program Overview

  • Start strong with a two-week Readiness Training and a $500 weekly stipend
  • Begin training with your employer with an hourly training wage, benefits, and PTO
  • Earn progressive wage increases to at least $21 by the end of the one-year program
  • Receive on-the-job support from a peer mentor, along with comprehensive assistance and resources from Oregon Life Sciences
  • Graduate with a nationally-recognized credential and potential for a permanent job offer

Application Requirements

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED)
  • Be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
  • Be eager to learn and committed to a long-term career in biosciences
  • Be dedicated to completing required virtual coursework
  • Willingness to complete pre-employment vision test
  • Must be able to perform the duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodations (requirements vary by employer)

Watch our info session here to learn key details.

Para ver la sesión informativa en español haga click aquí

Frequently Asked Questions

If you don't find the answer to your question below, please e-mail us at apprenticeship@oregonlifesciences.org

A Registered Apprenticeship allows you to work full-time while receiving the training needed to become fully qualified for your job. You won’t pay for your training, and you’ll earn money while you learn. The program is overseen by the state and ends with a nationally recognized credential proving your qualifications.

Watch this overview from the State of Oregon Employment Department to learn more about how Registered Apprenticeship in Oregon works.

You’ll start with a two-week orientation, where you’ll earn $500 each week. After that, you’ll begin working at a training wage of at least $18 per hour. As you gain new skills, your pay will go up, and by the end of the program, you will make at least $21 per hour.

You’ll be matched with a bioscience manufacturing company that partners with the Access Bio Apprenticeship Program. The specific company will depend on where your skills and interests align best. We collaborate with several leading employers in the industry, so you’ll have the opportunity to work with a top company and build a strong foundation for your career.

You’ll be working full-time, typically 37 to 40 hours per week. Shift work is common in this industry, so schedules can vary based on the shifts the company needs to fill.

Bioscience is a diverse field of study and industry with a common thread – applying knowledge to develop biological solutions that sustain, restore, and improve the quality of life for humans, plants, and animals in our world. From life-saving therapies, procedures, and medical devices, to healthier foods and cutting-edge research, society benefits from a better quality of life because of bioscience.

 Bioscience companies are solid businesses that offer growth opportunities.

Apprenticeships are designed as “earn and learn” programs—you gain training, mentoring, and paid work experience while the company gets the chance to see how you perform. However, completing an apprenticeship does not guarantee permanent employment at the company where you train.

The expectation is that the employer is investing time and resources into your development—teaching you skills, paying wages, and assigning mentors—because they ultimately want to build their workforce. In most cases, if you demonstrate strong performance, reliability, and growth during the apprenticeship, the company is very likely to offer you a permanent role at the end.

So, while it’s not automatic, the goal is mutual benefit: you get valuable skills and experience in the industry, and the employer gains a trained worker who can step into a full-time position if both sides see a good fit.