Apprentice courses are in most cases free of charge and in some cases, the learner is paid a wage for maintenance as opposed to regular courses where one absorbs a lot of irrelevant theory, go for longer periods of time and overheads that translate into extra expenses. Have you ever undergone an apprenticeship?
Well, they net is loaded with free math videos and the like, but you don't get "real" credit for any of them. Nonetheless, it isn't a waste of time - in a sense. However, if given the choice between it and something giving real credit (like a college), assuming you can afford it, is a no-brainer.
I remember as a kid growing up back in the 70s when most people started out this way, learning their trade but they said it kind of declined for awhile and now its picking back up again. I think Germany is still big on the apprenticeship program and one reason for people seeking out this type of program, is that the employers cannot find qualified people because of the rise in tuition these days. I see that the green energy field is looking for people to work in the wind and solar field as energy technicians because these are renewable kinds of clean energy and require a specialized apprenticeship.
