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Employers’ Responsibilities for Work-Based Learning

Students have a variety of opportunities to gain valuable work experience while pursuing educational credentials, including cooperative education, internships, and practicums. Students in Work-Based Learning programs have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom with paid, supervised, practical work experiences, directly related to their fields of study. They typically work part-time, from 10 to 30 hours per week (depending on credit hours to be earned) while attending school and earning academic credit.

This combination is a meaningful way for students to explore career choices and become better prepared for the job market after graduation.

Please contact wbl@cccc.edu for new opportunities at your site.

Employer Benefits

• Evaluate potential talent with minimal commitment. WBL is typically a one- or two-semester experience and does not guarantee future employment. Think of it as a 160-hour interview—an opportunity to see a student's skills, work ethic, and fit firsthand. 

• Build your future talent pipeline. Gain a competitive advantage by connecting with students early and helping develop the skills you need in future full- or part-time employees. 

• Help shape workforce education. Provide valuable industry feedback to ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø about the skills, knowledge, and training employers need, helping us better prepare students for today's workforce. 

• Add talent to your team. WBL students can contribute to meaningful projects and day-to-day operations while gaining valuable hands-on experience. 

• Invest in your local workforce. Support the next generation of talent while strengthening your organization's connection to the community. 

• Create a pathway to longer-term employment. When a WBL student is a great fit, employers can explore continued employment or work with ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø to develop an apprenticeship pathway.

Employers’ Responsibilities

• Provide a minimum of 160 hours of employment per semester depending on course credit assigned.
• Assist the student (with guidance from the assigned faculty/staff) in developing and evaluating the three (3) Measurable Learning Objectives (MLOs) related to the student’s program of study.
• Permit on-site visits by the WBL faculty.
• Notify the WBL faculty promptly about any change of the student’s employment status.
• Evaluate the student’s performance during on-site visits, at mid-term (if required by program of study), and at the end of the semester.
• Complete all forms submitted by students through the College Central Network system in a timely manner.
• Adhere to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Provide the student with a supervised, progressive, and meaningful learning work experience.
• Assure a safe and healthy work environment.

Program Structure

Students are placed at the beginning of each 16-week semester:

• Fall (mid-August through mid-December) 
• Spring (mid-January through mid-May) 
• Summer (end of May through July)

Students work a part-time schedule while attending classes at ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø.

• 1 Credit Hour = 160 hours/semester (10-19 hours/week) 
• 2 Credit Hours = 320 hours/semester (20+ hours/week)
• 3 Credit Hours = 480 hours/semester (30+ hours/week)

Insurance Responsibilities

• Accident Insurance: Accident insurance is included as a Student Activity fee as part of all students’ tuition. Coverage begins at the beginning of the term/semester and stops at the end of the term/semester.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Employers are required to provide Workers’ Compensation for paid WBL positions during the entire length of the WBL activity. North Carolina law requires all employers to provide this coverage if employing three (3) or more employees.
• Unemployment Insurance: By action of the Federal Government and the North Carolina Assembly, WBL students may not apply for unemployment insurance based upon WBL employment. Therefore, unemployment insurance premiums shall not be paid on WBL students working in the state.

College Central Network

View the College Central Network Employer Instructions.

Potential work-based learning students should be informed beforehand of any special employer job requirements that could restrict or prevent their participation related to drug screening, tool or equipment use, age, transportation, licensure, health, or criminal record check requirements. Participation in a work-based learning experience is ultimately at the employer’s discretion. Students may work at multiple job sites under multiple employers.