Internships &

Cooperative Education

Many of NCTC’s career and technical degree programs require experiential education (i.e. internships and co‐ops). It is the student’s responsibility to find and secure an internship or job that qualifies for their Co-op course, which is typically taken in a student’s final semester.

The Career Services team is glad to support students in their search for an internship by providing 1-on-1 coaching for resume and cover letter development, job search strategies and resources, and guidance on communicating with employers. 

To learn more, read our FAQs below or reach out to us at careerservices@nctc.edu.

Internship / Co-op FAQs

  • “Co-op” is short for Cooperative Education. Many NCTC career and technical degree programs require a Co-op class in the final semester. This course requires a certain number of hours of professional, on-the-job experience or training, usually in the form of an internship. Internships are typically short-term work experiences where students can gain valuable and practical experience in their field. Some internships may lead to full-time employment.

  • We recommend meeting with a career coach EARLY! This way your resume and cover letters are polished and ready to send out, you have time to practice for interviews, and you know the best strategies for finding an internship. We DO NOT recommend waiting until you enroll in your Co-op course to reach out.

  • It is the student’s responsibility to find and secure an internship or job that qualifies for their Co-op course. Career Services’ role is to support the student during the internship search process. We can assist with preparing resumes and cover letters, recommending job search strategies and resources, and providing guidance on communication with employers.

    Although we do have established employer connections for most programs, we do not guarantee or broker placement. Students will need to follow set application and hiring processes and the decision will come from the employers.

  • Internship eligibility and requirements are determined by the chair of the department. Please reach out to your Co-op instructor or refer to your Co-op Syllabus for details.

  • Internship requirements are determined by the chair of the department. Please reach out to your Co-op instructor or refer to your Co-op Syllabus for details.

  • Internships may be paid or unpaid.

  • Visit our website to book an appointment directly with a career coach, or email us at careerservices@nctc.edu.