Credit Programs

Work-Based Learning

Information for Students

Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an elective or required course opportunity for students to gain valuable job skills and competencies. WBL experiences offer many benefits:

  • Gain valuable work experience in your field, acquire references and build your resume
  • Earn income to cover school and other expenses
  • Receive college credit(s) towards graduation
  • Refine job search skills such as resume preparation, interviewing techniques and networking
  • Give opportunities to apply classroom instruction to an actual workplace
  • Exercise life skills such as responsibility, communication, teamwork and problem-solving
  • Help with career exploration and selection

A student is not guaranteed employment for more than one semester or guaranteed compensation for his or her WBL experience. Wake Tech encourages employers to pay students in the program whenever possible; however, compensation is at the discretion of the employer.

Student responsibilities

First, check to make sure you are eligible and that your program is an approved program.

Once a student's WBL application has been approved, it is the student's responsibility to find employment, complete the following forms and submit them to his or her WBL faculty coordinator by the posted deadline.

Submit a copy of your current job description to your faculty coordinator for review to determine if your current employer may be used. You must be employed in a position that is directly relevant to your degree in order to use your current employer. The purpose of the WBL program is to take skill sets that you're learning in the classroom and apply them to the real world of work.

If you need assistance finding employment, contact Career Services for tips on job research, resume editing, job interview skills and more. If you have not yet created your Handshake account to be able to access jobs through Career Services, please view this five-minute video to learn how to get started.

Applications are due July 1 for Fall semester positions, November 1 for Spring semester positions and April 1 for Summer term positions.

If a student has a disability, then the student is responsible to self-disclose at the time the application is submitted. Self-disclosure to the faculty coordinator, the employer and the Work-Based Learning Office of needs of accommodations is required to successfully complete the WBL experience.

WBL may be limited to two semesters at the same employment site for various programs. Changes in degree program or delay in graduation will not enable a student in participating in WBL for more than one semester.

Registration and grading

WBL classes offer one to three credit hours, depending on the program of study. Students work 160 hours in a semester (10 hours per week) for a one-credit-hour class, 320 hours (20 hours per week) for a two-credit-hour class and 480 hours (30 hours per week) for a three-credit-hour class. Check with your department offerings for the course number and credit hours.

Once all WBL forms have been submitted to the WBL faculty coordinator, the student then receives an override to register for the appropriate course. The student must register and pay (or have financial aid) for the course. When the semester begins, the student is required to complete the following:

  • Submit monthly time sheets in Blackboard by the due date
  • Complete mid-term and final self-evaluations
  • Complete the mandatory Student Survey at the end of the semester

WBL classes are graded Pass/Fail, contingent on evaluations, the meeting of learning objectives and the completion of required work hours. All documentation is submitted to the WBL faculty coordinator.

For more information, contact Kathy Frederick at 919-866-5693 or [email protected].