Technical Trades Work and Learning Program for Employers (formerly called Vocational Internship Program)

• Be an eligible clean energy employer. For the purposes of this program, MassCEC defines a clean energy employer as “an employer engaged in whole or in part in goods and services, or advanced and applied technologies that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of energy from non-renewable sources, including, but not limited to: energy efficiency; demand response; energy conservation and those technologies powered in whole or in part by the sun, wind, water, biomass, alcohol, wood, fuel cells, any renewable, non-depletable, or recyclable fuel.” MassCEC in its sole discretion makes the determination of whether an employer is a clean energy employer. 
• Be registered to do business in Massachusetts. If you are unsure if your business is registered to do business in Massachusetts, please consult the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Corporate Database at the Commonwealth’s Corporations Division. 
• Provide a meaningful internship (as defined in the General Terms and Conditions). 
• Provide adequate proof that your organization is able to pay your intern(s) and all expenses associated with their employment.  
• Successfully demonstrate that your organization has a physical presence in Massachusetts. 
• Not be an academic or government entity.  
• Be in good standing with MassCEC. The Host Employer must have submitted all paperwork relating to any prior internship completed, including the mandatory final survey, which must have been received and approved by MassCEC. 

Host Employers may pay their intern(s) more than the subsidy rate ($15 per hour), however, MassCEC will only reimburse up to the full award amount. Host Employers may not pay an intern less than $15 per hour. Failure to pay the minimum amount may result in MassCEC denying a Host Employer’s reimbursement request. MassCEC will only reimburse a Host Employer up to its cap of $8,640 per intern.

Host Employers are allowed to select up to three interns.

Please note: Because funding for the Program is limited, awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, and you may receive fewer than three interns if funding is fully committed by the time we receive your offer letters for additional interns.

Host Employers are not allowed to hire an intern who is the spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, or spouse of a child, grandchild, sibling, niece, or nephew of ANY employee of the Host Employer. 

No, an intern will not be able to participate with you through the Program if they have already done so. The Program is designed to enable high school seniors, After Dark and CTI students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the clean energy sector. Once they complete the session, they are no longer eligible to participate.

NOTE: Current or very recent employees are not eligible to participate with you as an intern under the Program unless they have been working for the Host Employer less than six weeks leading up to successful completion of their eligibility check.

If a hired intern terminates employment during the internship, MassCEC may at its discretion allow a Host Employer to hire an additional intern to take their place and use up the remaining funding allocated to their previous intern. Please be aware that any new student selected must first be approved as eligible by MassCEC and the Host Employer would then need to submit a signed offer letter for that individual before MassCEC could issue a final approval. In order to hire a new student, the Host Employer must contact and work through a Co-op Coordinator.