Vocational Internship Program for Students

The Massachusetts Vocational Internship Program (VIP) is a workforce development initiative offered through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The Program enhances the talent pipeline for Massachusetts clean energy companies and places skilled labor from vocational high schools in paid clean energy internships during the academic year. 

Why should you be a Clean Energy Intern?

  • Receive valuable work experience as you begin your career in this fast growing sector
  • Get paid for your work during the academic year
  • Opportunity for potential future employment
  • Make connections with clean energy professionals

Eligilibility Requirements:

  • Must attend a Massachusetts vocational/technical high school
  • Must complete your school's own Co-Op eligibility requirements (i.e. grades, attendance, OSHA certification, etc.)
  • Must not be an existing employee, or existing intern that has been on payroll for greater than six weeks at a host employer

 

Vocational Internship Program (VIP) Hiring Process

  1. Ask your Co-op Coordinator to register for an account at https://www.masscec.com/coop-coordinator-application if they are creating a new account or log in to masscec.com/user if they already have an account 

    Coop coordinators will submit an application online on behalf of each student. Once the application is submitted you will then be visible in the student database and employers will be able to contact your coop coordinator. You must have a profile on this database for employers to confirm your eligibility with MassCEC for the Program.

  2. Respond to any employer communications you receive and reach out to clean energy employers you are interested in working for.

    1. A map of clean energy employers that have previously participated in our program can be found on the http://www.masscec.com/internmap page to help in your outreach to companies.

    2. If an employer is interested in hiring you, they will send your name to MassCEC for an eligibility check.

    3. If you are eligible, the employer may contact your co-op coordinator to set up a phone or in-person interview with you

    4. MassCEC will reach out to your co-op coordinator if we need any additional information from you before your employer will be able to take any further steps with bringing you on for an internship. Please respond to any communication from your co-op coordinator promptly so that we can confirm your eligibility for your potential employer.

  3. If you are confirmed as eligible and the employer wishes to take you on for the session, theywill send you an offer letter for you, your co-op coordinator, and your legal guardians (if applicable) to sign. The offer letter must include your name, expected date range to be worked, and wage/hour.

    1. Only after your signed offer letter has been received by MassCEC will we be able to officially reserve your funding for the session.

    2. Please ensure information on the offer letter is accurate and that you are not being asked to sign a non-compete agreement (Question #12 in FAQ).

  4. Enjoy your Internship!

    Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity by learning valuable skills on the job and by networking with others in the industry.

  5. Fill out the student survey

    MassCEC will provide you with a link to the student survey before the conclusion of the session. Please fill out the form, as it greatly assists in administering this program and making it as useful to you as possible. The information submitted on this survey is anonymous, and we do not ask for any identifying information.

 

Stipend

Interns will be hired and paid directly by the host employer.The pay rate should be established prior to accepting the internship offer. Employers are expected to pay their interns on a schedule that is mutually agreed upon by student, Co-Op coordinator,and employer. Stipend subsidies for employers from MassCEC are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until MassCEC has committed the funds allocated to the program. After total allocation of funds, employers may still access the database of candidates and offer paid or unpaid internships at the employer's discretion. Employers may pay an intern(s) more than the subsidy rate. MassCEC will reimburse up to the full award amount ($7,680 per intern). Employers are not allowed to pay intern less than minimum wage per hour or have an intern sign a non-compete agreement. Students, Co-Op coordinators, and employers should be aware of and agree to the terms of the internship before starting any work.

For full program details and FAQ click here.