WNC’s Apprenticeship Program Provides Student with Degree While Preparing for Electrician Exam

Western Nevada College News

For four years, Kamisha Abram's days were defined by long hours, determination and a commitment to building her future - both on job sites and in the classroom.

Since 2022, Kamisha has balanced 8,000 hours of work in the field as an electrician apprentice and 756 hours of apprenticeship training in the classroom with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), for which she earned 40 college credits with Western Nevada College (WNC), as well as finding time to spend with her family.

In Fall 2025, Kamisha decided to build on the college credit she had earned through the ABC-WNC partnership, along with transfer credits from previous college coursework, to complete Western Nevada College's Associate of Applied Science in Apprenticeship degree. She needed just six general education credits to earn the degree.

Six credits may not sound like much, but they came on top of the demanding schedule of working full time, completing apprenticeship training, and preparing for the journeyman electrician exam. For Kamisha, finishing the degree required the same determination and perseverance that had carried her through the previous four years of her apprenticeship.

By the end of the Spring 2026 semester, Kamisha completed her apprenticeship and earned a college degree.

"Kamisha's story is an inspiring example of what is possible when determination, opportunity and education come together," said Western Nevada College President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. "Balancing the demands of full-time work, apprenticeship training, family responsibilities and college coursework requires tremendous commitment, and Kamisha embraced each challenge with resilience and purpose. Through our partnership with Associated Builders and Contractors, students like Kamisha are able to build rewarding careers while earning meaningful college credentials. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and excited to see where her confidence, talent and leadership take her next."

For Kamisha, the decision to enter the electrical trade was rooted in her family.

"I became an electrician because my dad was an electrician," she said. "I kind of followed in his footsteps."

Before entering the trade, she worked as an optician but felt her career opportunities had reached a ceiling. The apprenticeship offered a new direction with room for growth and opportunity for continuous learning.

Today, one of the components she enjoys most about her career is that no two days are alike.

"I'm never bored," she said. "Every day there's a new challenge. You have to think through problems, figure out how to get power where it needs to go, and make sure everything is done properly and safely. It keeps you thinking."

While completing an apprenticeship is a significant accomplishment on its own, earning a college degree holds special meaning for Kamisha.

"I have dyslexia, so school has always been more challenging for me," she said. "I have to work twice as hard. Finishing my associate degree was important because it showed me I could do it."

The experience transformed more than her résumé.

Reflecting on how she has changed since beginning the apprenticeship, Kamisha said the difference is remarkable.

"My first year I was really timid. I was scared," she said. "Now I have so much more confidence. I feel like the sky's the limit. There are no limitations. I just go for it."

"It's been an honor to have a front-row seat to your personal journey," said Kara Arenas, Vice President, ABC Nevada Chapter, during their recent celebration of apprenticeship graduates. "I've watched you grow, buy your first homes, get married, have these babies, and become leaders within your own companies far before tonight's graduation. And I can tell you with complete confidence this industry is better because you chose to be a part of it."

Kamisha hopes to continue gaining field experience before eventually moving into a leadership role such as project management, estimating or another office-based position within the industry.

"Kamisha's journey demonstrates what makes apprenticeship pathways so valuable," said Deb Conrad, Western Nevada College's director of apprenticeship programs. "Students are building successful careers while earning college credit at the same time. By completing their general education requirements, they're able to earn an associate degree that recognizes both their technical expertise and their academic achievement."

As one of relatively few women in the electrical trade, Kamisha also hopes her story encourages others to consider careers in construction.

"There aren't a lot of women in the trades," she said. "I want every woman to know it's okay; you can do it. We can work right alongside the guys, and sometimes you might even need a woman to do the job."

For Kamisha, the degree marks years of dedication, personal growth, and the confidence to pursue even greater opportunities in the future.

Note: Through Western Nevada College's partnership with Associated Builders and Contractors, apprentices can receive college credit for the classroom instruction completed during their apprenticeship. By completing general education requirements, apprentices can earn an Associate of Applied Science in Apprenticeship while preparing for advancement in their careers.