Apprenticeship programs in North Carolina act as a crucial talent pipeline and economic development solution. These registered apprenticeships have also been proven to address many workforce challenges directly by matching well-trained, highly skilled, invested jobseekers to organizations choosing apprenticeship as an economic solution. Despite all this, few standard best practices exist to guide overall programmatic success. Even less research exists on best practices from the perspective of an apprentice. This research sought to determine what standard components within a program result in high completion rates among participants and an overall positive, meaningful experience. The study employed a qualitative approach to answer this question. Ten completed apprentices from across the State of North Carolina were interviewed on various sets of questions that could indicate commonalities among successful programs. These sets of questions included learning components, elements of organizational support, social and cultural aspects, and future career trajectory. All completed apprentices reported positive experiences and feelings about their apprenticeship journey despite facing various challenges and making sacrifices along the way. Hands-on learning that aligned with classroom education was identified as important. A structured cycle of learning supported by experiential learning theory was appreciated. Clear learning objectives that met the apprentices' expectations were not reported as significant. Apprentices desire a strong, structured mentorship component, feedback, engagement, and communication. All apprentices gained soft skills. Apprentices desired to feel valued, heard, and included. Although instances of engaged and supportive leadership were somewhat noted in the workplace, diversity was not deemed an essential element for achieving success. Ultimately, self-advocacy and personal motivation may be the main predicting factors for success within an apprenticeship program. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]