Attention Students!

connect with real companies

Interested in exploring or gaining hands-on experience in the Communications Technology industry (AV, IT, Security, or Life Safety)?

Integrators and manufacturers across the country are offering internships in a variety of roles, from Accounting to Systems Engineering. Whether you have a specific company in mind or a particular area of interest, we can help connect you!

Scroll down to learn more about the Ignite Internship Framework and how to get in touch!

Attention Systems Integrators & Manufacturers!

Apply for an Ignite Internship Grant

Want to develop a talent pipeline to your business? You’re not alone. The average NSCA member has at least seven open positions at any given time (that’s 17,000 open positions, nationally). The only barrier to growth within this industry is a shortage of skilled workers.

The Ignite Internship Program is here to help by providing:

➡️Internship grants for qualifying integrator and manufacturer companies.

➡️Assistance in transitioning paid interns to full-time employment.

➡️Guidance on structuring an internship, and resources for recruiting and cultivating talent.

➡️Connection between students and employers to strengthen the talent pipeline.

Each Ignite Ambassador company can apply for reimbursement of $1,000 to offset the wages associated with hiring an intern. 

• A company is eligible for a maximum grant stipend of up 3 internships at one time (pending availability) which can be applied for below.
• Funds can only be used for reimbursement of wages during the designated internship period (they cannot be used to cash flow a business).
• Agreed-upon funds will be reimbursed at the end of the internship if all requirements are met. See below.

Already have interns in mind? Fill out the application below!

Looking for help connecting with potential interns? Reach out to Laura Janssen at ljanssen@nsca.org or 800.446.6722!

ELIGIBILITY:

• The internship must be a paid internship and teach skills related to the career path the intern chooses.
• The internship must be in a targeted Communications Technology industry (AV, IT, Security or Life Safety).
• The employer must agree to assign the intern a mentor/sponsor (this can be in any department).
• During the program, the employer and intern must agree to at least one status meeting with the NSCA workforce development project leader.
• The internship must last a minimum of 8 weeks and average no less than 30 hours per week.
• The intern must submit a progress report back to the NSCA Foundation upon completion of the internship.
• The Intern must have a set work process schedule that covers expectations and compensation factors. The intern and employer must review this together.
• If you need assistance in structuring your internship, a high-level curriculum is available through TalentLMS. (www.nsca.talentlms.com) and can be tailored to fit YOUR company.

INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE:

The Ignite internship program, available free to NSCA members through the NSCA online Learning Management Tool, is meant as a blueprint for your organization to jumpstart your own internal internship program.

The blueprint is structured as follows:

• Phase 1: Onboarding – Interns spend time in each department to understand how your business operates. They share a summary of what they’ve learned, offering helpful insights from a fresh perspective.
• Phase 2: Ride & Decide – Interns dive deeper into three departments of their choice, gaining hands-on experience and soft skills, then reflect on what they’ve learned and where their interests lie.
• Phase 3: Learn & Earn – Using NSCA’s C-SIP program, interns build knowledge in key areas like sales, operations, or marketing. They complete the program with another reflection on their skills and interests.
• Phase 4: Real-World Application – Interns focus on one department, spending most of their time on meaningful, real-world projects. They wrap up the experience with a final reflection on growth, process improvement, and how they envision their future with your company.

For more information, please contact Laura Janssen at ljanssen@nsca.org or by phone at 800.446.6722.