Purpose of the Apprenticeship
Program
The purpose of the apprenticeship program is to develop a qualified, versatile
and safe work force. A skilled work force creates profit for the worker and
the contractor. Owners of projects expect contractors to produce a quality
project at a competitive price. Contractors must have skilled, safe workers
to be competitive. Apprenticeship will give you a combination of on the job
experience and off the job training to help you become a valued construction
team member and a qualified union laborer. The Construction Craft Laborer Apprenticeship
program consists of 4,000 hours of on the job experience and a minimum of 320
hours off the job related training before being promoted to Journeyperson.
Wages begin between 60% and 80% of Journeyperson scale and may increase between
5% and 10% each 1000 hours of work completed if all of the program requirements
are met.
APPRENTICESHIP
What is the cost? ~ Training for apprentices registered with a Local union hall is free including free room and board while attending courses at our training center.
Training ~ Depending on the availability of work and on local training schedules, it can take an individual from 2 to 4 years to complete the apprenticeship. A core curriculum consisting of basic construction skills such as blueprint reading, the correct use of tools and equipment, and knowledge of safety and health procedures comprises the first 200 hours. The remainder of the curriculum consists of specialized skills training in three of the largest segments of the construction industry: building construction, heavy/highway construction, and environmental remediation (cleaning up debris, landscaping, and restoring the environment to its original state). Workers who use dangerous equipment or handle toxic chemicals usually receive specialized training in safety awareness and procedures. Apprentices must complete a minimum 144 hours of classroom work each year.
What will my first class be like? ~ The pre-construction training course is a highly structured 40 hour course. This course is designed to teach basic tools and material recognition, traffic control and a group of common tasks that laborers perform on construction projects. You will be expected to perform these tasks correctly and timely by the end of the week. This initial course is a physically demanding experience. In fact the whole Construction Craft Laborer field is a physically demanding job. This initial course will introduce you to some of the basics. You will continue on with further training after successfully completing this initial course.
