Apprenticeship
Your learning path to a lifelong career
An apprenticeship is your pathway to a successful, high wage construction trade job. Getting into an apprenticeship program is your starting point to a high skilled, in-demand job in the construction industry without incurring any debt. Most programs require a high-school diploma or GED and many programs require that you be 18 years of age.
About Apprenticeship
Think about the type of work you’d like to do. A pre-apprenticeship program is a great way to learn about all the different trades. Each trade has different requirements to get into their apprenticeship. For example, if math is not your strong suit, then a trade that requires strong math skills may not be a good fit for you. Contact the program directly, ask if they are taking applications and what is the process for getting into the program. Ask how many workers are on their out of work list. Is there a wait list to get into their program?
Once you get accepted into an apprenticeship, you need to participate with the requirements of the program. You need to attend your classes, turn in the required classroom work and/or progress reports and work a minimum number of hours in the field. You will be on track to getting your regularly scheduled raises and get through the program with the required on-the-job training hours and classroom instruction hours.
Get Started in Apprenticeship
Step One:
Identify the apprenticeship program you’d like to get started in. Consider what types of work you like doing, the kinds of places you want to work, and your favorite skills to help you choose.
Step Two:
Find out the requirements of entry, gather your documents, and fill out the application. Turn everything in and find out the next steps from the particular program. This may be a scheduled interview, a written test or a physical try-out.
Step Three:
If you’re accepted into the program:
Most apprenticeships have you attend an orientation which tells you about the expectations from you for the duration of the program. They explain the class schedule, penalties for absences, etc.
If you’re NOT accepted into the program:
See if you can find out why you were not accepted. Determine if this is something you could improve on and then try again. Or, you can look for another trade, find out what their entry requirements are and apply. You should already have many of the required documents.
Step four:
Attend your classes as required and work the minimum number of hours in the field to ensure that you make it to journey level status in the minimum amount of time. Some apprentices can advance quicker through the program with the support of their contractor or crew lead. You may even be able to become a journey level worker early if you master the craft ahead of schedule. Each trade is different on this, but it is something to look into once you are feeling confident in your craft.
Step five:
After completing your apprenticeship program, you will become a journey level worker. Becoming a crew lead/foreperson or even a superintendent are all aspirations that you can obtain and of course come with more responsibilities and more pay.
