If you’re interested in pursuing a skilled trade, you are someone who is skilled using their hands to create and repair. So much of what workers in these industries do is tied to physical ability that oftentimes the best way to learn how to do them is to simply do them.
Earn as You Learn Jobs Still Require Skills
This is why a union sponsored apprenticeship program is perfect for people looking to better themselves through skilled work. An apprenticeship is an arrangement in which you receive real-life hands-on training, technical instruction, and a paycheck for all your efforts. Some occupations even require an apprenticeship. Here are some of the trades where an apprenticeship gives you all the advantages:
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Welders
- Sheet metal workers
- HVAC-R technicians
- Sprinkler fitters
These trades require manual dexterity, attention to detail, the ability to problem solve and think critically, and the technical knowledge required to get the task done safely and efficiently. A hands-on apprenticeship is the perfect situation for an interested student to get to know everything about their chosen trade and prepare them for a rewarding career.
Apprenticeship programs can last from 12 months to almost six years, and this depends on the trade, the student, and the employer.
How an Apprenticeship Works
Apprenticeship programs are most commonly earn while you learn programs sponsored by individual employers and labor unions. The apprentice is selected by the sponsor and they work to develop training standards and secure access to technical instruction. This provides a living wage to the apprentice while also covering other expenses. This opportunity to learn will ensure that you are better qualified for more work in the future.
The next step is to sign an agreement in which the apprentice commits to the training and pledges to perform the work tasks required, maintain a level of quality, and complete any technical instruction. This terms of service agreement defines the skills the apprentice will learn, who they will learn them from, any technical education required, rate of pay, and the duration of the program.
The average apprenticeship program requires the apprentice to complete a stated number of hours on the job under the tutelage of an experienced worker, starting with simple tasks and working up to more complex actions while receiving educated career advice. This is usually combined with technical instruction that includes the science behind the trade as well as safety or other important regulations that directly pertain to the trade.
How to Find an Apprenticeship Program
Interested in starting down a rewarding and lucrative career path? Southwest Pipe Trades can get you in touch with a local union that can help you take that important first step into a larger world. Call us today for more information about union apprenticeship programs!
