In short
A registered apprenticeship pairs a paid job with classroom training and ends in a nationally recognized certificate. Most construction apprenticeships last three to five years. Federal rules require a wage that rises as you progress, and programs commonly pair about 2,000 hours of work a year with at least 144 hours of related classes. You apply to the program sponsor, often a union training center or contractor group.
How a registered apprenticeship is set up
Every registered program has a sponsor: a single employer, a group of contractors, or a joint committee run by a union and a contractors' association. The sponsor writes a standard that lists the skills you will learn on the job, the classes you will take and the pay you earn at each step. The U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency approves that standard and registers you as an apprentice.
The federal ground rules
- Minimum age
- 16 under federal rules, though most construction programs start at 17 or 18
- Pay
- A schedule that increases as you gain skill, written into the program
- Classes
- At least 144 hours a year is the usual benchmark for related instruction
- Credential
- A certificate of completion recognized in every state
Who runs trade apprenticeships
Union (joint) programs
A local union and the contractors who hire its members run a joint training center together. You apply to the center, and once accepted you are sent to signatory contractors. Pay follows the local wage agreement and usually comes with health insurance and a pension.
Merit shop (non-union) programs
Contractor associations such as Associated Builders and Contractors and Independent Electrical Contractors run programs for member companies. You are usually hired by a company first, then enrolled in classes. Benefits depend on the employer.
Single-employer programs
Some large companies, utilities and manufacturers register their own programs. These can be the easiest to get into if you already work there.
Apprenticeships by trade
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What getting in looks like
Most programs want a high school diploma or GED, proof you can work in the U.S., a driver's license and a passed drug test. Many add an aptitude test and an interview, then rank applicants. Read how to get an apprenticeship for the full process, and use our apprentice pay calculator to see what each year pays.
Straight answers
Do you get paid during an apprenticeship?
Yes. You are an employee from day one, and your hourly rate steps up on a set schedule until you reach the full journeyworker rate.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most construction trades run three to five years. Electrician and plumbing programs are usually four or five.
Do apprenticeships cost money?
Union programs usually charge little or nothing beyond books and tools. Some merit shop programs charge tuition, which your employer may cover.
Can I find apprenticeships online?
Apprenticeship.gov has a federal job finder. Local union training centers and contractor associations also post their own application windows.