Apprenticeship Program
The Laborers’ Apprenticeship program combines on-the-job training (OJT) with related classroom instruction to produce a qualified Journeyman that has no equal. Apprenticeship has existed almost from the dawn of recorded history and has withstood the test of time.
Apprenticeship offers an alternative to a four-year college degree. For the thousands of young people coming out of high school who are not moving on to college, apprenticeship represents the best avenue to a high paying career and instead of paying to attend college, apprentices receive paid job training. Apprenticeship can also be applied toward college credit. Plus, apprentices earn great wages, health benefits and a retirement pension. The Northwest Laborers’ training center in Kingston, Washington provides state-of-the-art construction training to men and women. Our instructors are dedicated toward top-notch training in everything from General Construction to Concrete Placement to Hazardous Waste Removal and Asbestos Abatement. We trained more than 6,000 Union Members last year alone.
Skilled Work Force
As construction work becomes more dependent on the use of complex equipment and machinery and a broader selection of materials and techniques, the Construction Craft Laborer is increasingly expected to have enhanced competencies in using, managing and understanding resources, information and technology.
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 Journeyman. Training for apprentices registered with a Local union hall is free, including room and board, while attending courses at our various site locations. 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).
To apply you must be 18 years of age, have at least a 10th grade education and have a valid driver’s license. You must also take and pass a drug test. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Interviews are held on a regular schedule at various locations. Apprentices are taken into the program on a year-round basis depending on the need for new people in the various areas.
Visit the Northwest Laborers Training Center to learn more or call 877-77LABOR.
