Apprenticeship means to join the UA with minimal or no prior experience. These individuals enter the United Association five-year apprenticeship program as a select group of men and women afforded the opportunity to learn a complex and challenging trade while upholding the ideals of trade unionism.

Applicants are evaluated on the same fair basis, without regard to race, sex, national origin or religious affiliation.

UA apprentices learn through both classroom and on-the-job training. Our training program is considered by many to be the best construction industry apprentice program in the world. The five-year apprenticeship program is divided into ten periods, two periods per year, each of which includes 1,700 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and a minimum of 216 hours of related classroom instruction.

All UA apprentices receive a strong general education background in the trade. General core courses include such classes as History & Heritage of the UA, Trade Related Mathematics, Trade Related Science and Isometric drawing. After the fourth period, apprentices may choose their specific path of expertise in which they wish to follow. By this time the apprentices are well on their way to becoming trained as a Journeyman plumber, Pipefitter and Welder or HVACR Service Technician.

The apprenticeship is a challenging time for individuals seeking to learn the trades: UA apprentices must work the same hours as journeymen plus attend night classes two times a week. Yet, for an individual who is motivated to learn the piping trade and become an active member of a proud and noble trade union the sky is the limit. You the individual has to decide how far you would like this trade to take you. It is well documented that the vast majority of our local contractors have all served an apprenticeship with the UA, and each recognizes the advantage it affords a person upon completion.

Individuals who complete apprenticeship programs can expect to hold good jobs at good pay. Their skills are a source of personal satisfaction as well as employment security. Statistics show that graduates earn higher wages, have more stable work records, and are promoted sooner and more often than workers who have not been trained through apprenticeship programs.

All apprentices at the Local 43 Training Center are registered with the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. At the successful completion of the 5 years of instruction and on-the-job training, each apprentice will be eligible to receive up to 32 college credits FREE. These college credits may be applied to an Associate of Science degree in Construction Management. The Apprentice may take other required courses to complete a degree at Chattanooga State Technical Community College while serving their apprenticeship and use the apprenticeship credits earned (upon completion of their apprenticeship) to graduate with an Associate degree. The only cost is for the courses the college requires to complete the degree.

How Much Are Apprentices Paid?

Apprentices in Local 43 start by earning fifty-five percent of the journeyman worker’s wage rate and receive yearly increases if their progress is satisfactory.