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 Training:
Apprentices & Journeymen
Apprenticeship Training
The United Association has the first nationally registered joint apprenticeship program in the United States, dating
back to 1936, and is now proudly entering its seventh decade.
Individuals who enter a United Association five-year apprenticeship program are part of a select group of men and
women motivated 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 in what is considered by many to be the best
construction industry apprentice program in the world. The five-year apprenticeship period is divided into one-year
segments, each of which includes 1,700 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and a minimum of 246 hours of related
classroom instruction.
All UA apprentices receive a strong general education background in the trade, with core courses in basics such as
mathematics, mechanical drafting, and related science. At an appropriate juncture apprentices can choose a specific
curriculum to pursue with the goal of becoming a journeyman plumber, pipefitter, sprinklerfitter, or a service technician in the air-conditioning/refrigeration field, or any of the other many service opportunities in the industry.
All training programs are run through United Association local joint training committees in specific cities or
regions, and are directed by the International Training Fund. One of the things that makes the UA training program so
successful is that we view it as a joint partnership between labor and management.
Apprenticeship is a serious and vigorous undertaking: UA apprentices must work the same hours as journeymen plus
attend day or night classes. Yet, this can be a highly rewarding career path for an individual who is motivated to learn
the piping trade and become an active member of a proud and noble trade union.
Journeyman Training
Once UA members complete their five-year apprenticeships, they become full-fledged journeymen. However, their
education in the trade is by no means over at this point. In fact, United Association members are very serious about
pursuing lifelong training and most of them take advantage of the many opportunities they have to update and expand
their skills.
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