Choose your path in Building Trades (plumbing and pipefitting) or HVACR Service. Both programs will give you a debt-free education and excellent job opportunities after graduation, not to mention incredible earning potential as you continue through your career as a UA Local 525 member. Best of all, you’re investing in yourself as you build a rewarding career (and your community) from the ground up!
Applications are accepted during the first two weeks of every month.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old to apply to the Local 525 apprenticeship program. You’ll also need to show proof of the following documents:
Yes! Local 525 offers a fully-funded apprenticeship program, provided the candidate complies with the terms of the apprenticeship. Our five-year program is the equivalent of a $45,000 education!
Don’t be discouraged! Our training facility can only accept a limited number of candidates due to space. In fact, many successful apprentices applied several times before they were accepted and worked as helpers in the interim. Not only does becoming a helper or pre-apprentice earn you valuable working experience, it shows your dedication to becoming a part of Local 525 and helps you score better the next time you apply!
A high school diploma signifies you attended and passed all required classes in a traditional high school. A General Educational Development Test (GED) is a 7-hour test showing you passed four high school equivalency tests: language arts, math, social studies and science skills. Both are generally accepted to register for college and apply for jobs.
Absolutely! Any post-high school education, including trade-related courses or certifications, college, military experience and help classes, earn 1 point per completed course.
Absolutely! Any post-high school education, including trade-related courses or certifications, college, military experience and help classes, earn 1 point per completed course.
No, although the work experience you gain as a helper earns valuable points on your application (one year as a plumber/pre-apprentice equals 2 points).
Helpers perform manual labor jobs, which can include delivering parts to jobsites, digging ditches, driving forklifts, sorting tools and general cleanup. If you have a valid driver’s license, Social Security card and current OSHA-10 card, you can be a helper. There is a fee of $10/month to stay on the out-of-work list, and you must visit the union hall in person to sign up.
Our training center regularly holds OSHA classes, so please call for a complete list of current offerings. We also partner with CareerSafe, an OSHA-authorized online training provider. Visit CareerSafeOnline.com for the full course catalog and training opportunities.
Yes, Local 525 allows apprentices to travel if there’s a downturn in available work locally. It’s critical for our future tradesmen and women to receive the best classroom and hands-on training, and we take that commitment seriously.
The application window typically opens in July and is rolling throughout the year. Once a potential candidate has submitted his or her complete application, they can reasonably expect to be contacted mid-Spring to become part of our system and move forward in the application process. Interviews happen in May/June each year.
Apprentices are initiated into membership of the United Association as soon as possible after signing the apprenticeship agreement with Local 525. A fee of $245 is due before the initiation date, and regular union dues of $29 are required to be paid each month at the Union Hall.
At Local 525, we’re proud to be at the forefront of training excellence — and have been for more than a century. Our state-of-the-art training center, which was rebuilt and opened in 2020.