Apprentices
- Classroom training. Expert instructors teach you theory, safety and skilled trade fundamentals in a controlled environment.
- On-the-job training. You’ll get your hands dirty (literally), apply your knowledge and skills and learn by doing.
- No student loans. Currently, the average student debt in California is $38,168 and the proportion of students with debt is 55%.
- Employment. You will earn while you learn, establishing skills to build your resume.
- Career potential. Apprenticeship can take you in many career directions.
- We are state and federally approved. ABC NorCal’s apprenticeship programs are approved by the State of California and the U.S. Department of Labor.
- We offer multiple trades. We offer apprenticeship programs in five trades: carpentry, construction craft laborer, electrical, painting and plumbing. Compared to a college education, there’s virtually no cost to you personally. The program is funded by various private and public sources. *You will need to purchase the tools required for your trade.
- Paid on-the-job training.
- Health benefits. Including medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
- We honor Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Eligible veterans can receive a tax-free stipend during their apprenticeship program.
- Build your professional network. Our members are some of the most talented construction professionals in Northern California.
- Nationally Recognized Curriculum. The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) is a national foundation backed by ABC National which provides the “Contren Learning Series” modules used in the classroom training of apprentices and the certification of instructors.
Click on your trade of interest for information and to APPLY now!
Please submit an application for only one trade. Multiple applications for different trades will not be accepted.
CARPENTRY
What does a Carpenter do?
- Carpenters are involved in many types of construction such as residential, commercial and industrial and work in diverse settings.
- Carpenters cut, shape, fit and assemble building materials using the latest power tools.
- Carpenters work with a variety of materials including wood, metal, concrete and plastics.
Quick Quiz: Is carpentry the trade for you?
If you answer yes to the following, then this trade may be a good fit for you.
- Do you enjoy working with your hands and seeing the “fruits of your labor?”
- Are you methodical in your approach to a project or task?
- Are you precise when measuring something?
- Are you able to make quick calculations and decisions in your head?
- Do you like and can you perform physical work that requires lifting and climbing?
Program Details
- Four years minimum
- No less than 4,800 hours of on-the-job training
Minimum Qualifications
- 17 years or older
- High school diploma, GED or Equivalency
Application Process
The application process may include the following:
- Written exam
- Orientation
- Drug screening
CONSTRUCTION CRAFT LABORER
What does a Construction Craft Laborer do?
- Construction craft laborers are the jacks-of-all-trades who work on almost all jobsites.
- They perform an array of tasks varying from simple to extremely difficult and hazardous.
- Laborers’ responsibilities include mixing, handling and placing concrete materials; operating machinery and devices as needed;
preparing construction sites to eliminate possible hazards; and signaling traffic and machinery operators.
Quick Quiz: Is construction craft laborer the trade for you?
If you answer yes to the following, then this trade may be a good fit for you.
- Are you a DIY-er by nature?
- Do you love to work outside?
- Does the idea of doing different work everyday appeal to you?
- Do you learn new skills quickly and have great attention to detail?
- Do you like and can you perform work that requires lifting and carrying heavy loads?
Program Details
- Two years minimum
- No less than 3,000 hours of on-the-job training
Minimum Qualifications
- 17 years or older
Application Process
The application process may include the following:
- Written exam
- Orientation
- Drug screening
ELECTRICAL
What does an Electrician do?
- Electricians install, connect, test and maintain electrical systems for residential, commercial, industrial and technical use.
- This craft is highly technical, requiring knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC), state and local building codes and the
accurate use of blueprints to locate outlets and other equipment. - In California, certified electricians must be licensed and pass the State Electrician Certification Exam.
- There are many opportunities to specialize including audio/visual, telecommunications and data, emergency backup, solar, wind
and fire alarms (to name just a few).
Quick Quiz: Is electrical the trade for you?
If you answer yes to the following, then this trade may be a good fit for you.
- Do you consider yourself a technical person?
- Do you pay close attention to detail and process when completing a project?
- Do you have excellent eye/hand coordination?
- Can you easily visualize something based on plans or a diagram?
- Are you good at doing quick and complex math in your head?
Program Details
- Five years minimum
- No less than 8,000 hours of on-the-job training
Minimum Qualifications
- 17 years or older
- High school diploma, GED or Equivalency
Application Process
The application process may include the following:
- Written exam
- Orientation
- Drug screening
PAINTING
What does an Painter do?
- Painters apply paint, stain, varnish and other finishes to the interior of a roughed-out surface.
- The process often involves choosing appropriate applicators, mixing paints, matching colors and using mechanical and chemical
processes to prepare surfaces. - In an industrial setting, painters prepare and paint factories, bridges, girders, guardrails, sheds, storage tanks and more.
Quick Quiz: Is painting the trade for you?
If you answer yes to the following, then this trade may be a good fit for you.
- Do people say you are a visual or creative person?
- Are you meticulous in your personal and professional life?
- Do you like the idea of being your own boss and starting a business?
- Are you good at diagnosing problems?
- Do you like and can you perform physical work that requires standing, climbing and bending?
Program Details
- Four years minimum
- No less than 4,800 hours of on-the-job training
Minimum Qualifications
- 17 years or older
- High school diploma, GED or Equivalency
Application Process
The application process may include the following:
- Written exam
- Orientation
- Drug screening
PLUMBING
What does a Plumber do?
- Plumbers are needed on just about every type of construction project.
- During the initial stages of a project, plumbers install and repair drainage, water and gas systems.
- Later they return to install and connect appliances and fixtures such as showers, toilets and water heaters.
- Plumbers work with a variety of piping material including copper, plastic, cast iron and steel and often need to cut or bend pipe to
desired lengths.
Quick Quiz: Is plumbing the trade for you?
If you answer yes to the following, then this trade may be a good fit for you.
- Are you able to do quick math in your head?
- Does the idea of doing something different every day appeal to you?
- Are you good at learning technical material and absorbing codes and regulations?
- Do you like working inside AND outside?
- Do you enjoy hands-on work and using power tools?
Program Details
- Four years minimum
- No less than 7,200 hours of on-the-job training
Minimum Qualifications
- 17 years or older
- High school diploma, GED or Equivalency
Application Process
The application process may include the following:
- Written exam
- Orientation
- Drug screening
Watch video below to learn more:
Apprenticeship Program FAQs
- Apprenticeship is a unique learning experience that combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
- On-the-job training allows individuals to earn wages while gaining real-world experience. Classroom instruction teaches theory and skill development in a controlled learning environment. Combined, the two instruction processes create a knowledgeable and experienced worker.
ABC NorCal is the sponsor of five state and federally approved apprenticeship programs in the carpentry, construction craft laborer, electrical, painting, and plumbing trades.
There are no tuition fees for apprentices.
Once accepted into the program, you will need to purchase the required tools for your trade.
No. Apprenticeship is a paid learning and training opportunity.
You will learn all necessary job skills through on-the-job and classroom training.
If you have at least one year of verifiable experience in the trade you are applying for, you may request to take the placement test.
If you take the placement test and pass with the minimum required score, you may be placed in the program at a higher level.
Should you pass the entire program’s placement test, once registered in the program, you must complete a minimum of six months of the program in order to receive credit and recognition as a graduate from the ABC NorCal Apprenticeship Program.
ABC NorCal contractor members who are approved to train apprentices may sponsor existing employees into ABC NorCal’s Apprenticeship Program.
Sponsoring is approved on a case-by-case basis by the Unilateral Apprenticeship Committee (UAC) and is not guaranteed. Sponsorship consideration requires a completed application with the sponsoring company’s information.
You must complete the entire application process.
- Anytime. Applications are accepted year-round for every program.
- Your submitted application will only be approved if it includes all of the required documentation. We cannot process incomplete applications; an incomplete application will delay your acceptance process.
- Applicants must pass each step of the process as determined by the UAC to be accepted into the program. This timeline of each step is based primarily on the need for apprentices in the industry.
- The application process may include the following:
- Written exam
- Orientation
- Drug Screening
Class schedule will be determined once you have successfully started the apprenticeship program and have been dispatched to your first contractor.
Classes are held in one or two-week blocks throughout the year and are generally held Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some classes are held virtually Monday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
You will attend a few mandatory training sessions on Saturdays.
Carpentry and Construction Craft Laborer classes are held at the ABC NorCal Livermore Training Facility. Some Carpentry and Construction Craft Laborer classes may be offered at the ABC NorCal Sacramento Training Facility as determined by the ABC NorCal UAC.
Electrical and Painting classes are held at the ABC NorCal Livermore Training Facility.
Plumbing classes are held at the ABC NorCal Sacramento Plumbing Training Facility.
Several of the mandatory certifications will be held offsite throughout Northern California.
You may be placed with various contractors in your area in order to gain varied on-the-job training experience. All construction jobs generally require travel to and from jobsites.
You can be dispatched anywhere in Northern California.
You will be dispatched to projects based on your physical address on file with the ABC NorCal office.
- You will be dispatched by the ABC NorCal office to an approved-to-train contractor with a project located within your area of residence.
Note: The ABC NorCal Apprenticeship Program is not a job placement service; it is an apprenticeship training program that allows you to earn while you learn.
- The rate of pay for apprentices is determined by the State of California and the Department of Labor and varies by trade. Wages depend on various factors such as the county the project is located and the bid advertisement date for the project.
Note: Apprentice wage calculation is a topic covered during the apprentice’s first class: the Introduction to Apprenticeship class.