About

We help you learn while you earn.

Since instituting the UA Local 486 Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship in 1941, the Local Union 486 has given hundreds of hours of free instruction, on-the-job training, and job opportunities to participants. They are expert technicians, skilled journey workers, trained managers, and high-wage earners.

2964

Graduates to-date

7500

Minimum Hours of on-the-job Training

1250

Total hours of classroom instruction

100

Number of participating contractors

Where they work:

High Rises

Power Plants

Water Treatment Plants

Health Care Facilities

Stadiums

Schools & Colleges

Hotels

Casinos

HVACR Facilities

What they do:

  • Operating hydraulic and electric controls
  • Monitoring digital technology control systems
  • Installing backflow preventers
  • Installing natural & medical gas systems
  • Reading and interpreting building drawings and specifications
  • Calculating for systems
  • They are welders, riggers, steamfitters
  • Commercial plumbing, heating, cooling & refrigeration

What’s in a Union?

  • The Union provides job information, training programs and benefits
  • Provides a safe working environment
  • Union members and officers promote good labor relations
  • The Union inspires excellence and pride!
  • Union workers do the job right – on time and on budget!
  • Union members and officers work with businesses to supply highly trained labor for any size or type of project

See how the Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship Program has made a difference...

“The Community College of Baltimore County’s long partnership with Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 486 supports a strong opportunity to earn money, obtain college credit and a solid credential for a job.”

Sandra L. Kurtinitis, Ph.D., President, CCBC
The Community College of Baltimore County

If you are looking for a career that will support yourself and your family with good money and good benefits, you’ll find pipefitting is a career that has many paths. As you move through the Plumbers and Steamfitters Apprenticeship Program, you can find some very rewarding jobs. The program gave me the skills to work in the field for 10 years before starting my own business that employs union steamfitters.

Name /Name, Ph.D., President, Company
The Community College of Baltimore County

CCBC gives apprenticeship candidates the opportunity to build on their craft professions.  The more training and education you have, the more options you will have in the workforce.  The Apprenticeship Program is not just for young people of college-age.  It’s for anyone who wants to learn a new trade or who is looking for new opportunities.  It’s not unusual to have apprenticeship graduates go on to earn an Associate’s Degree.  This allows apprentices to take advantage of additional career opportunities, taking on responsibilities of supervision, management, or owning their own businesses.

Name /Name, Ph.D., President, Company
The Community College of Baltimore County

Applicant Deadlines

Baltimore, MD

1201 66th Street, Baltimore, MD 21237

Applications for 2025/2026 are now open!

Hagerstown, MD

1301 West Washington Street, Hagerstown, MD 21740

Applications for 2025/2026 are now open!

Seaford, DE

26705 Sussex Highway, Seaford, DE 19973

Applications for 2025/2026 are now open!

There is a non-refundable processing fee of $25 due at the time of application to be paid by Credit Card. No official documents are needed to apply.