Mechanical Trades:
Not Just A Job : Life Long Career: A Calling !
The Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 486 Apprenticeship Program is a career in the making. If you want to make money and build a future, apply to become an apprentice!
Inspiring You To Reach Your Potential
FREE tuition and PAID on-the-job training
You’ll work in commercial and industrial settings, installing and repairing heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. They are welders using computer-assisted welding machines. They work with digital control systems. The Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship Program will teach you everything you need to know and give you job experience! It’s a five-year program with FREE tuition and PAID on-the-job training. Upon graduation, you can become a certified welder, licensed Maryland Plumber-Gasfitter, and/or HVACR journey person, with ten trade certifications and 45 FREE college credits.
Make your future career happen.
On-the-job Training
Learn while you earn.
When you are chosen for the program, you will be assigned to a participating contractor within Union 486 jurisdiction as jobs become available. Work will be in Baltimore City and surrounding counties, including Frederick, Maryland and Sussex, Delaware. For those attending our satellite programs, jobs will be in Seaford, Delaware and Hagerstown, Maryland.
You’ll work eight hours per day, five days a week, usually between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. You will need your own transportation to get to and from the job site.
As your experience increases, so will your Total Yearly Compensation:
1st YEAR
1st YEAR
$52,300
wages & benefits
2nd YEAR
2nd YEAR
$68,411
wages & benefits
3rd YEAR
3rd YEAR
$81,348
wages & benefits
4th YEAR
4th YEAR
$94,307
wages & benefits
5th YEAR
5th YEAR
107,244
wages & benefits
$52.3k+ Now in wages and benefits, while you’re in school, with FREE Tuition. Up to 133k+ in 5 years at graduation with your Journeyman certification.
Courses of Study:
You will complete 1,250 hours in the classroom during your five-year training program and earn 30 free college credits. This time will include completion of the following courses:
You will complete 1,250 hours in the classroom during your five-year training program and earn 30 free college credits. This time will include completion of the following courses:
A-B
Academic Success
Advanced Plan Reading
Advanced Welding
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration I/CFC
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration II
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration III
AutoCad I and II
Backflow Prevention
Basic Air Conditioning/CFC
Basic Electricity
Basic Heating and Controls
Builders Level Transit
C-E
Confined Space Training
Control Theory
Customer Relations/Sales
Direct Digital Control
Drainage
Drainage II/Sand Pit
Drawing I
Drawing II
Electricity I/Arc Flash
Electricity II
Electricity III
F-O
Fab Shop
Financial Tools
First Aid/CPR
Gas Installations
Heritage
High Pressure Steam
HVACR Code
Industrial Refrigeration
Medical Gas Certification
Natural Gas Code
Oil & Gas Burners
Orbital Welding
OSHA 10
P-R
Pipe Layout
Plumbing Code
Plumbing Fixtures
Plumbing Lab
Realistic Preview
Related Math
Related Science
Rigging
Rigging II
S-Z
Screw Pipe
Shielded Metallic Arc Welding I
Shielded Metallic Arc Welding II
Shielded Metallic Arc Welding III
Soldering & Brazing
Tools
Tube Bending/Orbital
UA Star Review
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
Variable Refrig. Flow
Water Supply
Veterans in Piping
The Veterans in Piping (VIP) program offers high-quality skills training and jobs in the pipe trades to active duty military personnel preparing to leave the service. UA General President William P. Hite established the program as a means of addressing two important issues:
- PA growing shortage in the construction industry of skilled workers due to the combined effects of an aging workforce, increased demand, and lack of skills training for youth; and
- PAn exceedingly high unemployment rate for US Veterans, despite their being a disciplined and highly trainable population.
Military and government officials have lauded VIP as a model in workforce development. Participants enroll in accelerated 18-week courses in welding, fire sprinkler fitting and/or HVACR service, both fields experiencing an increased demand for skilled workers. They also earn industry-recognized certifications as a part of their education. Upon graduation, VIPs gain direct entry into UA apprenticeship, leading to lifelong career opportunities. All training is paid for entirely by the UA and its industry partners at NO cost to participants.
Training Facilities
You’ll spend your classroom hours at the Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship Schools in either Baltimore, Maryland, Seaford, Delaware or Hagerstown, Maryland. Our state-of-the-art facilities are designed specifically for training and learning. The spacious, high-technology classrooms and simulation rooms are modeled for an interactive environment.
Experienced, highly qualified trainers and instructors will teach you necessary skills to become an outstanding professional, and they will lead you through hands-on activities to reinforce the knowledge.
Applicant Requirements:
- P18 years old by June 30, of the school year you’re applying for
- PApply online
- PHigh school diploma or equivalent, or graduating senior
- PPass a basic Reading and Math test – Assessment Test
- PProvide official documentation:
- PHigh school transcript or GED certificate
- PBirth certificate
- PSocial Security card
- PDD214 form (if a Veteran)
Applicant Registration
- PProvide three completed personal reference forms
- PBe eligible to work in the United States
- PParticipate in an in-person interview with the Apprenticeship Committee
- PTake a drug screening test and have a physical
- PBe eligible to obtain a Maryland Plumbing and HVACR Apprenticeship License including a Maryland background check.
- PSign the Scholarship Loan Agreement – see info belowenticeship License.
The sample scholarship loan agreement on this website is for general information purposes only. Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486 JATC assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the scholarship loan documents posted here. For a copy of the most up-to-date scholarship loan agreement, please contact the Training School. Click here for a sample scholarship loan agreement.
Applicant Deadlines:
Baltimore, Maryland
Applications for the 2023/2024 school year are being accepted.
Hagerstown, Maryland
Applications for the 2023/2024 school year are being accepted.
Seaford, Delaware
Applications for the 2023/2024 school year are being accepted.