Before You Apply

Important Facts you should know BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• The recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices during their apprenticeship shall be without discrimination based upon political or religious opinion or affiliation, marital status, race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age unless sex or age constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification or the physical or mental disability of a qualified individual with a disability. The Sponsor will take affirmative action to provide equal apprenticeship opportunity and operate the apprenticeship program as required under Maryland regulation 09.12.42 and 29 CFR 30.
• No experience is necessary for our field to apply.
• After you complete your application, a *non-refundable processing fee of $25.00 is required, payable by major credit card only. You will also need to provide an official photo ID.
• A transcript is not needed at the time of application. However, you will be required to provide a copy of all transcripts after passing the math test.
• An Applicant can only take the Reading and Math Assessment test once per application year.
• You will be required to attend school two nights classes a week, 3 hours each night, and one 6 hour Saturday class a month. – A minimum of 250 hours of school per year.
• The school year runs from September thru June.
• You must have a valid driver’s license and your own transportation – our jurisdiction goes through most of Maryland and Sussex County in Delaware.
• You must obtain your MD Plumbing and MD HVACR apprentice licenses.  These licenses must be in good standing and maintained during the apprenticeship.  At a minimum, you must be licensed as an apprentice in the state in which you are being trained.
• You must be eligible to work in the United States and will be required to pass a security check.
• A workday will consist of at least 8 hours of construction work for one of our Union contractors.  We will dispatch you to our contractors as needed.  Some work will be done outside.
• Working in the construction industry there may be times when you lose time from the job site due to lack of work, strikes, inclement weather, sickness, or other reasons that may create insecure financial conditions. 
• Some of the work performed by an apprentice may be in heavy industrial areas where dirt, smoke, and perhaps dangerous working conditions exist. 
• Jobs may require working overtime and on weekends.
• Overtime is time and one half.  5 paid holidays per year.  No sick leave or vacation.   8 hours pay for 8 hours work.
• A pension, optional 401(k), and medical for you and your family are provided after your initial 250 hours of work.  A dental plan, prescription card, and annuity are available when you reach your 2nd-year apprentice status.
• Union dues are currently $31.00 per month.
• If selected, you will receive an Apprentice Scholarship for your training.  You will, however, be responsible to pay for your own books.  Books run approximately $440.00 the first year and average about $350.00 for years 2-5.  Pre-payment of books is due at the start of each school year.
• You will be required to sign a Scholarship Loan Agreement if you are selected.  
• Class failure or chronic absenteeism from either work or school can result in self-elimination from the program.  You will be required to make up any missed school time.
• The Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486 Training School is a 501 (c)(3) organization regulated by the federal government.  Although medical marijuana is permitted by the laws of the State of Maryland, it is considered a Schedule I controlled substance, illegal under the federal law that governs the JATC.  Therefore, a medical marijuana card does not excuse you from passing the JATC’s drug test, which requires less than 100 ng/ml of marijuana metabolite on the initial screen, and less than 20 ng/mil on the confirmation test to pass.
• If selected for the apprenticeship, you must be willing to comply with the rules, duties, and regulations set forth by the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 486 Joint Apprenticeship Committee.