The Los Angeles and Vicinity Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitter
Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee

Apprentice Applicant Information on
Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitter J.A.&T.C.
AIG – 42 /   DOT 862.281.02B

I. QUALIFICATIONS: 

Age: Min. – 18 yrs   

Education:  H. S. Grad. or Equivalent (G.E.D.)

II. ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

The Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitter Apprenticeship Training Program is for five (5) years.  Apprentices earn while they learn, working on the job and attending classes of related technical instruction. 

Nature of Work:  Fabricates, assembles, installs, tests, maintains, and rehabilitates industrial, manufacturing, heating, cooling, instrumentation and control piping.  A variety of welding processes are used in performing welding operations.  Work may include rigging operations.

Area:  Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Helpful High School, Trade School Or College Courses:  Mathematics, including Algebra and Geometry, Machine or Forge Shop, Drafting, Mechanical Drawing or Blueprint Reading, Physical Science.

Wages:   Apprentices earn a percentage of the Journeyman wage rate, by classification.  Currently, Journeyman wage is $38.57 / hr. and the 1st Year apprentice wage is 45% of journeyman wages.  All wage rates and conditions are subject to change without notice as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Upon completion of annual requirements apprentices advance in the program and receive a pay raise once a year. 

Hours of Work: 6:30a.m.- 3:30p.m., ½ hour lunch, forty (40) hrs./wk., or as modified by union agreement.

Classes:   Apprentices attend classes of related technical and manipulative instruction.  All 1st and 2nd year Apprentices attend daytime training - 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every other week.  All 3rd thru 5th Year Apprentices attend classes two (2) nights every week - 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Related Instruction is 216 hours per year.

Tools and Transportation: Apprentices must have required tools and their own transportation.  The required tools are tape measure, level, channel locks, hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, tube cutters, tin snips, reamers, and saws.  While in the trade, apprentices will learn to work with drills, grinders, braces & bits, chisels, power machines, hydraulic pipe benders, gas & arc welding, soldering /brazing equipment while on the job.

Where Employed:  Commercial, industrial, manufacturing, food processing plants, and petrochemical industry.

Skills required for this job: Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitters work with their hands, use hand, power tools and use welding processes on piping systems.  Must know mechanical principles and understand how things work.  Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitters need a working knowledge of mathematics and science.

Working Conditions:  Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitters work is strenuous.  It involves a lot of standing, stooping, and heavy lifting, pulling and pushing.  Much of it is done outdoors.  The work involves joining pipes together by following layouts, diagrams and blue prints.  It may require standing for long periods or being in cramped and uncomfortable positions.  The work can be uncomfortable during hot or cold weather.  Risks include falls from ladders, cuts from sharp tools, burns from hot pipes or steam.

Availability and Continuity of Work: Employment prospects vary with industry needs, economic cycles and capital expenditures by public agencies, locality and weather. 

Fringe Benefits: Health, Dental, and Prescription Drug coverage, Pension, Vacation and Holiday, and Life Insurance are provided as eligibility is established.

Union Affiliation: Apprentices are obligated to make application to the Union at the start of their apprenticeship and must maintain their availability for employment referral.  Apprentices serve a probationary period for the first year of their apprenticeship.

Completion Certificates: Apprentices attain journeyman status and are awarded completion certificates. 

III. ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION:

The program is under a collective bargaining agreement between signatory contractors and the Union.  Our signatory contractors pay all costs by hourly contributions to the apprenticeship fund.  A Board of Trustees administers the fund and determines policy.  The apprentice’s are supervised by the Journeyman Apprentice & Training Committee (J.A.&T.C.) comprised of equal representatives of the Union and signatory Contractors. 

IV. TRAINING STANDARDS:

The J.A.&T.C prepares the apprenticeship training standards and they are approved and registered with, the State of California, Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DIR/DAS).  These Standards provide for training of apprentices on the job, in work processes of the trade, in related technical and manipulative instruction.  The objective of the five (5) year program is to train apprentices to be an all-around journeyman Steamfitters.  Safety is stressed throughout the training.

V. APPRENTICESHIP AGREEMENT:

Each apprentice is registered with the State of California, DIR/DAS by signing an Apprenticeship Agreement with the J.A.&T.C.  Each apprentice must abide by the Rules and Regulations and Standards.

VI. HOW, WHERE AND WHEN TO APPLY FOR APPRENTICESHIP:

Applications for the Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitter Apprenticeship Program are accepted as follows:

On the First Thursday and Third Thursday of each month unless otherwise specified
Between the hours of 1:00p.m. and 3:00p.m. at the:

Steamfitter and Industrial Pipefitter  
Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee Office 
18355 S. Figueroa St., Gardena, CA  90248  

Contacts:

Herb M. Kleeman, JAC Secretary
Phone: (310) 660-0035 Ext. 3311
(310) 323-4475
UA250JATC@ua250.org  

Lisa J. Rivera, Administrative Assistant
Phone: (310) 818-2526

Applicants must appear in person with the originals AND a copy of: 

• High School Diploma AND sealed H.S. transcripts (official copy – do not open), or G.E.D. with Test Scores, PLUS bring proof of age such as birth certificate, baptismal paper or passport, PLUS bring current Photo I.D. and Social Security Card.  

A. Minimum Qualifications:

Birth Certificate, H.S. Diploma, H.S. Transcripts, Photo I.D. / D.L. & SS Card.

1. Applicants must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years.  Proof of age must be presented at the time of application – an original or certified copy of birth certificate, baptismal paper, or passport.  In addition, bring a current photo I.D. and Social Security Card.
2. An original or certified copy of applicant’s high school diploma and transcripts OR a G.E.D. and test scores
3. No disabling physical defects for work in the trade.
4. Passing score on the Qualification Basic Math Test.

B.   Application Procedures:
1. After completing an application, the applicant is notified when to take the test.
2. Applicants must achieve 70% on the test.  Upon achieving this score or above, the applicant is notified when to appear for an oral interview.
3. After completing the oral interview, applicants are then placed on an eligible pool of applicants list ranked from highest score to lowest score achieved.
4. Names are then drawn from the eligible pool of applicants list from highest to lowest score achieved to form upcoming apprentice classes.  Those who do not make it into the semesters due to quantity of available space will need to reapply for the next round of applicant process.

VII. NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Los Angeles & Vicinity Steamfitter & Industrial Pipefitter Apprenticeship Committee does not discriminate in selection, employment or training of Apprentices because of race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

APPLICATION DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS: For 2013: 5/2, 5/16, 6/6, 6/20, 7/11*, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 9/5, 9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 11/7, 11/21, 12/5, 12/19    *Date due to Holiday