Types of Apprenticeships

A variety of industries offer apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship is organized into three employment sectors: construction, industrial (manufacturing) and service. Each trade has its own program requirements and selection procedures.

Construction Trades

Approximately half of the active apprentices in Wisconsin work in the construction trades. This includes the people who build, repair, and remodel homes, commercial and industrial buildings, bridges, highways, airports and other structures.

The application process for construction trades varies depending on the trade and the area of the state. Construction trade apprenticeships are sponsored by local trade committees comprised of skilled workers and employers who are advisory to the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards. Committee members recommend approval of qualified applicants to the Bureau. Each committee develops its own policies and practices, with approval from the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, for operating its apprenticeship program and for selecting apprentices.

Applications are taken by each local committee. Each committee will determine the selection items required for the selection process. These may include an aptitude test, an interview with the committee, high school transcripts, proof of graduation or equivalent, birth certificate, and valid driver's license or a drug test. Once all application materials are on file and the applicant is deemed to be qualified, the committee will notify the applicant as to the next step in the procedure.

The construction trades use two methods for the actual placement of apprentices in jobs:

• In the rank order list method, the committee creates a list of candidates in order of their scores on written and oral examinations. An employer seeking an apprentice will make a request to the appropriate apprenticeship committee. The committee will contact the next person on the list and ask them to report for acceptance into the apprenticeship program and to sign the contract.
• In the letter of introduction method, applicants who meet the basic requirements are given a letter from the sponsoring committee stating they are eligible to be hired as apprentices. They must then find an employer to sponsor their apprenticeship. Frequently the committee will provide a list of participating employers.

Industrial Trades

Apprenticeable occupations in the industrial sector are usually offered in plants, factories, and machine shops. There are many types of industries that utilize apprenticeship training including paper mills, commercial dairies, food production facilities, tool & die shops and automobile manufacturers.

Service Trades

Employment in the service sector generally involves attending to the needs or requests of people. Service trade apprenticeships include occupations such as Electric Line Worker (utility work), Barber/Cosmetologist, Cook/Chef and Firefighters.

Applying for apprenticeship in the industrial and service sectors involves applying directly to the company that operates an apprenticeship program. Although the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards has set minimum entry requirements for each individual trade, eligibility requirements will vary from employer to employer and trade to trade. Most employers require a high school diploma or equivalent, and math and reading skills.

Some employers test individuals to determine aptitude and trade knowledge. Some of the larger companies and those companies that have collective bargaining agreements often limit apprenticeship opportunities to people who are currently in their employment. This may mean that an individual interested in becoming an apprentice will have to take another position with the company while waiting for the opportunity to serve in an apprenticeship. Some companies may list apprenticeship opportunities with the local Job Center, Technical College, or in the classified ads of the local newspaper.