The Pipefitters Apprenticeship program is a 5-year program. Whether you choose to apply for the Building Trades division (1400 class hours) or the HVAC Service Program (1100 classroom hours).

Anyone interested in applying to the apprenticeship must attend one of the “Applications Days” held by the Training Center located in Mokena, IL.

It is important to check the application availability on the first wednesday of the month.

IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) is the training center for the unionized electrical industry of Cook County. IN-Tech offers two types of apprenticeship: a 4-year communications apprenticeship and a 5-year construction apprenticeship. 

More information on the 5-year construction apprenticeship can be found here. 

More information on the 4-year communications apprenticeship can be found here. 

Instructions on how to register for either apprenticeship can be found here.

Every Local 1 Iron Worker completes a rigorous three-year apprenticeship, gaining expertise in structural steel erection, reinforcing steel placement, bridgework, rigging, post-tensioning, precast concrete structures, crane assembly and disassembly, tower cranes, caissons, pre-engineered metal buildings, and more. 

Registration for apprenticeship opens April 2027.

There are 2 Apprenticeship Programs offered at Ironworkers Local 63:

• Building Apprenticeship - Once a quarter or as applicants are needed, applicants who submit the required documents and are within the top scores on the aptitude test will be rated and given all the information where and when to appear for an interview.  Applicants will then be added to a ranked list based on their interview.  Applications are accepted year-round and applicants will be reviewed each quarter. 

• Fence Apprenticeship - Fence Applications will be accepted the 1st Wednesday of every month from 9-11am. (sometimes the date varies). To become a Fence Apprentice you must obtain a letter of intent to hire from a signatory contractor (click for the list of signatory contractors). The letter must be signed by a principle or authorized person of the company. 

Elevator Constructors install, maintain, and repair elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other vertical transport systems. Chicago's local union is the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC) Local 2.

Recruitment for apprenticeship is conducted nationally via the National Elevator Industry Educational Program. Check this site periodically for Chicago's recruitment window.

Upcoming recruitment window: October 5th - October 12th.

The Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA, with over 6,100 members is the largest straight-line plumbing local in the United Association.

New apprentices of Local 130 are enrolled in a five-year apprentice training program. As part of this special course apprentice plumbers are paid to attend classes one day a week, while receiving on-the-job training the remaining four days of the work week. The program is designed to provide apprentice plumbers with the knowledge and experience they need to succeed on the job and to promote quality within the union.

Applications for apprenticeship starts November 16, 2026 through Februrary 12, 2027 OR the first 2,000 submissions, whichever occurs first.

This union supports those in the Brick, Marble, Plaster, Pointing Cleaning and Caulking, Tile, Precast, Rainscreen, and Terrazzo trades.

After applying and meeeting all requirements, the applicant will then be placed on a thirty day probationary period. If the probationary period is successful, the applicant is then processed and placed in the Apprenticeship Program. 

Applicants will be accepted throughout the year. Applications will be available Monday through Friday between 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at the DCTC office or online at www.bac2school.org

Applications are accepted on the 3rd thursday of every month between 8 am 10am.

Boilermaker’s Local One Apprenticeship Program requires, at a minimum, the following every six months: completion of 6 written self-study lessons, On the job training modules and passing a written exam. 

To graduate to journeyman boilermaker status, you must complete a minimum 6000 hours of on the job training and you must attend, participate, and complete a minimum of 150 hours per year of classroom instruction.

Applications are accepted during specific application periods. Check here periodically for updates.

Through this apprenticeship, You will receive on-the-job training through employers who have agreements with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America—the largest building trades union in North America. You’ll also receive classroom instruction at a Mid-America Carpenters training centers throughout your apprenticeship.

A list of various carpentry trades are listed here.

A heat and frost insulator is a skilled tradesperson who applies, removes, and repairs thermal, acoustic, and fire-protective insulation on mechanical systems, equipment, and buildings (essentially, they help to keep hot systems hot and cold systems cold).

Local 17 offers a 5-year apprenticeship program. More information and the link to apply is located at the link above.

Training is received through a three-year Apprenticeship at the Riggers, Machinery Movers & Machinery Erectors Local 136. Riggers are specialists who set up, position, and secure heavy equipment, loads, or structural components using cranes, pulleys, winches, and ropes.

Registering for apprenticeship is rolling and available online. Applicants will be contacted when the next process will take place. Information will be maintained until that time and communicated with applicant.

Applicants must be sponsored by a signatory union roofing contractor once all program requirements aee met. A list of union contractors that you can contact for potential sponsorship can be found here.

Chicago applications are closed until January 2027. Check back for updates.

A sheet metal worker is a skilled tradesperson who fabricates, assembles, installs, and repairs products made from thin metal sheets like steel, aluminum, and copper. Sheet metal workers can install systems, fabricate components made of flat pieces of metal, join parts, and read blueprints.

Applications for apprenticeship are currently closed. Check back here for updates.

Sprinkler Fitters are pipefitting specialists in fire protection. They install, inspect, test, repair, and maintain all types of fire extinguishing systems.  While most of this work deals directly with automatic sprinkler systems they also have the skills necessary to install and service a wide variety of other fire protection equipment such as standpipes, carbon dioxide systems, halon systems, foam systems, fire extinguishers, kitchen hoods and dry chemical systems.

Applications for apprenticeship are currently closed. Check the website linked above for updates.