How to Actually Get Into a Union Apprenticeship
Getting into a union apprenticeship can take years. Here’s what we learned at the Educators Build California Summit about finding a sponsor, reaching out to contractors, and making the wait count.
A union apprenticeship can be one of the best career moves you make, but getting in usually takes longer than people expect. You earn while you learn, you skip the tuition bill, and you walk into a trade with strong pay and benefits.
Keep in mind: getting in often takes patience. At the recent Educators Build California Summit, almost every apprenticeship session came back to the same point: there is often a line to get in.
Here's what we learned about how the process actually works, how to get in without connections, and what to do while you wait.
Plan for the wait
Presenters estimated waits of 2 to 5 years to get into some union apprenticeships. One session put it at 2 to 4 years, another at 3 to 5. Wait times vary by trade, local, and demand, so ask the program directly for its current estimate.
The apprenticeship itself can then run about 5 years. That sounds like a long road, but here's the part that matters: apprentices are paid for all of those years. You're not paying tuition to learn a trade. You're earning a paycheck while you build one.
So instead of thinking "now or never," think "get on the list, and get ready while I wait."
Start with your trade
Union apprenticeships exist across the building trades, including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, ironworkers, and more. Each trade has its own local unions and runs its own apprenticeship program, often through a training center the union and its contractors operate together.
Entry steps vary by trade. Some require a sponsor before you can start, while others may have you apply directly to their training center. Always check the steps for the trade you want.
In LA and Orange County, a good place to start is the LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council. It represents 48 local unions across 14 trades and lists each trade's apprenticeship program. It also keeps a list of pre-apprenticeship programs that help newcomers get ready to apply.
Four ways in
Many trades ask you to find a sponsor: a union contractor willing to bring you on. Based on what the Western States Carpenters shared at the summit, here are four common ways in.Friend or Family
Get sponsored through someone you know. If a friend or family member is in the union, ask whether their company could sponsor you.
Pre-apprenticeships
Start with a pre-apprenticeship. These short programs teach the basics, help you build connections, and can make you a stronger candidate.
Union Hall
Sign up at your local union hall. Then contact union contractors directly about sponsorship.
Cold Call
Reach out cold. No connections? Find union contractors on your own and pitch yourself. For most people starting from scratch, this is the most realistic route.
How to reach out to contractors
Cold outreach is simpler than it sounds. You don't need an introduction, just a list of contractors and some persistence. Here's how to do it:1
Look for job site signs.
When you pass a construction site, there's usually a sign naming the contractor.
2
Look them up.
Find the company's phone number, email, or office address.
3
Reach out and introduce yourself.
Explain that you're working toward a union apprenticeship and ask whether they sponsor apprentices.
4
Follow up.
One call rarely does it. Expect to hear a lot of no's. That's normal, and it isn't personal. Keep a list of who you contacted, check back, and keep going.
Before you reach out, know how to sell yourself. What do you offer? More than anything, contractors and apprenticeship programs want people who are reliable, on time, and hardworking. If that's you, say so, and back it up with real examples: a job where you never missed a shift, a team that counted on you, or work you took pride in.
For example: "I'm working toward a carpentry apprenticeship. I'm reliable, I show up on time, and I'm ready to work hard and learn. I'd love to know if you sponsor apprentices."
Showing up with a few credentials tells a contractor you're serious. Presenters pointed to OSHA certification, First Aid/CPR certification, and any construction work experience you already have.
What to do while you wait
The time on a waitlist doesn't have to be wasted time. Short programs can make you a stronger candidate for sponsorship, and you can start most of them right away:
- OSHA certification. Safety training that contractors look for on day one.
- First Aid/CPR certification. Quick to earn and shows you're prepared on a job site.
- A pre-apprenticeship program. Hands-on basics, plus a direct line to unions and contractors.
- Construction work experience. Any related job, even entry-level, helps your case.
Educators at the summit asked a question a lot of people starting out have: what should people do between getting on the list and getting placed? Their answer was get on the list, then get experience while you wait.
Find an apprenticeship near you
The earlier you decide where you want to see yourself in a few years, the sooner you can start making moves to get your foot in the door.
Why the wait pays off
California needs trained tradespeople. State projections expect thousands of openings in the trades every year:11,040
projected yearly job openings for carpenters in California through 2034 (O*Net)
8,650
projected yearly job openings for electricians in California through 2034 (O*Net)
Those openings come from new jobs and from workers retiring or leaving the trade.
You'll often hear people in the trades say, "Once you're in, you're in." Here's what that means. Construction jobs end when a project wraps, but as a union member you don't start your job search over. When one job ends, you sign the union's out-of-work list, and the hiring hall sends you to the next contractor that needs workers.
Your health and retirement benefits are tied to your union, not to one company, so they follow you from job to job. Keep in mind: it isn't a guarantee of nonstop work. When work is slow, you may wait between jobs, and newer members are often sent out later.
Union careers also come with real benefits
Regular Pay Increases
Your wage goes up as you build skills and hours.
Healthcare Coverage
Medical, dental, and vision.
Paid Vacation
Need or want to take time off? Get paid while you're off the clock.
Retirement Savings
Many unions offer a pension and other retirement benefits.
Your next steps
1
Choose your trade
Take Match Me, or pick the trade you're most interested in, and find that trade's apprenticeship program.
2
Get more info
Ask about current wait times and how to get on the list.
3
Get your name out there
Get on the list so they know how to get in touch when a spot opens up.
4
Make use of the time
Start a short certification or pre-apprenticeship while you wait.
5
Start cold calling
Make a list of union contractors near you and start reaching out.