List of Apprenticeships

Are you looking for a list of apprenticeships? There are apprenticeship opportunities for individuals who want to work in a variety of professions, including manufacturing and service occupations.

Sheet metal workers play an important role in the construction of buildings through manipulating sheet metal to design HVAC systems.

• To reach journeyman status, sheet metal workers are required to complete a formal apprenticeship program lasting between four to six years.
• A sheet metal worker apprentice will also do classroom work of approximately 1,000 hours.
• Sheet metal apprenticeships can be found through contacting construction companies as well as trade schools that place students with local businesses.
• You can also contact related unions for referrals such as Tradesmen International, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association and the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International.
• Sheet metal apprentices make an average of $15 an hour.

Welders work primarily in manufacturing to fabricate metal parts and products.

• Apprenticeship programs for individuals who want to work as welders are often available through labor unions and major employers.
• Apprenticeships for welders can be found through private companies that employ welders and offer on-the-job training.
• Depending on your state, you may also find welding apprenticeships through the state's workforce development agency.
• The American Welding Society is a good source of career information, education and local members.
• An apprentice welder can expect to make around $16.50 an hour.

An electrician works on the wiring of residential and commercial buildings though some may specialize in telecommunications work.

• The Electrical Training Alliance provides apprenticeships for the electrical construction industry that is designed to prepare trainees to become journeyman level electricians.
• The Alliance works with local affiliates to provide education and training to future electricians.
• You can apply after taking an aptitude test as well as meeting regional requirements that may only be found in your particular area. Applications are done locally and training centers can be found on their website directory.
• The average salary for an apprentice electrician is around $14,475 to $24,125.

Individuals in the construction trades can perform a wide variety of specialty tasks including carpentry, plumbing, insulators and bricklayers.

• If you're interested in a construction apprenticeship, contact your local Associated Builders and Contractors chapter to find out what types of opportunities are available in your area.
• The ABC runs some apprenticeship programs in the U.S. with a professional training curriculum that will give graduates journeyman level status.
• In addition to ABC, the AFLCIO provides a PDF document that lists individual construction unions. Prospective applicants can contact these individuals unions and societies for other apprenticeship opportunities.
• The average pay for an apprentice in the construction trades is about $15 per hour.

Carpenters work on building structures such as buildings, cabinetry, furniture and more using wood as well as other materials.

• You can find apprenticeships for carpentry though contacting local building contractors to see if they offer positions.
• The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America has an apprenticeship program through regional and local training centers.
• The approximate pay for a carpentry apprentice is about half that of a regular carpenter's average annual salary of $43,530.

HVAC technicians work to install and repair heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

• Contact local HVAC companies in your area to see if they are willing to take you on as an apprentice.
• Local trades unions may be a source of referrals for apprenticeships near you. In addition to HVAC unions, talk to unions for sheet metal worker, pipe worker and plumbers' unions as well.
• Speak to the licensing board of your state or visit their website as they may list apprenticeships or companies that are licensed that you can speak to on your own.
• Vocational schools that provide HVAC classes may also be able to place you in a local apprenticeship.
• The average salary for an HVAC apprentice is $17 per hour.

Linemen are electricians who specialize in working on electrical transmission and power distribution systems.

• Some lineman apprentice programs will require you to pass standardized tests in algebra, math and reading before accepting you.
• Apprenticeships can be found by contacting local or regional unions like Southeastern Line Constructors, Missouri Valley Line Constructors, and through trade schools such as Northwest Lineman College.
• The average lineman apprentice pay is based on a percentage of a working lineman's salary and can increase as the apprentice gains more experience. Starting pay is around 60% of a typical $50 per hour wage.

Pile driver operators run a specific type of heavy equipment used in construction to place piles of wood or steel into the ground.

• An apprenticeship as a pile driver operator takes about three to four years to complete and includes classroom instruction.
• Apprenticeships can be found through the United Brotherhood of Carpenters union.
• An apprentice pile driver operator can make about$63,370 a year.

Plumbers work on installing, maintaining and repairing pipes in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

• Plumbing apprenticeships usually last about four to five years.
• You can find plumbing apprenticeships through your local plumbing union.
• Some trade schools can also help you find an apprenticeship after you have enrolled in classes.
• You may also find apprenticeships by talking directly with private plumbing companies who are willing to take apprentices on.
• A plumbing apprentice can expect to make approximately $15 an hour.

Auto mechanic work on repairing automobiles and trucks for both private businesses and commercial fleets.

• In order to get an apprenticeship as an auto mechanic, you will need a high school diploma, a driver's license and many companies will also include a drug test and background check before accepting you.
• Auto mechanic apprenticeships last about four years and may also require you to get additional classroom training to attain certifications.
• You may also need to provide your own tools which can be a considerable cost but this depends largely on the employer and their program.
• To find an apprenticeship you will need to contact individual mechanics and shops. You should look for a mechanic who has received master mechanic status through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
• An auto mechanic apprentice makes on average $13.50 per hour.

Nail technicians work on the nails of a customer's hands and feet with services such as manicures and pedicures.

• Individuals who want to work as nail technicians can earn the right to sit for their licensure examination by completing apprenticeship hours in a salon, based on the requirements of the state in which they are seeking licensure.
• Check with your state's licensing department as apprenticeship criteria will vary.
• You may need to find a licensed salon to agree to sponsor you and classroom work may be required as part of your apprenticeship. Hours can also vary from as low as 700 hours to a high of 1,200 depending on the state.
• You can look for accredited salons on the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences websites.
• Pay rates for apprentices will vary widely by salon and some may not offer pay at all.

Tattoo artists use specialized needles and ink to create art on their client's skin and may also design the artwork themselves.

• Check your state's requirements for licensing and the amount of apprenticeship hours required as this will differ from state to state. On average, you may be expected to apprentice for a period of one to three years.
• Finding an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist can take some work. You will need to contact individual licensed tattoo artists to find one willing to take you on as an apprentice.
• Having a portfolio of artwork is a good way to demonstrate your ability to potential mentors who may not be willing to offer you a spot in their shop without one.
• Apprenticing in a tattoo shop tends to be not come with pay so you may need to do it part time while working another job to bring in income.
• In addition to apprenticeships often being unpaid, many shops will require you to pay for the opportunity to apprentice, which can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000.

Law apprenticeships have become popular as an alternative to expensive law school tuition.

• Apprenticing in lieu of attending school is allowed in California, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
• You can apprentice in conjunction with some law school classes in Maine, New York and Wyoming.
• There are no formal programs for finding apprenticeships so you will have to contact law firms on your own.
• The National Legal Mentoring Consortium lists some opportunities on their website.
• The Bar associations, both state and local, of the states mentioned above can provide some referrals for programs for special groups such as women and minorities interested in seeking a law career.
• Apprenticeship pay will vary based on the firm that accepts you but even if it is unpaid, you may end up saying a substantial amount of money by not having to pay for a six-figure law school tuition.

Both the U.S. government and individual state governments are a good source of apprenticeship information and some programs are even linked to employment in government agencies.

• Apprenticeships can cover a wide variety of jobs from accounting technicians to construction to information technology to agricultural professions.
• Visit your state's department of labor's website to find out which registered apprenticeship programs are offered.
• Registered apprenticeship programs all are generally paid, on-the-job training opportunities though the salary will vary based on the position and field.
• Many programs are geared toward enrolling military veterans.

Workers in the information technology (IT) field support businesses by working with computer and wireless networks, software installation and development and database administration.

• Many workers in the IT field started out in jobs learning about electronics and computer systems and moved up to working with higher level tasks.
• While you can contact individual companies on your own to see if they are willing to take you on as an apprentice, you can also look for registered apprenticeship programs through the U.S. Department of Labor and other associations.
• Some states also offer IT apprenticeship programs or directories of programs such as the Vermont HITEC Program and the New Mexico IT Apprenticeship Program.
• Some major companies also offer their own in-house apprenticeships such as Amazon.com, Microsoft's LEAP program and IBM P-TECH.
• The Society for Information Management and Software and Information Industry Association are also sources of possible referrals.
• Pay scales for apprenticeship programs will vary widely by company and region and the types of tasks you will perform during your apprenticeship.

If you 're thinking about a different career and wonder about how to find training opportunities, the Internet is a great place to look, particularly on county, state and federal websites. Especially in the trades, many employers are eager to find workers for all the open positions and you can find opportunities for women, minorities and veterans to break into these fields.