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QUALIFICATIONS:

• Age: Minimum of 18 years old.  

• Education: High School Graduate or Equivalent (G.E.D.)

• California Driver's License

• Social Security Card

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

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

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Nature of Work: Fabricates, assembles, installs, tests, maintains, and rehabilitates plumbing systems.  Work may include rigging operations and computer aided design (CAD) functions.

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Area:  The jurisdiction of Local Union 78 is Los Angeles, however, travel may be required to Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

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Wages: Apprentices earn a percentage of the Journeyman wage rate, by classification. All wage rates and conditions are subject to change without notice as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. After meeting all annual requirements apprentices advance in the program and receive a pay raise once each year.

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Hours of Work: Commonly 6:30 AM – 3:30 PM, ½ hour lunch, with an average of forty (40) hours/week, or as modified by union agreement.

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Classes: Apprentices attend 216 hours a year in classes of related technical and manipulative instruction. All 1st and 2nd year Apprentices attend daytime block training 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM every other week. All 3rd through 5th Year Apprentices attend classes 2 nights every week from 5:45 PM to 9:15 PM.

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Tools and Transportation: Apprentices must have required tools and their own transportation. The tools are tape measure, level, channel locks, hammers, blade screwdriver, phillips screwdriver, 14” and 18” pipe wrenches, striker, 8” and 12” crescent wrench, tube cutters, tin snips, tube cutters, pencil reamer, hacksaw, torque wrench and nail puller.

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Where Employed: Commercial, industrial, manufacturing

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

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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.

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Working Conditions: Plumbing work is strenuous; most is done outdoors. It involves a lot of standing, stooping, heavy lifting, pulling and pushing. The work involves joining pipes together by following layouts, diagrams and blueprints. 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, or burns.

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

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

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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.

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

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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 apprentices are supervised by the Journeyman Apprentice & Training Committee (JATC) comprised of equal representatives of the Union and signatory Contractors.

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TRAINING STANDARDS:

The JATC prepares the apprenticeship training standards and they are approved and registered with, the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (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. Safety is stressed throughout the training.

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APPRENTICESHIP AGREEMENT:

Each apprentice is registered with the Department of Labor and with the State of California, DIR/DAS by signing an Apprenticeship Agreement with the JATC and must abide by the Rules and Regulations, Policies and Standards.

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HOW, WHERE AND WHEN TO APPLY FOR APPRENTICESHIP:

Please be advised Local 78 is currently not accepting applications through June 1, 2024 while our office is closed for renovations.

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Los Angeles Metropolitan Joint Apprenticeship Committee
1111 W. James M. Wood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 688-9090

Contact: Hector Rosales, Apprenticeship Coordinator – Phone: (213) 688-9090 Ext. 1005

Minimum Qualifications: applicants must be a minimum of 18 years old, with a high school diploma OR have a G.E.D. from the United States. Applicants appear in person with an ORIGINAL copy of each of the following items.

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certificate (if you do not have your diploma, then a certified sealed copy of your high school transcript will be accepted in its place)

• Valid California State Issued Drivers License

• Social Security Card

• Military Veterans – bring your DD 214

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Application Procedures:

1. Upon completion of the Apprentice Application, Applicants are required to take the placement test which is offered the first and third Thursday of each month.

2. After taking the placement test, Applicants must return to the JAC office with their results.

3. After completing the placement test applicants are then placed on an eligible pool of applicants list ranked from highest score to lowest score achieved. Applicants also receive a list of signatory contractors that they can solicit for placement.

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 semester due to quantity of available space will need to reapply every two years.

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NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Plumbers Apprenticeship Committee does not discriminate in selection, employment or training of Apprentices on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, or national origin. Any applicant or apprentice who believes that they have been discriminated against may file a written and signed complaint to an authorized representative of the Registration Agency.