Apply for a Construction Apprenticeship Today: Application Deadlines in February and March

Educators: Please take special note of these upcoming application deadlines. Please consider sharing them with your students. To apply for a construction trades apprenticeship, young people must be 18 years old and have achieved their high school diploma or a GED.

Ready to start your career in Minnesota’s construction trades? There are a handful of upcoming apprenticeship application deadlines for the months of February and March. Two local unions and one university have opportunities for motivated individuals who are ready to begin their career in construction through a registered apprenticeship.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 343

Deadline: March 1, 2022

Construction electricians lay out, assemble, install and test electrical circuits, fixtures, appliances, equipment and machinery. Electricians work inside residences, commercial and industrial establishments such as schools, hospitals and libraries.

In this trade, apprentices use diverse electrical formulas and computations. Young people who are comfortable with math, have strong mechanical aptitude, a problem-solving nature and attention to detail will thrive in an electrical apprenticeship with IBEW Local 343.

Following the submission of an application to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 343, applicants will need to pass an aptitude test. If an applicant adheres to the necessary conditions and obtains a qualifying score of “4” or higher on their aptitude test, they will then move to the next step – an interview with the IBEW’s apprenticeship manager.

For those who wish to complete an aptitude test in March, then an interview in April, the deadline to apply for an apprenticeship with IBEW Local 343 is March 1, 2022. Applicants may still submit an application after March 1, but will need to wait until July to complete an aptitude test and interview.

To view a full list of application requirements and required skills, visit IBEW 343’s Apprenticeship Information page.

Apply Now

IBEW Local 343’s Apprenticeship Program is a 5-year, 8,000-hour program that consists of both classroom and on-the-job training. Apprentices are required to attend 180 hours of classroom training per year. On-the-job training is completed by working full-time with a contractor. Training through both Locals occurs through the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC).

Local 343 represents electrical workers and apprentices from Rochester and Southern Minnesota. Not your area? Explore the other electrical trade locals in Minnesota.

Applications are accepted from 8:00 am to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application is available online. If a paper version is preferred, request one via an email to the JATC’s Apprentice Administrator, Julie Strike, at jstrike@scmnjatc.org.

To learn more about the trade, such as typical wages, other local unions in Minnesota, and recommended high school classes, visit the Construction Career Foundation’s Electrical Trades page.

Teamsters Local 120 (Twin Cities) and Local 346 (Duluth)

Deadline: Mid-March 2022

Applications for Teamsters Locals 120 and 346 are accepted year round, but training typically begins in mid-March of each calendar year. If an applicant is eager to begin training this year, they should submit the application before early March to be considered.

Teamster construction drivers drive a large variety of construction equipment, but this career is more than just driving. Apprentices also learn to use extensions on trucks such as such as dragging the fuel hose, attaching the mixer chutes and strapping or chaining down equipment.

Apprenticeship with Teamsters Local 120

The apprenticeship program trains individuals to operate a variety of construction equipment, including but not limited to, dump trucks, belly dump trucks, water trucks, cement trucks, and road repair equipment.

Apprentices typically spend a great deal of time learning about trucks and their components. This training consists of lectures and hands-on training in the truck-driving rodeo. Apprentices learn and practice with a variety of equipment, starting, stopping, cornering, backing up, loading and unloading and how to be a safe and efficient driver. They also learn the requirements for daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections.

In addition to the driver training program, the apprentice training program offers OSHA 10 and 30 safety training for construction. Apprentices also can work toward the  Mine and Safety Health Administration (MSHA) 8-hour refresher and 24-hour new miner, Construction Forklift, Load Securement, Defensive Driving for the Professional Truck Driver, Advanced First Aid and CPR.

The training consists of 300 hours of in-classroom training and rodeo training over a period of two years at Dakota County College. In addition to the classroom training, 2,000 hours of on-the-job training through employment in the industry are required to reach a journeyperson status.

Application guidelines:

Though they represent Teamsters from different cities, these local unions share one apprenticeship training program through the Teamsters Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC).

To be considered for the Teamster Apprenticeship Program, all applicants:

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
• Must be a high school graduate or have a GED diploma.
• Must be physically fit to perform the work of the trade and must pass a D.O.T. physical examination that will include a drug test upon acceptance into the program.
• Must possess a valid Minnesota/Wisconsin driver’s license with a clean driving record for the past five years.
• Interviews are held in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, contact the coordinator for exact dates.

Required Documentation:

• A copy of High School Diploma or a copy of High School Transcripts or a GED
• If ex-military, a copy of DD214, in lieu of High School completion
• A copy of current Minnesota or Wisconsin drivers license
• A current copy of the applicant’s driving record (must be obtained within the last 45 days).

Fill out an application here.

To submit the completed application, scan and email the completed application to George McMahon at george@mnteamsterapprenticeship.com.

Or send the completed application to:

Attn: George McMahon

P.O. BOX 48157

Coon Rapids, MN 55448

Visit the Construction Careers Foundation’s Teamsters page for more insights on a career as a Teamster.

Construction Managers: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Fall Semester, February 1st, 2022

The priority application deadline to study construction management at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for the upcoming Fall Semester is February 1, 2022. While the final application deadline is August 1, 2022, applicants who submit their application before the priority deadline will receive their admissions decision much earlier than those who do not.

Construction managers are the leaders on a construction site. Within the construction manager realm, there are a large variety of job opportunities, such as project manager, estimator bidder, energy consultant, and virtual design and construction specialist.

These are great careers that not only allow for financial rewards, but also a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment, and the ability to leave a mark on the world.

What students will learn in the program:

Students who consider themselves to have strong organizational, analytical, technical and communications skills, will succeed in a career as a construction manager. During their time studying construction management at the University of Minnesota, students will improve their knowledge of current industry practices in:

• Design and construction technologies
• Estimating
• Contracts and specifications
• Project management
• Results measurement
• Quality assurance

Examples of core courses students will take in this program are:

• Sustainability for Construction Managers
• Applied Digital Marketing
• Construction Estimating
• Construction Planning and Scheduling

This program requires the completion of a construction management internship, where students will complete hands-on work with a construction company, while applying the skills they learned in previous coursework.

Application requirements:

The below application materials are required for admission:

• Application
• Self-Reported Academic Record
• $55 Application Fee

The below application materials are suggested, but not required for admission:

• ACT/SAT Score
• Essay
• Letter of Recommendation
• Transcript

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities accepts applications from their online application portal, called the Golden Gopher Application, or from the Common Application.

Questions about the program? Fill out this online form, or contact Willie Wong, Undergraduate Enrollment Advisor at (612) 625-2529. Additionally, visit this page to view more detailed requirements and suggestions for application.

Students interested in a career as a Construction Manager can visit the Construction Career Foundation’s Construction Manager page to learn more about the trade.

Questions? Construction Careers Foundation Has Answers

Not interested in these programs, but curious about other deadlines? Visit ConstructionCareers.org for an all-encompassing resource regarding the various construction trades, local unions in Minnesota, and additional application deadlines.