Minnesota construction trade apprenticeship application deadlines are fast approaching for the months of December and January. Three local unions and two universities have applications due within the coming weeks:
December 15: Electrical Trades Apprenticeship with IBEW Local 343
The application deadline for a registered electrical trades apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 343 is December 15, 2021.
As an electrical apprentice, you will learn to work with diverse electrical formulas and computations. As a construction electrician, you will lay out, assemble, install and test electrical circuits, fixtures, appliances, equipment and machinery. Construction electricians are craft workers, and like all genuine skilled workers, they derive satisfaction from using both their minds and hands in a constructive manner.
IBEW Local 343 represents construction professionals and apprentices from 26 counties in southern Minnesota. IBEW Local 343 conducts its apprenticeship programs through the South Central Minnesota Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC). The JATC is a specialized group that oversees the training and education of electrical apprentices.
Though the electrical JATC accepts applications year-round, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, applicants will need to submit their online application by December 15, 2021, if they wish to take their assessment test in January and complete their interview in February.
Applicants can wait until the December 16 – March 1 application period to apply, but they will have to wait until March to take their assessment test, and April to complete an interview.
If applicants prefer a paper application, please email Apprentice Administrator, Julie Strike, at jstrike@scmnjatc.org to request one. Applicants should note that upon completing the application, they will be required to submit a $25 application fee.
To view the official application schedule, learn more about the program, or apply for an apprenticeship, click here.
To view wages, recommended high school classes, career requirements, and to find the local electrical trades union in your area, visit the Electrical Trades page on the Construction Career Foundation website.
December 1: Construction Management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
The deadline to apply to the University of Minnesota’s construction management program for Spring Semester 2022 is December 1, 2021.
Construction managers plan and oversee construction projects. Students who consider themselves strong leaders and have organizational, analytical, technical, and communication skills will be well suited for the profession.
The University of Minnesota’s program offers students both field experience and class instruction. There are five tracks (sub-plans) that a student can take in the program: Commercial, Environmental Health and Safety, Facility Management, Highway Heavy/Civil Works, and Residential. Along with specialized courses in construction management, students will need to take 32-34 credits of liberal education courses to complete the degree.
Graduates of the program will receive a bachelor’s degree in construction management and be equipped with relevant knowledge and job connections in the field.
The application does not require an ACT/SAT score submission, an essay, or letters of recommendation.
With questions about admissions, call Professor Willie Wong at 612-625-2529, or submit a form on the website.
Learn more about the program or apply here.
To learn more information about a career in Construction Management and explore other programs in the state of Minnesota, visit the Construction Managers section of ConstructionCareers.org, here.
January 2: Minnesota State University, Mankato Construction Management Degree
The deadline to apply to Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Construction Management Program is January 2, 2022. Spring semester begins January 10, 2022, and completed applications, paper or online, must be submitted with all required materials no less than five working days prior to the start of classes.
Construction managers plan and oversee construction projects from beginning to end, making it the perfect career for students with strong leadership skills. Students who have organizational, analytical, technical, and communication skills will be well suited for the profession.
There are many careers that fall under construction management, such as Field Engineer, Quality Insurance Inspector, Cost Estimator, Scheduler, Construction Manager, Project Controls Manager, and Owner Representative. Students who prefer project-based learning will thrive in this program.
Ranked among the top 10 Best Construction Management Degree Programs, Mankato’s Construction Management department offers a mentoring program, which allows students the chance to receive one-on-one mentoring from the industry’s professionals. Graduates of the program will receive a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) in Construction Management.
The program, accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), requires 120 credits in order to graduate. Examples of classes students will take in this major are Principals of Physics, Construction Materials and Methods, Construction Project Management, and Civil Engineering Measurements. The program also requires the completion of six general education courses and electives, an internship and a capstone project. View the remainder of the courses required by this program here.
Interested students can contact Vincent Winstead, Interim Chair of Construction Management with questions about the program. He can be reached at 507-389-5456 or vincent.winstead@mnsu.edu.
Applications for the program can be filled out online or on paper, and are accepted either online or by mail. Click here to apply.
To access a holistic resource regarding construction management careers and apprenticeships in the state of Minnesota, click here.
January 1-14: Pipefitters Local #539
The application for a pipefitting apprenticeship with Local #539 will open the first week of January, and is due Friday, January 15, 2022, at 3:00 p.m.
Pipefitters install, maintain, and repair high and low-pressure steam systems, high and low-pressure hot water systems, snow-melting systems, refrigeration systems, heating, gas and oil piping, pneumatic electronic controls, and air conditioning units. Pipefitters install systems in high or enclosed spaces and in all types of weather conditions.
Students with an affinity for problem-solving, who want to utilize mechanical skills, and who are physically strong will be a great fit for an apprenticeship and career in pipefitting.
Pipefitters Local Union #539 has jurisdiction over 22 counties in central Minnesota. There are two tracks that apprentices can take within this union: Construction Pipefitting and HVAC/R Service Application.
Students who wish to enter the HVAC/R Service Application track must first complete a two-year Technical College day school course in residential and commercial HVAC/R service. Students who wish to enter the Construction Pipefitting track must have a high school diploma or State-issued GED certificate, and be at least 18 years of age.
If the application and all required attachments are not received by Friday, January 15, 2022 at 3:00 p.m, the application will be considered incomplete, and the applicant will have to reapply the following year. All applications must be completed online, and will only be available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Along with completing the application, applicants must provide a photocopy of their high school diploma or official transcript, or a State-issued GED certificate.
After submission of the application, applicants will begin the interview process with the union.
To learn more about the application process or view qualifications, click here.
Those interested in a career in pipefitting can visit the Construction Career Foundation’s Pipefitting page to access key information regarding the trade, including wages, benefits, and recommended high school courses.
January 10-21: Sprinklerfitters Local Union #417
Applications for an apprenticeship through the Sprinklerfitters Local Union #417 will be open from January 10-21, 2022. During this time, interested applicants should visit the website to view the link to the online application.
Sprinkler fitters install sprinkler fire protection systems. These trade professionals work in existing and newly constructed buildings, in conditions ranging from hot boiler rooms to unheated open buildings at winter temperatures. Most of the work takes place at the ceiling level using ladders and lift platforms at heights generally ranging from 8 to 20 feet, and, in some cases, up to 100 feet.
Students who are mechanically inclined, have a history of taking auto body mechanics and robotics classes, and who consider themselves to have great attention to detail will be well-suited for an apprenticeship and career in sprinkler fitting.
Local Union #417’s apprenticeship program is a 5-year program, where students will complete a minimum of 8000 hours of on-the-job training and a minimum of 800 hours of classroom instruction. Classroom training is completed 1 or 2 nights a week throughout the year.
Following submission of the application, qualified applicants will be interviewed in February or March.
To apply and learn more about the program, click here.
Those interested in sprinkler fitting can visit this page to learn more about the trade, and get connected to the local union in their area.
Interested in an apprenticeship?
We have your back. The Construction Career Foundation is the leading resource for information regarding construction apprenticeship in Minnesota. Check out our website for more information on the many apprenticeship opportunities available for Minnesota youth.