High school students should take construction courses that focus on mechanical tasks, and building shop and trade courses. Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads is important.

Operating engineers work with many types of power equipment, including loading and excavation machines, bulldozers, road grinders, booms and trench excavators. Therefore, excellent coordination and mechanical skills are needed. Applicants do not need experience on heavy equipment or any specialized schooling to apply for an apprenticeship.

Completion of high school classes does not count for hours in the apprenticeship program, but the experience and classes taken are valuable to building students’ skill sets and should be discussed in the interview.

A two-year diploma is not required to qualify for an apprenticeship with IUOE, Local 49. However, degrees obtained in construction-related fields can be evaluated for credit. Call Local 49 at 320-384-7093 prior to signing up for post-secondary opportunities to confirm credits transfer.

In a Universal Equipment Operator apprenticeship, apprentices earn while they learn both on-the-job practical training and classroom instruction. Applications are accepted year-round. To be eligible for apprenticeship, candidates must pass the Ramsey test with a score of 70 percent or higher. Candidates can enter into the apprenticeship by taking one of two paths:

Path 1: Candidates enter a pre-apprenticeship program through Local 49. The program begins in late April and runs for four-to-five weeks to prepare candidates for the apprenticeship program. Apply to the Operating Engineers Local 49, here. If you want a tour of the facility call us at 320-384-7093.

To learn more and sign up for the upcoming pre-apprenticeship program make sure you have a valid application on file. Click here for the application.

At the pre-apprenticeship Spring Training session, candidates take the Ramsey aptitude test that includes math, reading and tape measure reading sections. Ramsey scores qualify candidates for interviews and the self-description test. The self-description test is a personality evaluation for leadership qualities and how a candidate adapts to situations. There are no testing fees. Candidates with learning disabilities should let administrators know before scheduling the test.

Path 2: After filling out a valid apprenticeship application, a list of contractors will be sent to applicants. Candidates seeking an apprenticeship should obtain a letter of intent with a contractor. The letter of intent, and a passing Ramsey test score of 70 percent or higher moves a candidate directly into an apprenticeship position.

The Universal Equipment Operator apprenticeship requires 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 432 classroom-training hours. Classroom training is completed in the winter months.

When a universal equipment operator apprentice can demonstrate competence in vital skills, the apprenticeship will be complete. Crane apprentices specializing in crane work will also qualify as journeyworkers after passing the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators test. This national certification must stay current for Crane Operators. After joining the union, apprentices will be eligible for healthcare and dental insurance after 300 hours of work are completed.

Military members applying for an operating engineer position with relevant construction-related experience can present construction-training certificates of completion to Local 49 for credit toward training hours in the apprenticeship. Note that certificates may not count as hour-for-hour credit.

Manual dexterity, coordination, task-oriented mindset; ability to use construction tools and construction software are all important skills for an operating engineer. Being able to calmly react to other’s actions, perform maintenance on equipment and troubleshoot causes of operating errors and how to solve them is important for success on the job.

For high school students preparing to become an operating engineer, part-time jobs that require hands-on mechanical and shop work can build valuable experience. Outdoor work experience, such as landscaping or snow removal, is similar to the variety of conditions operators work in.