An apprentice is someone who is learning a trade by working under the guidance of skilled workers called Journeypersons. It is on the job training and valuable classroom instruction to achieve mastery of a special skill. It is based upon a written agreement between the apprentice and a joint apprenticeship committee. This agreement is call an "indenture".

You will receive compensation while you are training. You earn while you learn and are paid a wage from the first day that you are hired by a contractor. Apprentices usually start at about half of the skilled journeyperson's rate of pay. Your wages are increased at periodic levels until you reach the full journeyperson scale at the end of the apprenticeship period. You are making money at no cost to you for training.

CARPENTERS

Carpenters Local 308
350 Waconia Ct. S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
Contact: Don Kimm 319-365-9519

Carpenters Local 1260
705 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, Iowa 52240
Contact: Shane Merrick 319-338-1638

NATURE OF TRADE

The trade of carpentry includes many phases of the construction industry, e.g. milling, fashioning, joining, assembly, erecting, fastening, or dismantling of all materials of wood, plastic, metal, fiber, cork, composition, and all other structural materials. The handling, cleaning, erecting, installing, and dismantling of machinery, equipment and materials are all phases of the millwright area of carpentry. Blueprints and specifications are used to determine types and sizes of material to be used for each job.

Carpenters in some cases specialize in one particular phase of the trade such as the installation of acoustical materials, driving pile, making cabinets, laying wood and resilient floors, laying carpet, or working in sawmills.

The employment for Carpenters is usually greatest in new construction, e.g. buildings, homes, factories, etc. However, many are employed on alteration or remodeling work, while many work for governmental agencies or firms for their own construction and maintenance. In view of the fact that carpenters are familiar with the entire process of construction, they usually have many opportunities to become general construction foremen. Others who are self employed, become contractors thus employing other journeypersons.

APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING

Carpenters participate in a four-year apprenticeship program that covers approximately 1300 hours of on-the-job training and 160 hours of related classroom instruction each year. During this time, an apprentice receives a prorated percentage of Journeypersons pay. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, jointly implemented by the Brotherhood and Management Organizations, offer a number of benefits to those participating, such as retirement pensions, health and welfare programs, vacation allowances, overtime pay stipulations, and adequate wages.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America have put forth an all-out effort not only to train people for entry into the field of carpentry, but to offer training for those who are already journeyperson carpenters by upgrading their present abilities and expanding their knowledge and skills so that they may be familiar with and prepared for all innovations. Specialized training and additional certification programs are available.

QUALIFICATIONS

In order to become an apprentice, an applicant must meet the following qualifications:

· Must be at least 18 years of age

· Must have completed four years of high school or its certified
  equivalent

· Must be an American Citizen or in the process of becoming one.

· Must be of good moral character and demonstrate pronounced
  aptitude and interest, as well as proper attitude toward the trade.

You can get a head start by studying math and enrolling in shop while you are still in school. Classes in industrial arts and mechanical drawing will help you decide whether or not you have an aptitude for the trade.

APPLICATIONS, SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

In order to be considered for an apprenticeship, a candidate needs to complete an application and return it to the Five Rivers Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee with a copy of a high school transcript or GED test.