The United Association believes that the men and women of the US Armed Forces provide an invaluable service by protecting the safety of all Americans. Veterans face the challenge of translating their military skills to the civilian workforce.
Due to the nature of its training, the UA VIP Program is only available to transitioning active-duty military service members.
If you have already transitioned out of the military, there are alternate avenues into an apprenticeship program with the UA. To learn more please visit UA.org/join or complete the form below for more information.
Let us help you turn those skills into a life-long, rewarding career through an apprenticeship with the United Association.
UA apprentices learn through both classroom and on-the-job training in what is considered by many to be the best construction industry apprentice program in the world. The five-year apprenticeship period is divided into one-year segments, each of which includes 1,700 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and a minimum of 246 hours of related classroom instruction.
All UA apprentices receive a strong general education background in the trade, with core courses in basics such as mathematics, mechanical drafting, and related sciences. Apprentices can choose a specific curriculum to pursue with the goal of becoming a journeyman plumber, pipefitter, fire suppression, or HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) service technician.
All training programs are run through United Association local joint training committees in specific cities or regions. One of the things that makes the UA training program so successful is that we view it as a joint partnership between labor and management.
Apprenticeship is a serious and vigorous undertaking; UA apprentices must work the same hours as journeymen, plus attend day or night classes. Yet, this can be a highly rewarding career path for an individual who is motivated to learn the piping trade and become an active member of a proud and noble trade union.
If you are a U.S. military veteran seeking a rewarding career in an increasingly in-demand industry, please fill out the form below so we can help you experience the opportunities you deserve.