Pre-Apprenticeship Opportunities

What does a pre-apprentice do?

A pre-apprentice has the opportunity to earn wages while working alongside AZCO mentors and gain the experience necessary to qualify for entry into a registered apprenticeship program through local union hall partners. The apprenticeship program is a five-year comprehensive classroom and on-the-job training track towards journeyworker status.

A pre-apprentice will focus on safety while working alongside a journeyman and other craft professionals to construct pipe or metal fabrications, review specifications and blueprints, set up and dismantle workstations, use hand tools, take measurements, and learn about equipment and processes. A pre-apprentice will also load and unload vehicles, deliver materials to customer sites, and work to keep the shop safe, efficient, organized and clean.  

How does the program work?

The career path from pre-apprentice to journeyworker includes:

• Five-year program after entry into the apprenticeship program
• Full-time employment working alongside industry professionals
• Graduate with no student loan debt (tuition is paid for)
• Get paid to learn during the apprenticeship (you'll earn a salary during the program)
• Learn from instructors who have hands-on industry experience

Our 83,000 square feet of enclosed shop space is dedicated to trades positions serving carbon steel, stainless steel, chrome-moly and metal prefabrication, including prefabricated helical piles, skids, and pressure vessels and tanks.

Pre-Apprentice Requirements

• Must be 18 or older
• High school diploma or equivalency
• Valid driver's license
• Able to pass pre-employment drug screen
• Highly motivated with a strong desire to learn
• Good eye-to-hand coordination
• Ability to work well in teams
• Solid reasoning skills
• Problem-solving capability
• Enjoy working with your hands
• Reliable and responsible

Employment Details

Hours: Full-time employment — 40 hours per week

Starting pay: $15-16.32 per hour, plus benefits

AZCO-affiliated Fox Valley Area union partners:

• Sheet Metal Works Local 18
• Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 400

Pipe & Metal Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Interest Form