Not just a job, a profession
Insulators Local 34 features a four year state indentured apprenticeship program that combines a rigorous curriculum with extensive on the job training under expert mechanical insulators.
After completing the program, apprentices are experienced mechanical insulators who have worked successfully in the most demanding thermal and cooling mechanical insulation applications. Trained by the best in the profession, our mechanical insulators have the skills, problem solving strategies and know how to meet the challenges of the most demanding mechanical insulation applications. In other words, our mechanical insulators don’t just have jobs, they have careers. And they are part of a community of brothers and sisters that maintain the high standards of a demanding and in-demand profession.
The Apprenticeship Program
Apprentices dedicate 156 hours annually to a professional curriculum, studying under 1-2 instructors per year and measuring progress with weekly grading and annual exams. In-depth coursework focuses on four critical areas: the installation process, material layout, job specs, and reading blueprints.
Extensive on the job training puts these skills to work in the real world of mechanical insulation. Apprentices work with expert mechanical insulators throughout all four years, gaining invaluable hands on training and experience. Strategic rotations give apprentices the opportunity to work with many of our best contractors. They learn, practice and perfect the skills for varied installation methods, solutions and environments.
Apprentices are paid for their on the job training, with pay levels increasing every two thousand hours worked:
First year: 63%
Second year: 72%
Third year: 81%
Fourth year: 90%
Our apprentices end their training as fully qualified mechanical insulators ready to continue work in multiple thermal and cooling environments.
Interested in Signing Up?
As with everything, there is a process:
- Interested indivuals must come down to the hall to sign up with the apprenticeship program. Pre-Apprentice registration is conducted the first Tuesday of each month. 1:00 - 3:30 pm After a person has expressed interest and has signed up with Joint Apprenticeship Comittee, their name will be added to list of registrants. PLEASE NOTE: This is not an announcement of employment, nor one of apprenticeship vacancy. The Joint Apprenticeship Committee will maintain a list of all registrants. If opportunities develop, only persons that have registered will be considered.
- There is a work component. Pre-apprentice candidates must work a minimum of 160 hours in the field as a permit helper. If you or someone you know is interested in the apprenticeship program and would like to get experience as a "permit helper" in the field, he/she must come to the hall and fill out a permit helper dues authorization form; this can be done at any time, but must accompany signing up as a pre-apprentice on the date(s) specified above. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, bring their driver's license, provide their Social Secruity Number and if they have OSHA 10 or 30 training, bring along a certificate of completion.
**Signing up as a permit helper DOES NOT guarantee employment or placement within the apprenticeship program. Permit helpers MUST sign up for the pre-apprenticeship program - see above. Permit helpers will not be considered for work opportunities if they have not signed up with the apprenticeship program during pre-apprentice sign up date(s). Furthermore: Permit helpers are not to call or solicit work from the officers or hall staff. If there is a call out for work opportunities, we will contact applicants as work becomes available. - There is an interview process with the Joint Apprenticeship Committee, which is announced by the J.A.C. to eligible pre-apprentice candiates.
- Finally, there is a skills assessment, which requires eligible candidates to perform basic arithmetic.
If you have any further questions about the process or what work as an Insulator entails, please contact Eric Houske, the Apprenticeship Coordinator for Twin Cities Area Heat and Frost Insulators, Local 34 via phone or email.
Phone: 651-312-1249
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.