APPLY TO THE PIPE FITTERS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

Applications are not accepted in person, only online through the link below on this page.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED — Your application will be rejected if any of these are missing or unclear.

ONE form of ID:

• Driver’s License or State-Issued ID

• OR your Birth Certificate (only if you don't have the other)

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION DOCUMENTS:

• Your high school diploma (issued by your school)

• Your high school transcripts (official or unofficial)

  • Must include your graduation date

  • GED holders: you must also submit transcripts from the last high school you attended

GED DOCUMENTS (if applicable):

• Your GED certificate

• Your GED test scores

VETERANS (if applicable):

• To claim veteran status, upload a copy of your DD214 or current military ID

 Your application will be automatically rejected if:

• You upload photos instead of scanned documents

• Documents are blurry, covered, or hard to read

• Required education documents are missing

• High school transcripts don’t include a graduation date

Diplomas must be obtained from high schools with regional accreditation.  Diplomas from high schools with national accreditation will not be accepted. Diplomas purchased after a single exam online are not accepted.

If you have a GED, you must still provide a copy of your transcript from the last school you attended and a copy of your GED certificate with your test scores. 

If you were homeschooled, at a minimum, provide proof of graduation as well as a transcript documenting courses completed and grades received on such courses.

If you have not yet graduated from high school, request a seven-semester transcript and a letter on school letterhead from the high school indicating that you are on track to graduate and the day on which you will graduate, in addition to a copy of your birth certificate or state-issued ID. You must be at least 18 years or older to apply. By June 1^st of the year you graduate, you must provide us with a copy of your diploma and your final transcripts showing your graduate date. Failure to provide these documents will result in your application being voided. Provisional applicants are not eligible to be hired by a contractor.

To obtain your high school transcript, contact the high school where you attended and request them from the main office. We must have these in addition to a copy of your diploma to document your graduation date, and you must provide them even if you have a GED and/or graduated from college. If you have graduated, your transcripts must include your graduate date.

If you do not have your diploma, contact the high school and request that they write a letter on school letterhead that contains your legal name, the date of your graduation, and the signature of a school official.

Document Submission Guidelines:

How to Scan Your Documents (No Photos Allowed)

We do not accept photographs. You must scan your documents clearly.
If you don’t have a scanner, use one of these free mobile apps:

• iPhone: Use the Notes app → tap the camera icon → “Scan Documents”

• Android: Use Genius Scan or Adobe Scan from the app store
  Place your documents on a flat surface with a plain background. Make sure no fingers, shadows, or clutter are in the image.

Application Process:

• Applications are typically reviewed several times a week, but it may take up to 5 days before your application is processed. After processing, you'll receive an email indicating whether your application was approved or rejected. Submit your application by clicking here.

• If your application is approved, you will receive two emails. One with detailed instructions on your next step(s) and the other will have a temporary password to access Union Fusion. Check all email folders, including Junk and Spam.

• If your application is rejected, you will receive an email and an opportunity to submit a new application.

• If you verified your email during the application process and did not receive an Application Approved/Rejected email within 5 days of submitting your application, contact us.

Important Notes:

Union Membership: Applying to the Pipe Fitter Apprenticeship program does not grant Union membership. You must be hired by an eligible contractor to join the apprenticeship program and begin classes.  

Contractor Hiring List: The list is continuously updated. If not hired immediately, regularly check the list on your Union Fusion account and continue sending your Eligibility Letter and resume to potential employers. 

Next Steps After an Approved Application:

Contractor List:

• If interested in a contractor, send them your Eligibility Letter, résumé, and any other relevant materials. The list of contractors may change, so check back regularly.

Interviews:

• If a contractor contacts you, they will arrange interviews. If hired and you accept, you must stop interviewing with other contractors.

Training Center Onboarding Appointment:
The contractor will schedule your onboarding appointment at the Training Center. You may only begin work as an apprentice after completing the following steps:

• Follow the steps outlined in your pre-onboarding email

• Attend your onboarding appointment at the Training Center

• Comply with mandatory drug screening requirements

• Pay your initiation fees and dues

• Complete your membership paperwork at the Business Office

Keeping Your Application Active:

Your application stays active for 1 year from the day it is approved. The date it was approved appears on your Letter of Eligibility. If you want to keep it active longer, you must email us at applications@pftc533.com. Include your name and tell us your wish to keep your application active. 

• You can send the email up to 60 days before your 1-year deadline — but no later than the deadline.

• If you don’t email us by your 1-year mark, your application will become inactive.

• You can renew your application once per year, for up to 5 years total.

• After 5 years, you’ll need to start a new application.

An application shall remain active for one (1) year from the date it has been submitted. If an applicant desires to have their application remain active beyond this one (1) year period, then the applicant is required to notify the Program of such desire in writing. Such written notice shall be made no earlier than sixty (60) days prior to the one (1) year anniversary date of the original application and no later than the one (1) year anniversary date of submission. Those applicants who notify the Program in writing (applications@pftc533.com) shall have their applications remain active for an additional year. Those applicants who fail to provide such a written notice shall be deemed inactive. An application may be renewed for a total of five (5) years. After such a time, the applicant will be required to complete a new application.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PLEDGE
Pipefitters Local Union No. 533 Education Training Program Fund will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on race, color, religion, national origin, sec (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, or because they are an individual with a disability or a person 40 years or older. Pipefitters Local Union No. 533 Education Training Program Fund will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as request under Title 29 of the Code of FedRegulations, part 30. Click here to read more about our Equal Opportunity Employment Pledge.