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True Trade Path

Local directory

Apprenticeship Programs

Registered apprenticeship programs through union locals, contractor associations and employers.

Metro areas
51
Listings
0
States
31

The directory is still being built

There are no apprenticeship programs listed yet. We publish a listing only where the organization asked to be listed, or where every field came from a public licence register, and building that takes longer than scraping names into a page.

What the metro pages carry today is local cost adjustment, licensing requirements and the verification steps worth running before you hire. Listing is free and there is no paid placement.

What this directory covers

A registered apprenticeship is employment with a structured training plan — not a job ad that says 'will train.' Registration with the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency means the program meets hour requirements, wage progression rules and credential standards that employers and licensing boards recognize.

Union locals, contractor associations and individual employers all sponsor registered programs. None of them charge tuition. If someone asks you to pay to apprentice, it is not a registered apprenticeship — it is something else with a similar name.

Trade context reviewed September 2026. Licensing rules vary by state — verify on the board lookup for your metro.

Questions worth asking before you commit

  • Is the program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or your state apprenticeship agency?

    Registration is verifiable on apprenticeship.gov. Unregistered 'apprenticeship' labels appear on job postings that do not meet hour or wage standards.

  • What is the wage progression schedule?

    Registered programs publish stepped increases — typically starting at 40 to 50 percent of journeyman scale. A flat entry wage with vague promises of raises is not a registered structure.

  • How many on-the-job hours and classroom hours are required?

    Licensing boards count documented hours, not calendar time. A four-year program with insufficient OJT hours will not qualify you to sit the exam.

  • Who is the sponsor — union JATC, association, or individual employer?

    Each route works. What matters is registration status, completion rate and whether graduates reach journeyman licence in the intended trade.

  • When is the next intake and what does the application require?

    Most programs accept applications once or twice a year. Missing a window by a week can mean waiting twelve months — plan around published intake dates, not verbal assurances.

How to verify what you are told

  • Verify registration on apprenticeship.gov before applying — search by occupation and location.
  • Apply to union, non-union and direct-employer programs in the same cycle. Competitive locals reject most applicants; reapplication after improving aptitude scores is normal.
  • A registered apprenticeship certificate is portable evidence of completed training hours when relocating between states, though each state decides what it credits.
  • Pre-apprenticeship programs can help with aptitude prep but are not substitutes for registration. Confirm the pre-apprenticeship feeds into a registered sponsor.

Red flags

  1. Tuition or enrollment fees

    Registered apprenticeships do not charge tuition. Classroom instruction is part of the program cost borne by the sponsor. Fees to 'join the apprenticeship' indicate a private training program, not DOL registration.

  2. No written wage schedule

    Registered programs publish step increases tied to hours or months. Verbal promises of 'raises when you are ready' are not an apprenticeship structure.

  3. Cannot provide a DOL or state registration number

    Every registered program has a verifiable identifier. If the sponsor cannot produce one, check apprenticeship.gov yourself before committing.

  4. Guaranteed placement without an application process

    Competitive programs require aptitude testing, interview and often a waiting list. Effortless entry is uncommon in trades with strong wage progression.

Compare your options

Common questions

What is the difference between a registered and unregistered apprenticeship?
A registered program meets DOL or state standards for on-the-job hours, related instruction, wage progression and credential issuance. An unregistered 'apprenticeship' is an employer's label for on-the-job training — it may not count toward licensing hours.
Do I have to join a union to apprentice?
No. Registered programs are sponsored by union JATCs, contractor associations such as ABC and IEC, and individual employers. All three routes can produce a licensed journeyman. Apply broadly.
How much do apprentices earn?
Typically 40 to 50 percent of journeyman scale in year one, stepping up on a published schedule to 80 to 90 percent by the final year. Local scale varies — the national medians on our trade pages are planning numbers, not your local wage.
What does the aptitude test cover?
Most building-trades programs use tests derived from the NJATC or similar batteries — algebra, reading comprehension and spatial reasoning. Scores are improvable; many applicants reapply after structured prep.

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