This course was developed in an effort to upgrade and insure the finest quality of entry level first year apprentices. During the two month period of this class, entry level apprentices are first taught the History of Labor Laws That Protect Workers. Participants are required to attend 8 hours of Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training. Students must successfully complete the 48-Hour Grade Checking Course and pass twelve (12) separate exams. All students are also required to add a CDL (commercial drivers license) endorsement to their drivers license. Future apprentices receive classroom safety training that specifically targets all of the major pieces of construction equipment used in the industry today. In the lab, students demonstrate their grade checking and equipment operating skills while laying out and designing real projects such as roads, parking lots and other real life activities.

Mechanics complete a Technical Oil and Filters Course, learn a Preventative Maintenance Program along with proper procedures to take oil samples and read oil analyst reports. Mechanics complete work books on fasteners and on oils and lubricant characteristics. Mechanics perform actual repairs in the field on all major construction equipment along with daily fleet service oiling and inspections. Students use safe cutting, burning and welding techniques in the shop and in the field.

Hoisting Engineers complete a 10-day Skills Updating Classroom Crane Course and must pass our crane exam. The main categories of the course include, Crane Laws and Regulations, Mathematics Used in Craning, Setting Up Cranes, Calculating Capacities for Hydraulic and Lattice Boom Cranes, Principles of Leverage and Multiple Crane Lifts, Conditions Affecting Crane Capacities, Wire Rope and Rigging, Working around High Voltage and the Use of Load Moment Devices. Students must successfully attend and complete our 2-Day Signaling and Rigging course. The main categories of this course include, Communications, Rigging Hardware, Sling Selection and Application, The Effect of Sling Angles, Determining Loads Center of Gravity and Equalizer and Spreader Beams.

Students are required to successfully complete the 8-Hour C-Stop or Contractor Safety Training Orientation program and pass the certification test and attend and successfully complete our 40-Hour Basic Welding program. The main categories of this course include, Welding Theory, Light Metal Welding (6011), Light Metal to Structural Welding (7018) and Gas Cutting.

Participants will also Successfully complete all eleven (11) lessons and exams of our Hoisting Engineer Correspondence Course. These lessons include, Common Sense in Crane Safety, Craning With Confidence, International Hand Signals, Crane Types and Case Histories, Hazard Awareness in Crane Operating Areas, Slings, Jacks, Rollers and Related Devices, Hoists, Winches and Related Devices, Reeving, Chain and Rigging Hardware.

Finally, students must successfully complete all five (5) lessons and exams of our Commercial Drivers License Home Correspondence course and obtain a CDL drivers license with the Department of Licensing. These lessons included Washington State Commercial Drivers test, Commercial Drivers Pre-trip Inspections, Air Brakes, DOT Hazardous Materials and Hazmat HM-126-F

All Apprentices are evaluated for safety, attitude, attendance and their willingness to learn. They are all given a formal interview by the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee and are then ranked for a future eligible apprentice pool.

Many new apprentices have successfully completed these courses and have received all of this training before their first dispatch to an employer. The program has proven itself to be successful by winning back the respect of journey persons and employers in apprentices and the apprenticeship program.

This Course Provides

110 Hours Lecture
210 Hours Lab
320 Total Instructional Hours