What is Apprenticeship Program for the Construction Craft Laborers?
Apprenticeship training is a major arena for laborers’ training as more areas draft and register apprenticeship programs modeled after the standards approved by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau Apprenticeship and Training. Even the title “Construction Craft Laborer” is a recent update to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Under this new title, laborers enjoy a much needed, more accurate description of the skills and tasks performed. Below are a few examples of the thousands of identified tasks laborers may be called on to perform every day.
- Install pipe for sanitary and storm sewer, drainage projects, filter beds and water lines
- Set up and use LASER equipment to ensure grade and alignment accuracy
- Build trenching protection systems and analyze for safety hazards
- Assemble scaffolding systems and analyze for safety hazards
- Concrete placement and/or vibrate concrete
- Environmental Worker:
- Asbestos or Lead Abatement
- Hazardous Waste Removal
- Underground Storage Tank Removal
- Analyze and identify existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings
Because laborers need to work productively with other craft workers including carpenters, brick layers, iron workers, operating engineers, plasterers, plumbers, and on their own, their cross-functional skills and job-specific skills are critical.
Construction Craft Laborers are unique, proficient, and very valuable to the industry.
The Construction Industry Laborers’ Training Fund admits trainees and apprentices of any race, color, sex, religion, age, handicap, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to the apprentices. The Training Fund does not discriminate in any way in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, or other school-administered programs.
Applying for the Apprenticeship Program
The Application Process for the Western Missouri and Kansas Joint Apprenticeship Program.
Applications are accepted on Mondays only between 10 AM and 2 PM (Holidays excluded), at the Belton office.
Each applicant must have the following documents before they can fill out an application:
- Birth certificate (minimum 18 years of age)
- High school diploma, transcript or GED.
- Social Security card.
- Veterans need to provide a copy of their DD-214
Do you have these items, and are you interested in a career in construction? Leave us your contact info, and we will reach out to you!
What Happens After I Apply?
After completing the application, each applicant is provided with a letter of introduction and a list of participating contractors for use when soliciting jobs with contractors. Applicants can request advance placement testing at the time the initial application is completed.
Once an applicant provides a Letter of Intent to Hire from a participating contractor, they will return to where they filled out the initial application and sign the apprenticeship agreement. Exceptions to this are if an applicant finds a job in another Laborer Local Unions jurisdiction. For example, an individual completes the initial application in Joplin, but provides a Letter of Intent from a participating contractor and starts their first job working in Springfield. In that case, the applicant would take the Letter of Intent to Hire to the Local Union of jurisdiction. All completed applications are good throughout the jurisdiction of the Western Missouri & Kansas District Council.
Western Missouri and Kansas Joint Apprenticeship Requirements:
The Construction Craft Laborers’ Apprenticeship Program is a “Letter of Intent Program” consisting of a minimum 4,800hrs on the job training (OJT) and a minimum of 480 classroom training hrs.
Upon registration, all apprentices have an option to take advance placement.
The training curriculum includes classroom and hands on training in all phases of the Construction Craft Laborers’ jurisdiction, from new entry through leadership training, with safety keyed into all training sessions. Apprentices are registered by the Kansas Apprenticeship Council.
Apprentices start out at 50% of the journeyperson scale for the area they are employed unless they earn and advance placement credit. It is possible for a new Apprentice to start out at up to 80% of Journeyperson scale
APPRENTICE WAGE RATES
Kansas City Area
| 0-1200 | On the job hours | 60% |
| 1201 - 2400 | On the job hours | 70% |
| 2401 - 3600 | On the job hours | 80% |
| 3601 - 4800 | On the job hours | 90% |
| Over 4800 | On the job hours | 100% |
Springfield MO
| 0-800 | On the job hours | 70% |
| 801 - 1600 | On the job hours | 75% |
| 1601 - 2400 | On the job hours | 80% |
| 2401 - 3200 | On the job hours | 85% |
| 3201 - 4000 | On the job hours | 90% |
| 4001 - 4800 | On the job hours | 95% |
| Over 4800 | On the job hours | 100% |
Out State
| 0-2400 | On the job hours | 80% |
| 2401 - 4800 | On the job hours | 90% |
| Over 4800 | On the job hours | 100% |