Union HVAC apprenticeship, how does it work?

[rivervalleytech]

I have been seriously considering applying for the 2013 local 502 Louisville kentucky hvac mechanic apprenticeship. I have been a residential and light commercial tech for about five years now and I am afraid that I have reached the top of the career ladder in this field. I want to work on and learn more heavy commercial and industrial side of the trade and I feel a union apprenticeship is the only way to break into that part of the trade.

My question is how does a HVAC mechanic apprenticeship work? Do you ride around with a journeyman tech for five years? Are apprentices only permitted to do preventive maintenence? Do they do any troubleshooting on their own, or is it only under the supervision of a journeyman? How does the system work?

I have a Kentucky Journeyman license, Nate certification, universal EPA, an associates degree in hvac, about five years in the field and I am a veteran. With those qualifications I would assume I have a pretty good chance of getting in if I applied.

Does anyone on this board know anything about local 502 Louisville, Ky? Is work slow? Is it even worth my time to even contemplate applying?

[MechanicallyInclined]

The UA Service Apprenticeship in HVACR is an on-the-job experience with training. If the Service Apprentice wage scale is comparable to what your making now also factor in possible benefits available to you, this varies from Local to Local. Remember, it's not uncommon for a non-union HVACR Tech with 5 to 10 years experience to be white-ticketed as a Service Journeyman in a UA Local. I was white-ticketed into a UA Local by Honeywell and I only had 4 years experience. Check with the UA Local in your area and all of the signatory contractors, leave no stone unturned.
Rule of thumb, if the Local in your area doesn't have HVACR listed at all in their insignia, they won't know much about HVACR. If their insignia has the words "Service Techs" - but no HVACR, they may act like they know about HVACR, but they really don't. If they have "HVACR" or "HVACR Techs" in their insignignia, then they probably do know about HVACR.

[valdelocc]

My question is how does a HVAC mechanic apprenticeship work? Do you ride around with a journeyman tech for five years? Are apprentices only permitted to do preventive maintenence? Do they do any troubleshooting on their own, or is it only under the supervision of a journeyman? How does the system work?

First you must take a test, depending on the score you may get in right away of wait a year or so, be persistent and dont give up.
Once your in, the union finds you a job and you must attend the training sessions twice per week, depending where they place you you may be riding alone and doing pretty much everything or riding alongside with a journeyman for 1 to 3 years.its a five years program, besides the training the program brings excellent networking opportunities.

[MechanicallyInclined]

Two things right now. In UA Local 231, there was no testing to white-ticket n as a Service Jm. In UA Local 469, there's Service Apprentice training once a month. Every UA Local does things differently.

[Jigjoe]

Don't mean to thread jack but I didn't want to make a new thread. With an upcoming interview with a local, I have a question regarding the availability of HVAC/R apprenticeship spots. When I first turned in my application, I had only checked off the HVAC/R box (where it asks which program you're interested in). When I turned it in, the lady went ahead and checked off the pipefitting and plumber (I believe) boxes and said that was to increase my chances of getting in if either one of those weren't available. My question is, how would simply getting in, regardless of which program it is, benefit me if my interest is in HVAC? Am I able to swap around once spots become available or something? I plan on asking them this if it comes up but figured I'd get an idea from those that experienced this.

(I asked on here as well in case you didn't get the email Rob)

[TheChillerMan]

Don't mean to thread jack but I didn't want to make a new thread. With an upcoming interview with a local, I have a question regarding the availability of HVAC/R apprenticeship spots. When I first turned in my application, I had only checked off the HVAC/R box (where it asks which program you're interested in). When I turned it in, the lady went ahead and checked off the pipefitting and plumber (I believe) boxes and said that was to increase my chances of getting in if either one of those weren't available. My question is, how would simply getting in, regardless of which program it is, benefit me if my interest is in HVAC? Am I able to swap around once spots become available or something? I plan on asking them this if it comes up but figured I'd get an idea from those that experienced this.

(I asked on here as well in case you didn't get the email Rob)

You want to do everything you can to start in HVAC and stay there. When I got into the union back in 1990, I went in as HVAC but a friend went in as a pipefitter. He's been stuck as a pipefitter to this day doing construction and retrofits. The problem with that is, the work is hit or miss. HVAC service work is much more consistent.

Switching from plumbing or pipefitting to service HVAC is usually pretty difficult, but it can be done.

[zw17]

Don't mean to thread jack but I didn't want to make a new thread. With an upcoming interview with a local, I have a question regarding the availability of HVAC/R apprenticeship spots. When I first turned in my application, I had only checked off the HVAC/R box (where it asks which program you're interested in). When I turned it in, the lady went ahead and checked off the pipefitting and plumber (I believe) boxes and said that was to increase my chances of getting in if either one of those weren't available. My question is, how would simply getting in, regardless of which program it is, benefit me if my interest is in HVAC? Am I able to swap around once spots become available or something? I plan on asking them this if it comes up but figured I'd get an idea from those that experienced this.

(I asked on here as well in case you didn't get the email Rob)

In our local you are stuck doing only the program you entered into until you complete that program. Once you are done with one program you can go through the other but it's a 10yr commitment to do both pipefitting then HVAC.

[Jigjoe]

Oh wow ok. I guess that is something that I should bring up first thing in the interview. I'm not sure why they would mark down that I'm interested in any available program when I not only checked but also highlighted the HVAC box lol

[valdelocc]

Oh wow ok. I guess that is something that I should bring up first thing in the interview. I'm not sure why they would mark down that I'm interested in any available program when I not only checked but also highlighted the HVAC box lol

getting in is the biggest challenge, is like winning the lottery, no really but close, try to get in and move one step at the time, persistence is a biatch. good luck.

[MechanicallyInclined]

I'm a UA member & have never understood the interviewing and all that through the Locals. I mean asking for job placement to an individual who only knows Construction as a Pipefitter or Plumber. Take it I was white-ticketed in.
Always ask the contractors if they need a HVACR Tech, R-T-W or not!

[Jigjoe]

Well I just had my interview and the questioning wasn't as bad as I thought. I don't think my wording was that great but I tend to do that when I'm nervous so hopefully it doesn't go against me too much. I feel like I could of done much better though. I think I was the only one there who interviewed for just the HVAC program. Most of the guys there said they were interviewing for all three. Unfortunately I won't find out if I made it until Thursday.