What is a Sheet Metal Worker?

Sheet Metal Workers are part of the building and construction trades.

The Sheet Metal trade is unique because it is one of the few crafts that starts with raw material, creates a component, installs, and maintains the product. In a shop, workers determine the quantity and type of material they will need to correspond with blueprints and specifications. Using a combination of mathematics, layout tools, hammers, drills, hacksaws, plasma and laser beam cutting systems, computers, cutting, forming, seaming or welding machines, workers manipulate the material into the product desired. Pre-fabricated parts are transported to construction job sites for installation according to blue prints and careful coordination on the jobsite. The maintenance sector includes preventive maintenance, repair, testing, balancing and sometimes certification of the installed systems. Items commonly fabricated and installed include HVAC systems, metal roofs, kitchen hoods, various flashings, gutters, decorative architectural features and many other items made of a variety of metals.
Workers constantly meet new challenges, using their hands, visualizing and analyzing how components can be made or installed, how mechanical systems work, and practice human relations in working with clients and coordinating with other workers. It is an interesting and evolving field with exciting growth potential.
The apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn program involving paid "full time" work and related classes.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Applicant must be at least 16 years of age. Applicants under 18 years of age require signature of parent or legal guardian.
2. Applicant must submit a copy of High School Diploma, G.E.D. or High School Proficiency test in English translation at the time of application. Proof of age with photo ID is also required, (such as driver's license, etc.)
   Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
3. Applicant must complete a math test with a minimum score of 70%. A basic calculator will be provided for their use. Those failing the math test may re-take the test two additional times within the application period. Persons passing the math test shall be given an application number in sequence and, if they choose to, be qualified to work as a Pre-apprentice, paid "helper". Pre-apprentices shall be dispatched according to contract provisions.

Filing of Application:

Testing and applications shall be accepted at the locations listed below, on the first and third Tuesday of each month, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (*For Santa Clara County only, applications start at 8:00 a.m.) Applications will be separate and for the local area served by each facility only, as listed here.

Applications must be filled out in person, after fulfilling all of the minimum requirements, at the facility for the counties in which an applicant wishes to be an apprentice, as listed below:

Method of Ranking Applicants:

A Differential Aptitude Test shall be administered to all qualified applicants once a year or as scheduled by the local Training Center.
A voluntary applicant class shall be followed by additional testing.

A combined score of math test, differential aptitude test, employment/veteran credit and results following the voluntary apprentice applicant class shall place the applicant on a ranked list to be indentured, as positions are available. Qualified applicants must have a valid California driver's license at the time of indenture.
(Method of ranking applicants subject to the approval of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.)

Information on other specialized apprenticeships within the sheet metal industry is available at offices listed.

Benefits

Our program is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Workers' Local 104 and the Bay Area Association of SMACNA Chapters. As an employee and union member, you will be afforded excellent medical, dental, and optical coverage, as well as vacation and pension benefits.

 

Program

The term of apprenticeship is a minimum of four and a half to five years. Apprentices will also attend a minimum of 1080 hours of related classroom instructions.

Web Information

For more detailed information, go directly to the Bay Area Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Training website at: www.basmat.org.