Craft Training & Apprenticeship

The Place to Start

Tens of thousands of apprentices and craft students train in more than 20 construction crafts through a national ABC network of 75 chapter offices across the country. ABC Hawaii Chapter offers Five Trades, Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Painter, and Roofing. We continually seek additional crafts and trades which are needed to maintain our Hawaii’s workforce.

NCCER Curriculum

Since developing the "Wheels of Learning" craft training curricula in the 1980's, ABC has become the world leader in apprenticeship and craft training in the merit shop construction industry. ABC now works closely with its educational affiliate, the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), in the development, revision and publication of the NCCER Curriculum, which is competency-based, task-driven, modular craft training curricula based on today's construction industry practices.

Registered Apprenticeship Programs

ABC provides formal apprenticeship training programs that are registered with the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. These programs meet all federal and state requirements for formal apprenticeship and prevailing wage work including employer-sponsored classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Additionally, ABC Hawaii Chapter’s Apprenticeship programs are State approved. Upon successful completion, craft workers are recognized at the journey level in their trade and are awarded their apprenticeship certificate from NCCER and the Department of Labor, Hawaii.

Applicant Information
“Earn While you Learn”

What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is career education combining extensive on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. Our apprenticeship programs require three to five years to complete (depending on the trade you desire). During this time, the apprentice (you) works under the supervision and guidance of a skilled craftsperson. Our programs are nationally accredited and State approved!

Classes are held two nights each week for 2.5 hours each night. The total number of classroom hours are determined by the curricula of the respective trade.

ABC Hawaii provides the academic portion for apprentices in Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, and Roofing. Employers participate as “sponsors” by employing the apprentice full time in the trade. The sponsoring employer agrees to train the apprentice in the individual trade while the apprentice earns a living and builds a reputation as a skilled, knowledgeable and reliable employee.

ABC Hawaii wants to help you plan and realize your goals. Apprenticeship training gives construction workers a considerable advantage over those trained by informal means. Advantages include:

Qualification for a higher level of pay:

Certification of completion of the State of Hawaii Apprenticeship Program from the State of Hawaii, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR).
Earn credit for a college degree through Honolulu
Community College Exposure to the latest technology and building codes.
Life-long job mobility through a nationally recognized certification program of your skills.

The recruitment, selection and training of apprentices for the Apprenticeship Training program shall be without discrimination of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation.

Qualifications:

All applicants must be 18 years or older, and must have a high school diploma or equivalent, Board of Education certified GED.
Electrical candidates must also show proof of successful completion of high school Algebra or better.
Electrical applicants must also pass a color vision screening.
In addition to on-the-job training provided by the employer, apprentices must attend classes two nights a week to master the technical and theoretical requirements of the trade.

Apprenticeship is a three to five-year program of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. After successfully completing an apprenticeship program, you will graduate as a State and Federally recognized craftsperson in your chosen craft.