1. Age
1. All applicants shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of interview.
   
2. All applicants shall submit reliable proof of birthdate with the complete application (Form #1)
2. Education
   
1. Applicants shall be high school graduates or provide proof of equivalent educational attainment such as an official report of successful results of the G.E.D. tests (tests of General Education Development.)
   
2. Each applicant shall accompany the completed application (Form #1) with a high school transcript or an official report of the G.E.D. test results.
3. Additional Requirements
   1. if any test is required by the local JATC as a predictor of success in the pipe trades, applicants should be required to take the test battery as recommended and administrated by the local state employment service.

1. The JATC will use the Pipe Trades Apprentice Forms #1 and 2 supplied by the National Joint Committees. Form #1 will be furnished to each applicant who will complete, sign, and return the form to the local JATC by a designated date.
   Forms to be picked up at the local State Employment Service.
   
1. Form #1 consists of:
   
1. Application for admission into the apprenticeship program.
   
2. Requirements for admission into the apprenticeship program: prime responsibilities of applicants after acceptance into the program as probationary apprentices.
2. Form #2 consists of:
   
1. Space for recording the name of the applicant, and the date on which Form #1 was completed and received by the JATC.
   
2. Step-by-step procedures for carrying out the selection process.
   
3. Space for a summary of the official interview of the applicant.
   
4. Space for recording applicant's progress through the selection process from the date of receipt of Form #1 by the applicant to the date of final disposition of the application.
2. The JATC shall remain on file for each applicant, a copy of Forms #1 and 2 and all other records, for a period of not less than five (5) years from date of final disposition of the application.

1. After an applicant for apprenticeship has been selected and before employ- as an apprentices or enrollment in related instruction classes begin, the apprentice shall sign an Apprenticeship Agreement which shall be registered with the registration agency. Likewise these standards shall be considered a part of the Apprenticeship Agreement as though expressly written herein.
2. Each selected applicant shall be given an opportunity to study these standards, the Local JATC policies, and the Apprenticeship Agreement before signing the agreement.
3. At least four (4) copies of the agreement shall be made: one for the apprentice; one for the local JATC; one for the registration agency; and when applicable, one for the Veterans Administration.
   

1. The term of the apprenticeship including the probationary period shall consist of five (5) years of training. This training shall be divided into five (1) one year segments. Each one (1) year segment will consist of 1600 hours of reasonably continuous on the job training and a minimum of 196 classroom related instruction.
2. During the fifth year of training the apprentice may be allowed to perform the work of the trade without direct supervision of a journeyman consistent with the local agreement. The fifth year apprentice will remain under the jurisdiction of the JATC.

1. Each applicant selected for the apprenticeship shall serve a probationary period of one (1) year (1600 hours on the job).
2. The JATC shall set standards for the performance for on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.
   1. The probationary apprentice shall conform to the training standard of the JATC.
   2. Any probationary apprentice who does not conform to the training standards shall have his or her apprenticeship agreement canceled.
3. The records for each probationary apprentice shall be reviewed at the end of the probationary period. Records shall consist of: periodic reports from the apprentice's employer or employers, a complete record of attendance, grades and any disciplinary action connected with instruction during the probationary period.
4. Any probationary apprentice considered to be unsatisfactory after a review of the records shall have his or her apprenticeship agreement canceled.
5. Each probationary apprentice considered to be satisfactory, after a review of the records, shall be considered an apprentice and initiated into the local union with credit for the probationary period.
   

1. An applicant may request credit for previous experience. If the previous experience was outside the supervision of the JATC, the applicant must submit a request at the time of application and furnish such records, affidavits, or other bonafide evidence as the JATC shall require to substantiate the claims. After candidates have signed the apprenticeship agreement, they cannot request an evaluation of previous experience.
2. An apprentice who requests credit for previous experience shall be started at the beginning wage rate, and the request for credit shall be evaluated and a determination made by the JATC during the probationary period when actual on the job and related instruction performance can be examined.
3. Upon completion of the probationary period an apprentice granted credit shall be advanced to the wage rate designated for the period to which such credit accrues.

1. During each year of training, each apprentice shall be required to attend classes in subjects related to the trade. Hours of related training shall be no less than 196 hours per year, with a minimum of 980 hours for the five year term of training.
2. Any apprentice who is absent from related instruction class sessions, unless officially excused, shall satisfactorily complete all class work missed before being advanced to the next period of training.
3. In order to achieve a fair and productive training program within the jurisdiction of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 521, the following demerit system has been approved by the JATC, to provide a self-elimination procedure for apprentices who constantly violate the U.A. Training Standards as set forth for the five year apprenticeship indenturement.
   The self-elimination process is based on a point system. Any apprentice who constantly fails to perform his or her duties within the classroom or on the job site shall automatically accumulate points throughout the term of the apprenticeship. These points shall become a part of the apprentice's permanent record unless excused by the JATC.
   Upon the accumulation of 15 points or more within one school year, or a total of 38 points during the five year period, the apprentice will have automatically eliminated himself or herself from the program, and the JATC will take all the formal actions necessary to complete the cancellation of the indenturement.
   

   POINTS	VIOLATION
   2	Failure to attend scheduled three hour classes.
   2	Negative report from job site for excessive tardiness, absenteeism, or poor job performance.
   3	Failure to make a passing grade on any mid-term or final school exam.
   2	Disrupting class, or failure to show good class attitude.
   15	Failure to appear before the JATC.
   15	Providing false information to the JATC.
   15	Attending class under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or consuming the same during class breaks or on Local Union 521 property.
   15	Failure of or refusal to take random drug tests.

   
   Upon the accumulation of 5 or 6 points, the apprentice is to automatically appear before the JATC for review of the Problems.
4. Policy with respect to hours spent in related instruction by apprentices other than regular working hours: Apprentices will not be paid for attending related instruction classes.
5. In cases of failure of an apprentice to fulfill the obligations regarding classroom or on the job training, without due cause, the JATC shall take necessary disciplinary action.
6. The instructional materials recommended by the National Joint Committees shall be adopted as the basic course of study, and each apprentice shall be required to purchase a set of these text materials for personal study during the training and for a reference after completion of apprenticeship. An outline of the related training program shall be attached to these standards when they are registered by the local JATC.

1. To enable the apprentice to qualify at the end of training as a skilled journeyman, the apprentice shall, during the first four years of training be given opportunity to install and assist in installing piping material, as their skill permits under the direct supervision of a journeyman.
2. Fifth year apprentices may be allowed make pipe installations and do related work as their skills permit without the direct supervision of a journeyman.
3. For the protection of the individual consumer and the general public, all work done by apprentices as indicated above shall conform in every respect with the requirements prescribed in all applicable local codes and ordinances.
4. The JATC shall rotate or shift apprentices from one employer to another as necessary to assure complete training in all branches of the piping trades.
5. The work experience schedule shall be attached to these standards when they are registered by the local JATC. This schedule shall be used as a guide to the various types of work to be performed and the basic skills to be learned during apprenticeship.

1. Apprentices shall work the same hours as journeymen except that no apprentice shall be allowed to work overtime if it interferes with attendance at related instruction classes.
2. Apprentices who do not complete the required hours of on-the-job training during a given segment shall have the term of that segment extended until the required number of hours are accrued.

1. The progressively increasing schedule of wages for apprentices shall be included in these standards by the local JATC and that schedule shall be established as a percentage of the prevailing wage rate for journeymen.
   
   Apprentices entering after June 1, 1995, will receive the following rates:
   
   1st year         - 40% of Journeyman Zone 1 rate
   2nd year        - 50% of Journeyman Zone 1 rate
   3rd year        - 60% of Journeyman Zone 1 rate
   4th year         - 70% of Journeyman Zone 1 rate
   5th year         - 80% of Journeyman Zone 1 rate
   
   
2. Before an apprentice is advanced to the next period of training or journeyman status the JATC shall evaluate all progress to determine whether advancement has been earned by satisfactory work on-the-job and in related training classes. In determining whether satisfactory progress has been made, the JATC shall be guided by the records of work experience and related instruction.
   

1. The employer, or the designated person such as the superintendent, foreman, or journeyman, shall be responsible for the training of the apprentice on-the-job. The supervisor of the apprentice, with the advice and assistance of the JATC, shall be responsible for the apprentice's work experience and shall complete and return the record forms and progress reports provided by the JATC.
2. The JATC or the designated person shall be responsible for the apprentice's progress in related instruction classes.
   

1. Perform diligently and faithfully the work of the trade, and perform such other pertinent duties as may be assigned in accordance with the provisions of the registered standards.
2. Respect the property of the contractor and abide by the working rules and regulations of the contractor, the local union, and the JATC.
3. Attend regularly and complete satisfactorily the required hours of instructions in subjects related to the trade, as provided under the registered standards.
4. Maintain such records of on-the-job training and related instruction as may be required by the JATC.
5. Develop safe working habits, and work in such a manner as to assure their safety and that of other workers.
6. Conduct themselves at all times in a credible, ethical, and moral manner.

17. Disciplinary Action