Employer Resources
NCIFTI Apprenticeship Policies
Apprentice Sponsorship is an investment in your employees; an opportunity to provide finishing trades workers with a long-lasting career; and the best way to ensure longevity of our trade, our market share, our union, and our health/retirement benefits. PDC 30’s membership is aging, retirements are increasing, and – as apprentice levels remain low – the ability of PDC 30 signatory employers to replace retiring journey workers may be compromised. In order to fill this gap and meet the long-term workforce needs of the industry, labor and management must work together to prioritize the sponsor/indenture and retention of apprentices throughout the apprenticeship.
This landing page was developed to serve as a resource to PDC 30 signatory employers. Use the tabs below to familiarize yourself with the two hiring methods available to contractors, access the Apprentice Sponsor/Indenture Agreement, and download frequently asked questions about apprentice sponsorship.
Employer Hiring Methods
The NCIFTI offers two different hiring methods to employers looking to bring on an apprentice: the standard method, which requires a Sponsor Agreement, and the temporary hiring method, which is available on a short-term basis.
The standard method for hiring a “new” apprentice is done through sponsorship. Employers ready to provide an apprentice with reasonably continuous employment for the full term of apprenticeship should hire a sponsored/indentured apprentice. Alternatively, an employer wishing to employ an apprentice for a short-term job or for a short period of the year shall use the temporary hiring method. In this case, following consultation, the NCIFTI will provide you with eligible candidates from the “pool of registered apprentices.”
Please click on the infographic link below to better understand when each method may be applicable to you.
NCIFTI Apprentice Pool
Click here to access the NCIFTI pool of registered apprentices available for work.
The information linked above can change daily based on employment and eligibility status. For the most accurate information or to hire an apprentice from the pool, please contact the NCIFTI or the Local Business Representative in your area. If no apprentices are available for your zone/trade, please consult the NCIFTI for affiliate members, pre-apprentices, and NCIFTI applicants that may fit your needs.
To hire an Apprentice, please notify the NCIFTI directly prior to hire, to ensure eligibility and accuracy of information.
For questions, please contact the NCIFTI at(630) 966-1451.
Letter of Intent to Hire
An Employer shall notify the NCIFTI prior to hiring an Apprentice and provide the NCIFTI with a Letter of Intent to Hire that includes the Apprentice’s name, last 4 digits of SSN, contact info, date of hire, and applicable apprenticeship level.
To meet this obligation, Employers may use the template letter of intent linked below to complete required information, print on company letterhead, sign, and send to NCIFTI for notification. For help with this process, or to receive the template in a word document via email, please contact Veronica Perez at 630.966.1451 or vperez@ncifti.edu
Additional Resources
Below are materials and resources designed for incoming students and apprentice applicants, which may provide Employers with additional information about the NCIFTI, its application and admission procedures, and its programming. For more information, please contact the NCIFTI directly.
Apprentice Applicant Information Packet: Click here to learn more about apprenticeship eligibility requirements, how to apply, and enrolment and admission procedures.
NCIFTI Student Handbook & Course Catalog: Click here to learn more about the NCIFTI’s Apprenticeship Programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click below to access frequently asked questions about the NCIFTI's apprenticeship policies.
Sponsor Agreement Form
Please click the link below to download the NCIFTI Sponsor/Indenture Agreement and familiarize yourself with the provisions and guidelines outlined on pages 3-5. Employers ready to provide an apprentice with reasonably continuous employment for the full term of apprenticeship should complete this form and return it to the NCIFTI for final approval.
Pre-Apprentice Permit Information
A Pre-Apprentice Permit may be an option for your company. Please read through the policy below, as outlined in Section 11.4 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and contact the NCIFTI for more information.
Article 11, Section 11.4
(a) At the discretion of the NCIFTI, an Employer may be granted a Pre-Apprentice Permit to provide a trial period of employment for a prospective Indentured Apprentice (Pre-Apprentice). Before any Pre-Apprentice can work in the Union’s geographical jurisdiction, an Employer must obtain a Pre-Apprentice Permit from the NCIFTI for the applicant. An Employer authorized by the NCIFTI to hire a Pre-Apprentice shall be permitted to employ the Pre-Apprentice for a thirty (30) day probationary period from the date of employment, during which time, contributions to the Combined Funds shall not be required. If the permit is not obtained, the applicant shall be considered a Journey Worker for all purposes under this Agreement, including for wages and fringe benefits.
(b) Pre-Apprentices shall be paid at the rate of fifty percent (50%) of the Journey Worker’s wage rate for the first thirty (30) days of employment.
(c) An Employer may request a thirty (30) day extension, in writing, fifteen (15) days before the expiration of the Pre-Apprentice permit. Extensions shall be granted at the sole discretion of the NCIFTI.
(d) An Employer shall not be granted a Pre-Apprentice Permit to employ a current or previously registered Apprentice.
(e) An Employer shall not be granted a Pre-Apprentice Permit for any person for whom they utilized a Pre-Apprentice Permit previously, and shall be prohibited from utilizing a Pre-Apprentice Permit for any person who has worked as a Pre-Apprentice under the provisions of Section 11.4, for any period of time, on two prior occasions.
(f) Pre-Apprentice Permits are only valid in PDC 30’s jurisdiction and may not be utilized on Davis Bacon/Prevailing Wage work.
(g) Recurring Pre-Apprentice Permits not resulting in an Indenture Agreement may result in the rejection of subsequent requests.
Employer Hiring Methods
The NCIFTI offers two different hiring methods to employers looking to bring on an apprentice: the standard method, which requires a Sponsor Agreement, and the temporary hiring method, which is available on a short-term basis.
The standard method for hiring a “new” apprentice is done through sponsorship. Employers ready to provide an apprentice with reasonably continuous employment for the full term of apprenticeship should hire a sponsored/indentured apprentice. Alternatively, an employer wishing to employ an apprentice for a short-term job or for a short period of the year shall use the temporary hiring method. In this case, following consultation, the NCIFTI will provide you with eligible candidates from the “pool of registered apprentices.”
Please click on the infographic link below to better understand when each method may be applicable to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click below to access frequently asked questions about the NCIFTI's apprenticeship policies.
Sponsor Agreement Form
Please click the link below to download the NCIFTI Sponsor/Indenture Agreement and familiarize yourself with the provisions and guidelines outlined on pages 3-5. Employers ready to provide an apprentice with reasonably continuous employment for the full term of apprenticeship should complete this form and return it to the NCIFTI for final approval.
Letter of Intent to Hire
An Employer shall notify the NCIFTI prior to hiring an Apprentice and provide the NCIFTI with a Letter of Intent to Hire that includes the Apprentice’s name, last 4 digits of SSN, contact info, date of hire, and applicable apprenticeship level.
To meet this obligation, Employers may use the template letter of intent linked below to complete required information, print on company letterhead, sign, and send to NCIFTI for notification. For help with this process, or to receive the template in a Word document via email, please contact Veronica Perez at 630.966.1451 or vperez@ncifti.edu.
Pre-Apprentice Permit Information
A Pre-Apprentice Permit may be an option for your company. Please read through the policy below, as outlined in Section 11.4 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and contact the NCIFTI for more information.
Article 11, Section 11.4
(a) At the discretion of the NCIFTI, an Employer may be granted a Pre-Apprentice Permit to provide a trial period of employment for a prospective Indentured Apprentice (Pre-Apprentice). Before any Pre-Apprentice can work in the Union’s geographical jurisdiction, an Employer must obtain a Pre-Apprentice Permit from the NCIFTI for the applicant. An Employer authorized by the NCIFTI to hire a Pre-Apprentice shall be permitted to employ the Pre-Apprentice for a thirty (30) day probationary period from the date of employment, during which time, contributions to the Combined Funds shall not be required. If the permit is not obtained, the applicant shall be considered a Journey Worker for all purposes under this Agreement, including for wages and fringe benefits.
(b) Pre-Apprentices shall be paid at the rate of fifty percent (50%) of the Journey Worker’s wage rate for the first thirty (30) days of employment.
(c) An Employer may request a thirty (30) day extension, in writing, fifteen (15) days before the expiration of the Pre-Apprentice permit. Extensions shall be granted at the sole discretion of the NCIFTI.
(d) An Employer shall not be granted a Pre-Apprentice Permit to employ a current or previously registered Apprentice.
(e) An Employer shall not be granted a Pre-Apprentice Permit for any person for whom they utilized a Pre-Apprentice Permit previously, and shall be prohibited from utilizing a Pre-Apprentice Permit for any person who has worked as a Pre-Apprentice under the provisions of Section 11.4, for any period of time, on two prior occasions.
(f) Pre-Apprentice Permits are only valid in PDC 30’s jurisdiction and may not be utilized on Davis Bacon/Prevailing Wage work.
(g) Recurring Pre-Apprentice Permits not resulting in an Indenture Agreement may result in the rejection of subsequent requests.
NCIFTI Apprentice Pool
Click here to access the NCIFTI pool of registered apprentices available for work.
The information linked above can change daily based on employment and eligibility status. For the most accurate information or to hire an apprentice from the pool, please contact the NCIFTI or the Local Business Representative in your area. If no apprentices are available for your zone/trade, please consult the NCIFTI for affiliate members, pre-apprentices, and NCIFTI applicants that may fit your needs.
To hire an Apprentice, please notify the NCIFTI directly prior to hire, to ensure eligibility and accuracy of information.
For questions, please contact the NCIFTI at 630.966.1451.
Additional Resources
Below are materials and resources designed for incoming students and apprentice applicants, which may provide Employers with additional information about the NCIFTI, its application and admission procedures, and its programming. For more information, please contact the NCIFTI directly.
Apprentice Applicant Information Packet: Click here to learn more about apprenticeship eligibility requirements, how to apply, and enrolment and admission procedures.
NCIFTI Student Handbook & Course Catalog: Click here to learn more about the NCIFTI’s Apprenticeship Programs.
