What Does a Construction Apprenticeship Actually Look Like? Lee’s Training Director Answers

October is Careers in Construction Month, and Michigan is marking it with an official proclamation from Governor Whitmer. For anyone weighing a skilled trades career, it’s a good time to get straight answers about how apprenticeship works.

A construction apprenticeship is a paid job where you learn a trade while doing real work. At Lee, most established programs run four years: 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning under a journey-level craftsperson, plus at least 576 classroom hours. Most programs finish with a Department of Labor Certificate of Apprenticeship Completion and NCCER credentials.

We asked Andy Barnum, Lee’s Director of Training and Development, what the experience looks like from the inside. Here’s what he told us.

Why are contractors training their own tradespeople?

The short answer: the industry needs more skilled workers than currently exist. Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that construction needs to attract 349,000 net new workers in 2026, and 456,000 in 2027.

“The truth is, the people with the skills we need aren’t out there to hire,” Andy says. “By investing in our own workforce, we make sure our newest employee-owners get the quality of education they need to thrive in this industry.”

That last part matters. Lee is 100% employee-owned, and employees build ownership over time through the company’s ESOP. The trade you learn here comes with a stake in the company you’re helping build.

What apprenticeship programs does Lee offer?

Lee runs registered apprenticeship programs in four trades: Electrical, HVAC, Pipefitting and Sheet Metal. Two newer programs, Plumbing and Sprinkler Fitting, are also underway.

These are the same trades Lee self-performs in plants, facilities and infrastructure projects across Michigan and beyond. Apprentices learn on live work, alongside the crews who do it every day.

How is an apprenticeship split between the classroom and the field?

Classroom instruction builds the technical foundation, and field experience turns it into skill. At Lee, classroom time is typically 4 to 8 hours a week, mostly in the evening after work. Field work happens under the oversight of a journey-level craftsperson.

“The classroom gives you time to get into details that just aren’t practical while you’re doing the work,” Andy says. “Field experience adds real conditions, coordination, changing constraints and judgment. That’s where knowledge becomes skill, by getting your hands on the work. Each one strengthens the other.”

Lee requires classroom instructors to be experienced journey workers and field leaders. The company partners with schools that make craft education a priority. Where those partners aren’t available, Lee is building its own instructional capacity through NCCER accreditation, the same accreditation held by community colleges and trade schools across the country.

In the field, mentors demonstrate the work, explain their decisions, watch the apprentice practice and give feedback. Andy says the best mentors share three things: patience, clear expectations and a willingness to explain why. Some of Lee’s strongest field mentors also teach in the classroom, where they can fill in what a busy workday doesn’t leave time for.

How long does a construction apprenticeship take?

Most of Lee’s established programs follow a four-year structure. That’s 8,000 hours of on-the-job learning plus at least 576 classroom hours over the same period.

Progress is measured three ways: classroom learning, documented field experience and demonstrated skill development. Specific advancement requirements depend on the program, and apprentices should always know what they’re working toward and what they need to improve.

What credentials do you earn when you finish?

For most Lee programs, apprentices earn a Department of Labor Certificate of Apprenticeship Completion and NCCER certifications. Both are nationally recognized. Completing the program may also meet the criteria to sit for state-level licensing exams in your trade.

Do you need construction experience to become an apprentice?

No. Most apprentices don’t come in with much experience, and the program is built for that. Nearly everyone starts with NCCER Core, which covers safety, hand and power tools, construction math, materials handling, blueprint reading and employability skills. Core is the foundation for everything that follows.

“Experience helps, but willingness to learn is essential,” Andy says. “We can teach technical skills. The person has to bring the effort, openness to feedback and commitment to keep improving.”

To apply, start with Lee’s open positions. Andy looks for people who communicate clearly and show reliability, flexibility and a willingness to invest in themselves. If you think you don’t know enough yet, he suggests a few ways to build a stronger application:

• Highlight your best qualities, including experience from school and community organizations.
• Earn letters of recommendation from people who’ve seen you work.
• Read books and blogs about the industry, and watch videos on the trade you’re interested in.
• Enroll in a pre-apprenticeship program at a local community college or adult education center.

What habits help apprentices progress quickly?

Safety comes first, then reliability and communication. After that, the apprentices who grow fastest are curious, show up prepared, ask questions and care about doing the work correctly.

“Follow through and get gritty,” Andy says. “Be boringly consistent and reliable. Be prepared for your day and what’s next. Ask questions and apply what you learned. Practice your skills whenever you have time.”

The common thread is ownership of your own learning, in school and in the field. Technology is part of it too. Apprentices should communicate well by email, text and phone, be able to read and work with prints by the end of their program, and keep an eye on the new tools and methods coming into their trade.

Where can a skilled trades career go after apprenticeship?

In most cases, further than people expect. Andy has watched Lee apprentices take a wide range of paths:

• Journeyworker, then foreman, then superintendent
• Estimating or project management
• Safety
• Teaching their craft, often a few years after finishing their own program
• Switching to a different craft after seeing it in action on the job
• Office roles such as purchasing or human resources

Training continues the whole way. Safety training refreshers happen regularly. Depending on the role, employees also train for OSHA 10 and 30, First Aid/CPR, mobile and overhead crane operation, rigging and signaling, and MEWP and PIT qualifications. Training is tied to the work and the role, so it isn’t one checklist for everyone.

As people move into leadership, Lee develops them through NCCER’s Foreman and Superintendent Certification programs, which cover leadership, communication, productivity, quality and safety. Lee also runs its own programs built for emerging leaders.

What do people get wrong about careers in the trades?

Andy has heard the assumptions firsthand. “Coming up through the trades, I often saw people assume I’d somehow failed at a traditional path, or that craft workers weren’t as smart,” he says. “I chose craft work, HVAC in my case, because it offered better benefits, pay and quality of life than many college degrees. Some of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met have calluses on their hands. If craft workers weren’t smart, the things we build and repair would fall apart.”

The part of the job he enjoys most comes later. “The biggest win for me is watching apprentices finish their programs and get promoted,” Andy says. “What really makes me smile is watching them hit life milestones: starting families, buying homes and boats, and getting to the place where they’re ready to teach the next generation themselves.”

Why build a trades career at Lee?

Lee self-performs 13 trades across industrial and civil work, which gives apprentices a close look at how different systems and crews fit together on the same job. Classroom instructors are working journey workers and field leaders. And Lee is a recipient of Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund, which supports employee education and job-specific training.

Every apprentice joins as part of a 100% employee-owned company. The people training you have a stake in your success, and over time, you build a stake of your own. You can see more of what that looks like on Life at Lee.

Lee’s apprenticeship program has grown a lot since we last wrote about building a future-proof workforce through skilled trades apprenticeships, and it’s still growing.

Andy’s advice for anyone on the fence: “Be willing to start, and take control of your future. Don’t be afraid because you think it’ll be too hard. Every self-made person had to start somewhere. If you’re willing to start, it’s just the beginning of a valuable and rewarding career.”

Practical takeaways

• A construction apprenticeship is a paid job. You earn while you learn a trade on real work.
• Most of Lee’s established programs run four years: 8,000 on-the-job hours and at least 576 classroom hours.
• Classroom time is typically 4 to 8 hours a week, mostly evenings after work.
• Lee’s registered programs cover Electrical, HVAC, Pipefitting and Sheet Metal, with newer Plumbing and Sprinkler Fitting programs underway.
• Most graduates earn a DOL Certificate of Apprenticeship Completion and NCCER certifications.
• You don’t need construction experience. Reliability, communication and a willingness to learn matter most.
• Apprenticeship is a starting point. Paths lead to foreman, superintendent, estimating, project management, safety and teaching.

Frequently asked questions

Do construction apprentices get paid?

Yes. A construction apprenticeship is a paid job. At Lee, apprentices are paid while they learn on real projects under experienced tradespeople.

How many hours a week is apprenticeship class?

At Lee, classroom instruction typically runs 4 to 8 hours a week, mostly in the evening after the workday. Over a four-year program, that adds up to at least 576 classroom hours.

What is a pre-apprenticeship program?

A pre-apprenticeship program is short-term training, often offered by community colleges or adult education centers, that introduces basic construction skills before you apply. It’s a good option if you want to build confidence and strengthen your application.

What is NCCER certification?

NCCER (the National Center for Construction Education and Research) sets standardized craft training curriculum and credentials used across the U.S. construction industry. Most Lee apprentices earn NCCER certifications along with their DOL completion certificate.

Can you switch trades after starting an apprenticeship?

It happens. Working alongside multiple trades on the same job gives apprentices a close look at other crafts, and some switch after seeing another occupation in action. Any change depends on department needs and open positions.

Ready to start?

Lee posts open positions for its Pontiac, Grand Blanc, Grand Rapids, Holland and Midland locations. Browse open positions on our careers page and apply for the role that fits. Don’t see the right one yet? Send us your resume through the careers page and tell us which trade you want to learn.