How to Get an Apprenticeship in Washington (and Why Most Programs Look Closed)

An apprenticeship is one of the best deals in the trades. You get paid to learn, you train under people who already do the work, and you finish with a journey-level credential that’s recognized nationwide. But a lot of people start looking, call a few programs, and hear the same thing: “We’re not taking applications right now.”

That doesn’t mean you missed your chance. It’s how most apprenticeships work. Here’s what’s actually going on, and how to get yourself in line for the next opening in Washington.

Figures come from Washington L&I’s apprenticeship records as used in our Washington Apprenticeship Finder (October 2026). Pay is what programs filed with the state, so check current rates with each program.

Open right now: see which Washington apprenticeships are taking applications this week →

What a registered apprenticeship is

A registered apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training under a journey-level worker with classroom instruction, usually a few hours a week or a few weeks a year. In Washington, programs are registered with the state through the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Your pay goes up in steps as you log hours and pass classes, and when you finish you’re a journey-level worker.

Across Washington’s registered programs, the typical apprenticeship runs about 6,000 hours of on-the-job training, or roughly three years, though they range from 2,000 hours to 10,000. In the state’s records, the typical program starts apprentices at about $28.80 an hour, against a journey-level rate of about $50.80.

Why so many programs aren’t taking applications

An apprenticeship isn’t a school. Every apprentice has to be working for an employer under a journey-level worker, so a program can only take as many people as its employers have jobs for. Programs open the door when they expect work and close it when they’re full. That shows up in a few different ways:

• Application windows. Many programs, especially union programs, accept applications only during set periods, sometimes once or twice a year and sometimes less often. Elevator constructor programs, for example, typically recruit about every two years.
• Ranked lists. Many programs test and interview applicants, score them, and place them on a ranked list. They call people from the top of the list as employers need apprentices.
• Open enrollment. Some programs take applications year-round. The Northwest Carpenters Institute, for example, uses open enrollment and then ranks applicants.
• Employer first. In many non-union programs, you get hired by a participating employer, and that employer signs you up as an apprentice.

So when a program tells you it’s closed, the useful question is: “When does your next application window open, and what will I need to have ready?”

Union or non-union?

Washington has both, and both are registered with the state and lead to a journey-level credential. L&I is clear that union affiliation is your choice. In the state’s records, about 348 apprenticeship listings are union programs and about 120 are non-union. Union programs more often use application windows and ranked lists; non-union programs more often start with getting hired by a participating employer. Many people apply to both. Our guide to Washington construction unions covers the major locals.

How to get in line: 5 steps

Pre-apprenticeship: the best use of your waiting time

Washington recognizes apprenticeship preparation programs that teach basic skills, safety and what the work is really like before you apply. Our finder lists 56 of them. Some have working relationships with specific apprenticeship programs, so ask each one where its graduates end up. ANEW, for example, focuses on training and employment navigation into the trades, and L&I lists programs for women, young people, veterans and tribal members.

Veterans and other direct-entry paths

Some apprenticeship programs offer direct entry for veterans, so check each program’s standards. Helmets to Hardhats helps veterans move into building and construction work. According to L&I, you can also use your veteran’s education benefits during an apprenticeship to pay for books, supplies and housing under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. See our guide to using the GI Bill for trade training.

Tribal members who meet the requirements may also receive direct entry into select programs under Tribal Employment Rights Ordinances (TERO).

Why apprentices are in demand on public projects

Washington law requires that apprentices perform at least 15% of the labor hours on many public construction projects: state projects of $1 million or more, school district and four-year university projects of $1 million or more, WSDOT projects of $2 million or more, and city and county contracts of $1.5 million or more advertised from July 1, 2026 (dropping to $1 million in 2028). That steady demand is one reason construction programs keep recruiting year after year.

FAQ

Why does it say the program isn’t taking applications?

Most programs only take as many apprentices as their employers can hire, so they open applications at certain times or keep a ranked list. Ask when the next window opens and what you need to have ready.

Do I have to join a union to be an apprentice?

No. Washington has both union and non-union registered apprenticeship programs, and the choice is yours.

How much does an apprenticeship cost?

It depends on the program. You are paid for your on-the-job hours, and classroom costs vary from program to program, so ask about tuition, books and tools before you apply.

How old do I have to be?

Most construction programs require you to be at least 18. Some programs, such as AJAC youth apprenticeships in manufacturing, start in high school. Each program’s standards list its minimum age.

Can I get credit for experience or military service?

You can ask for it when you apply. The program evaluates your experience and its apprenticeship committee decides how many hours to award.

How long will I wait to get called?

It depends on how much work the program’s employers have. Ask where you rank and roughly how many apprentices the program brought on last year.

Is the address in the finder where I’d work?

Usually not. The address the state lists is the program’s mailing address. Work happens at employers’ job sites, often across a wide area.

Sources

• Washington L&I: Become an Apprentice
• RCW 39.04.320: Apprenticeship utilization on public works
• data.wa.gov: Washington registered apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship occupations
• LearnSkilledTrades.com Washington Apprenticeship Finder

Related guides

• Washington Apprenticeship Finder
• How to become an electrician in Washington
• How to become a plumber in Washington
• How to become a carpenter in Washington
• Tech schools in Washington