PIPEFITTER CAREERS
Become a Union Pipefitter
Union pipefitters are needed in many industries throughout the southwest
Pipefitters fabricate, install, repair and maintain piping systems found in a variety of settings including:
- Commercial businesses
- Residential buildings
- Industrial facilities
- Pipelines throughout the southwest
Pipefitters are highly-trained and versatile tradesmen and tradeswomen, who can work in nearly any industry and on any type of project, including:
- Gas
- Air and water piping
- Ammonia piping
- Commercial instrumentation
- High purity piping
- Hydronic heating
- Medical gas systems
- Pipe fabrication
- Pipelines
- Power piping
- Process piping
- Energy efficiency projects
- Steam piping
- Vacuum piping
- Other projects
A pipefitter’s skillset and the various types of work they can do make them valuable assets on any project, which is why they earn a quality wage and receive a great benefits package.
United Association Pipefitter Training
Aspiring pipefitters, who desire to become journeymen SWPTA pipefitters, are required to go through the five-year United Association (UA) registered apprenticeship program, where they receive industry-leading training. If an individual comes in and already has experience, they may be able to complete their apprenticeship in less than five years, depending on their skillset and level of industry education and experience.
As apprentices, new pipefitters have the opportunity to earn while they learn. This means that they earn a livable wage and receive great benefits all while they obtain their education both on-the-job and in the classroom.
The majority of an apprentice’s training occurs on-the-job, where they learn the day-to-day realities of the job from highly skilled and experienced journeymen pipefitters. They then take this work experience and combine it with the classroom instruction they receive at their UA training center to become well-rounded pipefitters. It is important to note that all UA training center classes are taught by accredited instructors, ensuring that every apprentice eventually becomes a highly skilled, trained and certified journeyman pipefitter.
After completing their apprenticeship program and becoming journeymen, pipefitters are strongly encouraged to further their education by regularly taking upgrade classes to maintain or expand their certifications and ensure they are up-to-date with the industry’s latest technological advancements.
