The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA), affiliated with the national building trades, represents approximately 378,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, service technicians, and welders across North America. The UA has been training qualified pipe tradesmen and women longer than anyone else in the industry. We provide the premier training programs available in the industry today, including five-year apprenticeship programs at no cost to the apprentice, extensive journeyman training, a comprehensive, five-year instructor training program, and numerous certification programs. We help our signatory contractors grow their market share by identifying new opportunities, providing support, and connecting them to the safest, skilled, and most highly trained workforce in the industry.
The mission of the UA Education and Training Department is to equip United Association local unions with educational resources for developing the skills of their apprentices and journeypersons. We currently have more than 55,000 apprentices in the United States and Canada. We spend over $300 million annually on our apprenticeship and member training. By facilitating the training needs of the membership, we maximize their employability and prepare them for changes in the industry. We are committed to making training opportunities available across North America and have 300 training centers to make this happen. Our members acquire new skills and remain competitive in the industry, regardless of their geography. In this way, we are determined to meet the needs of the piping industry and enhance employment opportunities for our members, while remaining fiscally responsible to the beneficiaries of the International Training Fund, which is jointly administered by the UA and our contractor partners.