Utah Pipe Trades Education Program
Sponsored by United Association Local #140
And The Utah Mechanical Contractors
Director of Education: Dan B. Smith                 Assistant Director: Ed Gongaware

We are dedicated to the training of apprentices learning the trade by working with and assisting a qualified journeyman in all phases of the piping industry.

Our 5-year program provides employment and classroom training. The program is registered with the United States Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship and accredited through Salt Lake Community College. Upon successful completion, you will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree and journeyman status. Our training is geared to commercial plumbers and pipe fitters or heating & cooling service technicians. Training consists of a minimum 8000 on-the-job training hours and 1260 hours of classroom training. Classroom training consists of 9 class hours per week, either 3 weeknights or all day on Saturday, for 30 weeks per year.

Beginning wage is $14.71 per hour. Health insurance for you and your legal dependants is an employer fringe and, therefore, no cost to you. It becomes effective the 1st day of the month following your first 300 hours of employment. After six months of employment your employer will begin contributions totaling $4.10 on your behalf to the National and State Pension Plans. In total, you have an additional $9.51 in employment fringes.

You will stay at the beginning wage for a probationary period of one year and then your wage will be increased 5% every 6 months provided you are abiding by the Standards of Apprenticeship. These fringes are Union earned and Union fought for the insure that working families have the necessities of life and a little something for the extras. And members know that they will be able to enjoy their leisure time in their retirement years receiving a monthly income from two pension plans.

Tuition each semester is payable to SLCC and can be paid at our location at the beginning of each semester. Your trade related books for the courses you are taking each semester must also be purchased and can be referred to throughout your career. Because you are working before we enroll you in school you are expected to have all the fees due at the beginning of each semester.

If you want a career and not “just a job”, come in and pick up your application today to start on the road to challenging work, in-depth training, and Union benefits and brotherhood.


We also offer continuing education for journeymen in the piping industry. Call today to sign up for one of our classes in Medial Gas Certification, Orbital Welding, OSHA Construction Safety, Pipe & Tube Bending, and PVDF & Poly-Pro Fusion. Available also are UA Welder Certifications and Medical Gas re-certifications, continuities and updates.