Training
No other organization serves the
training needs of the piping industry
like the United Association. For
over a century, the UA has been training
the most highly-qualified workers in the
United States and Canada.
Over the past several decades, the
United Association's training programs
have produced a stable, skilled
workforce responsible for building and
maintaining piping systems in the
various industrial and residential
facilities that make up the North
American landscape.
No one can match the commitment or
investment. The UA spends over $100
million annually on training programs
efforts involving approximately 100,000
journeymen and apprentices in over 400
local training facilities at any given
time.
Plumbers Local 5 began apprentice training in 1940. The
original location was operated out of Abbott Vocational
School on 7th St. N.W., Washington D.C. By 1944 the training
program was registered by the National Apprenticeship
Program. Like most local training programs of the time, the
school shared facilities in a vocational school. In the
1950’s, when it became apparent that such facilities were
inadequate to meet training requirements, the apprenticeship
fund trustees of Local #5 and # 602 joined together to buy
and operate a school building, our first school was located
at 14th and R St. N.W. Washington D.C.
Once again facing growing pains, a new site in Landover Md. was located and purchased in the early 1970’s for 1.7
million. The building which was dedicated in 1975 has 34,000
square feet of space and occupies 2.5 acres. Once again
feeling the need for expansion, an additional 6 acres of
land was purchased along with a two story building covering
18,000 square feet of floor space.
The original building houses 13 classrooms and 3 shops where the latest techniques in plumbing, refrigeration and welding
are taught. The second building also houses state of the art
shop classes including a backflow lab, service shop, and gas
lab. The addition of a residential piping trainer in 2005
and a commercial piping trainer in 2006 has helped to
further hone the apprentice’s hands on skills.
Plumbers Local 5 Apprenticeship program is given direction
from a Joint Apprentice Committee, chaired by Local 5
Business Manager John E. McKee Jr. with Gary L. Printz Jr.
as Training Director and long time office manager Jackie
Reantoquio. The Plumber’s have a training staff of 25 highly
skilled Instructors with 43 teachers over the years having
earned the title of Certified U.A. Instructor.
The U.A. Mechanical Trade School is in operation Monday thru
Saturday with the two Locals splitting the nights. The
plumbers have 235 apprentices, 60 helpers and 30 D.C. Pre
apprentices participating in classes along with extensive
Journeyman training classes offered.
Our apprentices and journeymen receive a variety of training
that covers all aspects of the plumbing and gas fitting
industry, including welder certification, backflow, medical
gas, service and repair, c.a.d. training, code preparation
along with all of the prescribed theory, math and science
courses. The extensive academic courses are coupled with
hands on shop classes through out each of their 5 years of
apprenticeship with emphasis on quality.
Local 5 has utilized a rigorous practical module exam in the
4th year of apprenticeship since 1985. The module requires
each apprentice to design per code, construct a set of 5
shop drawings and take off a 3 fixture wet vented bathroom.
After the apprentice has meet all of the preparation
requirements they must construct the project in our mock
building from rough in to setting fixtures with a maximum
time limit of 12 hours. Every 4th year apprentice must
successfully complete this project and meet the strict
grading criteria before they can advance to the 5th year of
training.
All Local 5 Apprentices must obtain a jurisdictional
Journeyman’s Plumber and Gasfitter licenses before they can
graduate along with the other various U.A. certifications.
Plumbers Local 5 has an active Student Council that
participates in many charitable endeavors throughout the
school year, including a blood drive at the school, a
Christmas Toys for Tots, Heat's on Waters Off, The Walk to
Cure Diabetes and they have on several occasions come to the
need of a fellow student who may be having financial
difficulties.
Plumbers Local 5 has been serving the Nations Capitol and
the metropolitan area for over 116 years working on a
majority of the area’s most famous landmarks.
Local 5 stresses a high degree of dedication from its
apprentices and journeymen and mixes traditional union
values and workmanship along with cutting edge training.
Trade School Address & Phone Number
UA Mechanical Trades School
8509 Ardwick-Ardmore Road
Landover, Maryland 20785
Phone: (301) 322-8810
Fax: (301) 322-5363
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