Millwright courses may also come under the headings of construction millwright
or industrial mechanic. Construction millwrights install the initial equipment
needed in an industrial plant, like car plants and pulp mills. Industrial
mechanics see to the daily maintenance of the equipment after it is installed.
Both jobs require much of the same training.
Millwright programs may differ from state to state, but almost all programs
are four-year apprenticeships that combine work experience and classroom
training.
In some states, the classroom hours are done as night classes while a student
is getting on-the-job training. In other states, classes may be offered during
the day over a period of eight weeks or so.
In order to become a certified millwright, you must undergo an apprenticeship
program recognized by the department of labor or education in your state.
This qualifies you for a journeyman's certificate.
Because different regions have different requirements, it's best to
apprentice in the state where you plan to work. It is very important to
check guidelines with your local apprenticeship organization to ensure your
program meets all requirements for certification.
You'll need a high school diploma. Some regions only require completion
of 10th grade, but finishing high school will certainly help you.
Most states also require you to take an aptitude test that will test
for basic math and English skills as well as mechanical ability.
Most programs require that you are sponsored, by an employer or a local
union, to qualify as an apprentice. The sponsor is responsible for giving
aptitude tests and providing the apprenticeship job training.
In high school, try to get experience in shop, physics, drafting and
blueprint reading.
Bruce Negri, apprenticeship advisor for New Jersey's Middlesex County,
also suggests algebra. "If you don't think you got enough training
in high school, take extra courses like geometry at your local community college."
Most apprenticeship programs in the U.S. are largely subsidized by the
government. In some states, the students don't pay any tuition. They just
pay for books and lab fees plus their cost of living.
As governments reduce their spending, many tuition fees are in the process
of being introduced. But they still will be nowhere near the cost of an average
university education.
Links
Occupational Outlook Handbook
For more information related to this field of study, see: Millwrights
Millwright Employers Association.
Dedicate to supporting workers in the millwright industry
Millwrights and Machinery Erectors Local No. 548
All about the job