International Apprentice Contest

International Contest

for Plumbing, Pipefitting, Sprinkler Fitting, Welding, and HVACR

Contest Committees

The UA Education and Training Department will conduct the International Apprentice Contest (INAC). INAC committee members are appointed by the UA.

Participants

All participants of the International Apprentice Contest shall be members of a UA local union and a district contest winner. Before a contestant participates in the international contest, their eligibility shall have been verified per the rules governing participation in their local union, state/provincial, and district contests. A contestant must have been employed by a contributing contractor for at least 1,500 hours in the previous 12 months before the district contest, as verified by their local fund office contribution reports. INAC committee members will review requests for potential participants with less than 1,500 hours on a case-by-case basis. Those considerations due to low employment opportunities, military obligations, organized apprentices, etc., will require appropriate documentation that committee members will review.

Individuals may participate in the International Apprentice Contest providing they are a third- to fifth-year registered UA apprentice on the last day of their state/provincial contest. Participants must be in good standing and current on all per capita dues paid to the UA. Only one contestant from each of the five crafts in the six districts may enter the international contest for a total of 30 contestants. Additional eligible contestants who are outside of the UA may be added at the discretion of the UA Education and Training Department. If the winner in a district contest cannot attend, the selection of the alternate will be decided by the next highest score. An apprentice can compete only once during their apprenticeship, regardless of trade jurisdiction (e.g., an apprentice cannot compete as a pipefitter one year and a welder another year).

Time/Place

The International Apprentice Contest will take place on the campus of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, during the week of the Instructor Training Program.

Procedures and Materials

The UA Education and Training Department will furnish the following in cooperation with industry standards.

1. Electronically administered exams
2. Specifications for the performance tests
3. All materials and tools

All contestants will be required to use the materials, tools, and iPads furnished. No other materials, tools, jigs, etc., will be permitted for contest projects.

Applications

The UA has prepared the application for participation in the international contest, and it will be available electronically. The form will be completed in person with the district representative of the INAC committee at the conclusion of the District Contest.

Wages and Expenses

The International Training Fund (ITF) will take care of the expenses of conducting the International Apprentice Contest. Participants will be paid a predetermined hourly wage rate not to exceed 64 hours. The ITF will also pay for lodging, transportation, and meals.

Selection of Winners

The UA Education and Training Department will select persons with industry and contest-subject knowledge, but are not directly connected with the UA, MCAA, UAC/PHCC, MSCA, or NFSA to judge the international contest, with the aid of assistant judges selected by the committee. Identified industry experts may be from ASSE, ASPE, ASHRAE, CDA, CISPI, API, AWS, ASME, or CSA, etc. The UA Education and Training Department has prepared grading guides for the exams and performance tests. The judges will select first-place winners; no rankings shall be done. The judges' decisions are final. The names of the five first-place contestants in the plumbing, pipefitting, sprinkler fitting, welding, and HVACR categories will be announced, and awards will be presented at the UA Instructor Training Program Completion Ceremony in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Awards

First-place finishers and all other winners will each receive appropriate awards.

Prior to the start of the contest, any additional rules and regulations deemed necessary to make the contest successful may be adopted by the UA Education and Training Department.

District Contests

for Plumbing, Pipefitting, Sprinkler Fitting, Welding, and HVACR

Contest Committees

Contests shall be conducted by the district contest committees and shall consist of representatives of the states and provinces in the various UA Vice Presidents' districts. There may be one committee or one committee member for each specific craft. It is preferred that the contest committee be composed of union and contractor representatives. Each contest committee shall select a secretary who will be responsible for checking, verifying, and submitting applications of district winners who will participate in the international contest.

Participants

All participants in a district contest shall be members of UA local unions and be state or provincial contest winners. The second and third-place winners of a state or provincial contest may be the first and second alternates, respectively. They may enter a district contest only if the first-place winner is unable or does not wish to participate. Contest participants may be required to show their dues cards to the contest committee as proof of membership in the UA. Only one contestant from each craft in any state or province may enter the district contest.

Time/Place

District contests shall be completed by June 20^th of the current year so that the international committee will have ample time to prepare for the international contest. Each region's contest committees shall determine the district contest's location. At the conclusion of the district contest, the contest committees will submit the following year's district contest location and date to the INAC Committee Chairman.

Procedures and Materials

The district committee will furnish all contest procedures, materials, and examinations for district contests. There shall be tests for plumbing, pipefitting, sprinkler fitting, welding, and HVACR. Written and performance tests should be based on the work processes and related instructions of the Apprenticeship Standards. This information is available at https://uanet.org under Departments on the Training (ITF) page.

Financing of District Contests

The district contest committee shall determine ways and means of financing their contests. Each district may be eligible for grant monies from the UA and ITF. Request for grant assistance from the UA and ITF must come from the UA District Vice President.

Selection of Winners

District committees shall select persons who have industry and contest-subject knowledge but who are not related to or directly associated with any contestants to judge the contest. The district committee shall determine the number of winners to be selected, i.e., first and second place in each of the five craft contests. The decision of the judges shall be final. Representatives from the INAC committee will be present at each district contest, verify the winner's information, and submit electronically before the contest concludes. District participants will need to have valid identification and their UA dues cards with them. When the electronic application is submitted, a copy of the original indenture document issued by the state/provincial registration agency and a copy of the contribution reports of the 1,500 hours, as verified by the local fund office, must be included.

Awards

The district contest committee will decide whether or not awards and or certificates will be given to winners of district contests.

State/Provincial Contests

for Plumbing, Pipefitting, Sprinkler Fitting, Welding, and HVACR

Contest Committees

Contests shall be conducted by the state/provincial contest committees. It is preferred that the contest committee be composed of union and contractor representatives. Each contest committee shall select a secretary responsible for checking, verifying, and submitting applications of state/provincial winners who will participate in the district contests.

Participants

Participants in a state/provincial contest shall be members of UA local unions and shall be a winner of a local union contest. A contestant must have been employed by a contributing contractor for at least 1,500 hours by the date of the district contest (requirements outlined in above district section). INAC Committee members will review requests for potential participants with less than 1,500 hours on a case-by-case basis. Those considerations due to low employment opportunities, military obligations, organized apprentices, etc., will require appropriate documentation that committee members will review.

Individuals may participate in the Apprentice Contest providing they are a third- to fifth-year registered UA apprentice on the last day of their state/provincial contest. The second and third- place winners of a local contest may be the first and second alternates, respectively. They may enter a state/provincial contest only if the first-place winner is unable or does not wish to participate. Contest participants may be required to show their dues cards to the contest committee as proof of membership in the UA. Only one contestant from each craft in any local union may enter the state or provincial contest.

Time/Place

State or provincial contests shall be completed with ample time to prepare for the district contest. Each state or province's contest committees shall determine the contest's location. Plan accordingly and consult with your district contest committee for the dates and location of your district contest.

Procedures and Materials

The state/provincial committee will furnish all contest procedures, materials, and examinations for state/provincial contests. There shall be tests for plumbing, pipefitting, sprinkle fitting, welding, and HVACR. Written and performance tests should be based on the work processes and related instructions of the Apprenticeship Standards. This information is available at https://uanet.org under Departments on the Training (ITF) page.

Financing of State/Provincial Contests

The state/provincial contest committee shall determine ways and means of financing their contests.

Selection of Winners

The state or provincial committee shall select persons who have industry and contest-subject knowledge, but are not related to or directly associated with any of the contestants, to judge the contests. The state or provincial committee shall determine the number of winners to be selected, i.e., first, second, and third place in each of the five craft contests. The decision of the judges shall be final. The names of the winners shall be sent to the district committee at the close of the contest. State and provincial winners will need to bring valid identification and their UA dues cards to their district contest. They will also need to provide a copy of the original indenture document issued by the state/provincial registration agency and a copy of the contribution reports of the 1,500 hours verified by the local fund office.

Awards

The decision as to whether or not awards and or certificates will be given to winners of state/provincial contests will be determined by the state/provincial contest committee.

Local Contests

for Plumbing, Pipefitting, Sprinkler Fitting, Welding, and HVACR

Contest Committees

Contests shall be conducted by the Local Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC). It is preferred that the contest committee be composed of union and contractor representatives. Each contest committee shall select a secretary responsible for checking, verifying, and submitting applications of local winners who will participate in the state/provincial contests.

Participants

Participants in a local union contest must be apprentice members of UA local unions according to the records on file in the UA General Office. A contestant must have been employed by a contributing contractor for at least 1,500 hours by the date of the district contest (requirements outlined in the above district section). INAC committee members will review requests for potential participants with less than 1,500 hours on a case-by-case basis. Those considerations due to low employment opportunities, military obligations, organized apprentices, etc., will require appropriate documentation that INAC committee members will review.

Individuals may participate in their local contests providing they are a third- to fifth-year registered UA apprentice on the last day of their state/provincial contest.

Time/Place

Local contests shall be conducted before the state/provincial contest so that the state/provincial committee will have ample time to prepare for the contests. Consult your state/provincial contest committee for the state/provincial contest dates and locations.

Procedures and Materials

The local contest committee shall furnish all contest procedures, materials, and examinations for local contests. There shall be tests for plumbing, pipefitting, sprinkler fitting, welding, and HVACR. The written and performance tests should be based on the work processes and related instructions of the Apprenticeship Standards. This information is available at https://uanet.org under Departments on the Training (ITF) page.

Drug Testing

All participants must comply with their local union's drug policy as defined within their collective bargaining agreement at the time of their local apprenticeship contest, if applicable.

Financing of Local Contests

The local contest committee shall determine ways and means of financing their local contests.

Selection of Winners

The local contest committee shall determine the method of selecting winners of a local contest.

Awards

The local contest committee shall decide whether or not awards and or certificates will be given to winners of local contests.