ABC - IL Registered Apprenticeship Program FAQs

What is Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)?

Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association representing more than 23,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 67 Chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors.

ABC's activities include government representation, legal advocacy, education, workforce development, communications, technology, recognition through national and chapter awards programs, employee benefits, information on best practices, and business development through an online contractor search directory.

ABC was founded in 1950 when seven contractors gathered in Baltimore, Md., to create an association based on the shared belief that construction projects should be awarded on merit to the most qualified and responsible low bidders. The courage and dedication of those seven contractors helped to quickly spread the merit shop. Today, ABC is recognized as one of the leading organizations representing America's business community and the merit shop construction industry.

What is Construction Craft Labor and what does it cover?

Construction Craft Laborers work as physical laborers at buildings, highways, and construction projects. They perform a wide variety of duties and operate all kinds of hand and power tools.

Core Curriculum
Core curriculum is designed as a rigorous, competency-based program for career and technical education. Core is a prerequisite to all other Level 1 craft curriculum. Completing this curriculum gives the trainee the basic skills needed to continue education in any craft area he or she chooses.
Find out more here: learnyourtrade.com/core-curriculum

Level One
Key content includes: Handling and placing concrete, rigging equipment, rigging practices, communications, heavy equipment, crane, and rigging safety, rigging, work zone safety, personal protection equipment, trenching and excavating, grades part one and two, civil blueprint reading, fire protection and prevention, site preparation, demolition, horizontal directional drilling hazards, and confined spaces.

Level Two
Key content includes: Hand and power tool safety, mobile and support equipment, advanced operational techniques, underground pipe installation, structural iron working one, ladders and scaffolds, intro to hand tools, pipefitting power tools, intro to power tools, plant operation, personal lifts, fall protection, structures, forklifts, paving, and soils.
Find out more here: learnyourtrade.com/construction-craft-laborer

Find or email Erika Dodge (edodge@premiseco.com) for more details.

What is the Construction Craft Labor Registered Electrician Apprenticeship Program?

Premise is partnering with ABC - IL to provide a Registered Apprenticeship Program to our civil and craft labor apprentices.
ABC - IL has a set of standards that have been approved by the Illinois Department of Labor that all companies accepted into the program must follow.
ALL of Premise’s Civil Techs, Rack & Panel Techs and other entry-level labor positions are enrolled in the CCL Registered Apprenticeship Program.

Required Related Technical Instruction (classwork outside the workplace) for years 1-2 of apprenticeship run approximately 8-months per year, with live online classes from developed industry experts, held 1 night per week. Additionally, Registered Apprentices are required to do monthly online reporting of their work hours.

The 2024-2025 CORE session runs September-December 2024. Level 1 courses begin in January 2025, running for all of 2025.
Specific dates, times and locations are TBD.

Is it required to be in the Registered Electrician Apprenticeship Program?
Can I just attend the classes?

Currently, it is a requirement for all Civil Techs, Rack & Panel Techs and other entry-level labor positions to be part of the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
We also provide an opportunity for our other employees to join the RAP to start OJT learning and take coursework to add to their skillset.

What can the career pathway look like for an Construction Craft Laborer?

Construction laborers may have opportunities to advance their careers in a number of ways, including:

Supervision: Gaining experience may lead to opportunities to supervise staff
Jobsite management: Laborers may be able to oversee jobsites
Business ownership: Laborers may eventually start their own business
Transition to other trades: Helpers may move into other construction trades after gaining experience and completing any required training or credentials

Once I’m in the program, how and when am I evaluated?

All coursework and evaluations are done weekly by the ABC - IL instructors and Premise Performance Evaluators. Premise will have access to your attendance and grades to make sure you’re keeping up – but we are not involved in direct evaluation or grades.

Your apprenticeship will also be managed by your mentor/Supervisor on the job site. Evaluations of your work, progress and development will be submitted to the Director of Training and the DOJ/ABC - IL.

Will Premise help pay for my classes (tuition) and books?

Yes. As long as you are a current Premise employee in good standing, we will pay your tuition and book fees for each given year of your Apprenticeship.

If you choose to not attend or fully participate, Premise reserves the right to discontinue payment, or not cover any additional sessions regarding tuition or books.

Once you have filled out your registration form for a given Apprenticeship year, it should be turned into Erika Dodge, and Premise will submit them along with payments for that session’s tuition and books.