Pittsburgh launches first carpentry pre-apprenticeship program for high schoolers

Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, Pittsburgh Public Schools’ Pipeline Into The Trades (P.I.T.T.) Pre-Apprenticeship Program is the first registered carpentry pre-apprenticeship program for high school students in the state. The P.I.T.T. Pre-Apprenticeship Program, sponsored by the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Division of Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) and Keystone Mountain Lakes (KML) Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training Fund, is designed to augment CTE’s three-year Carpentry program of study with components that will help eliminate barriers that have hindered application and acceptance into Carpenters Apprenticeship and Training program.

The pre-apprenticeship program will benefit the carpentry students enrolled at Pittsburgh Carrick and Pittsburgh Westinghouse High Schools. At the end of the three-year program, the pre-apprentices will have received: hands-on skills development including live construction builds; industry-recognized certifications; paid part-time construction work experience in the summer; work-readiness/expectations training workshops conducted by carpentry professionals; CCAC Union Trade Exam Prep Math Course (MAT 75); drug resistance workshops; transportation supports; a summer drivers’ education course; union exam preparation; apprenticeship registration/application supports; apprentice fee support; physical exam fee support; guaranteed apprenticeship interview; and advanced placement points toward acceptance into the KML Carpenters Apprenticeship Program.