What the Operating Engineer Does

The men and women of the Operating Engineers operate and maintain various types of power-driven construction machines, such as bulldozers, cranes, pile drivers, power shovels, derricks, earth graders, loaders, and tractors which dig, scrape and move great amounts of earth or hoist large quantities of building supplies.  Some machines require the operators to turn valves, adjust hand wheels and press pedals to drive the machines and control the attachments.  Other machines, such as cranes, require the constant use of both hands and both feet.  Operating Engineers may also be required to service their machines and move the machine from one construction site to another.

General Qualifications:

• Age:  must be a least 18 years of age
• Education:  High School graduate or GED
• Must be physically capable of performing the work of the trade
• Must pass a test given by the WV Employment Security Office
• Must be a resident of the state of West Virginia for at least one year prior to making application for apprenticeship
• Must have a valid WV Drivers' License
• Must pass a drug test

Admission Requirements of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee

Transcripts of school records and a copy of High School Diploma or GED.  Each applicant is required to provide the Joint Apprenticeship Committee with a copy of their birth certificate and valid West Virginia Drivers License.

Terms of Apprenticeship Training

The length of Apprenticeship is three (3) years.  Five weeks of training are required each year at the Training Site located near Ravenswood, West Virginia.   1,000 OJT hours are required each year to be advanced to the next year.

Apprentices must be able to travel and be available to work throughout the state of West Virginia.

Apprentices are not paid during training weeks or when they are on job layoff.  They are paid only when working on the job.