Arizona Pre-Apprenticeships

What is a pre-apprenticship?

Pre-apprenticeships are your on-ramp to the trades. They’re short programs that give you hands-on skills, industry certifications, and a taste of real job sites before committing to a full apprenticeship.

They’re built for high school students, recent grads, and career-changers who want to explore construction and related fields without the guesswork. If you’re curious, motivated, and ready to learn by doing, a pre-apprenticeship is a smart way to test the waters and set yourself up for bigger opportunities.

How to Join

1. Find the program that excites you — most are free and come with perks like stipends and certifications.

2. Reach out online, through your counselor, or at the training center to check eligibility and start dates.

3. Apply and get building — programs run part-time, offer rolling starts, and fast-track you into trade careers.

Arizona Pre-Apprenticeship Programs 

• ADOT Construction Academies
  • Free, hands-on pre-apprenticeship for women, veterans, and underrepresented learners
  • Prepares students for full trade apprenticeships with real-world training

• APS Utility Program
  • Paid utility pre-apprenticeship preparing you for journeyman roles
  • Combines classroom learning with on-the-job training in linework and substation work

• Arizona Building Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Program
  • Introductory training bridging students into building and construction trades
  • Designed to clear the path toward registered apprenticeship entry

• BuildItAZ Initiative
  • Statewide funding and support network expanding access to pre-apprenticeships
  • Great for exploring beginner-level construction training options

• Canyon State Electric Pre-Apprenticeship
  • Hands-on exposure to electrical trade foundations (specific details pending)
  • Ideal for those curious about wiring, circuits, or trade tools

• Central Arizona College (Industrial & Trades Pathways)
  • Offers pre-apprenticeship training across trades like welding, HVAC, and construction
  • A great bridge for entering careers right after high school or community college

• Habitat for Humanity Construction Training Program (CTP)
  • 9–12 weeks of stipend-supported residential construction training with certifications
  • Rolling entry every 4 weeks — zero cost and full of hands-on learning

• Maricopa Community Colleges Pre-Apprenticeships
  • Multi-campus training pipelines into local apprenticeship programs
  • Great for building local trade networks and college-to-career paths

• SMCC Pre-Apprenticeship (South Mountain Community College)
  • 5-week program offering OSHA-30, college credit, job placement, and trade foundations
  • A fast track into apprenticeship prep with direct local hiring potential

• TSMC Technician Prep
  • Semiconductor technician pre-apprenticeship with cutting-edge tech focus
  • Great for students interested in manufacturing and high-tech production paths

• ADOT Highway Certification
  • Short-term safety, equipment & roadway certification prepping for highway trades
  • A streamlined entry into ADOT construction and infrastructure prep programs

• ABA Trust Fund Construction Path
  • Offers trade tool funding and prep in carpentry, plumbing, welding, masonry
  • Often embedded in union or construction trust paths for pre-apprentice support

• IBEW & SW Line Constructors Pre-Apprenticeship
  • Early training for electrical linemen in utility construction trades
  • Sets up your path toward full IBEW trades and union apprenticeships

• Phoenix Job Corps Carpentry & Masonry Pre‑Apprentice
  • Hands-on carpentry (and masonry) training based on industry standards, topped with OSHA and scaffold safety credentials

Know a program we should add? Send it our way so we can share it with more students. Use the contact us form or send an email to hello@moveoverbob.com