Sheet Metal Workers - Career Overview
 Career Information:
Today’s Sheet Metal Workers:
- build interior and exterior
architectural work
- build food service kitchen systems
- build material handling systems
- build air handling systems for heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning
- install and service mechanical equipment
- take the raw product, interprets the
design drawing, makes the shop drawing,
develops the pattern, fabricates the item,
installs them, and then maintains the
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
systems
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Characteristics Needed:
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| Good people skills |
Like to work with your hands
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| Keen sense of safety |
Good math skills |
| Good communication skills |
Good welding skills |
| Ability to work well with others
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Must have good manual dexterity |
What Do Sheet Metal Workers Do?
Sheet Metal Workers fabricate and install
ducts used in heating, ventilating, and air
conditioning (HVAC) systems. In addition, they
fabricate and install other products such as
metal roof decks, architectural sheet metal
products, paint ovens, spray booths, dust
collecting systems, and food service equipment.
The work is laid out on metal sheets from
blueprints, formed, fabricated and installed on
the job site.
Working Conditions
Sheet Metal Workers can work on construction
sites, but also spend a considerable amount of
time in the shop fabricating materials. They
create components from drawings and patterns,
then deliver them to the job site for
installation.
Interest and Temperament
Sheet Metal workers must be able to read and
follow patterns and instructions. They also need
to work well with their hands, often without
constant supervision. Sheet Metal workers often
have a good sense of spatial relations, and
excellent hand-eye coordination.
General Qualifications
- Minimum age is 18
- Physical abilities to perform the work
of the trade
- Successfully complete written
examination and personal interview
Educational Background Recommended
- Reading, math, algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, mechanical drawing,
general metal fabrication, welding
Admission Requirements of the
Joint Apprentice Committee
- High school diploma or G.E.D.
(provision of high school transcript
or G.E.D. certificate/score sheet)
- Tests
- Interview
- Indentured to the Joint
Apprenticeship and Training
Committee and assigned to a sheet
metal contractor
Terms of Apprenticeship
Training
- Apprenticeship shall be five
(5) years
- Minimum of 8000 hours of
on-the-job training
- Minimum of 200 hours of
related classroom instruction
per year
- Probationary period is 1
year
Related Job Opportunities
Supervisor, specialized
welding, contractor/business
owner |
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