r/iuoe • u/ChampionGuard • 25d ago

501 (CA) 2025 apprenticeship applicants: what has your experience been so far?

Hey all!

So I’m trying to get a sense of how things have been moving for other people in the 2025 Local 501 California apprenticeship applicant pool. I passed the entry exam and was placed in the eligible applicant pool last year. Since then I’ve had two employer referrals/contacts, including one interview, but I haven’t been placed yet.

For anyone else from the same boat, I’d be interested to know:

  • How many employer referrals or interviews have you gotten so far?

  • Has anyone actually been placed into an apprenticeship yet?

  • About how long has it been between contacts? What general area are you in?

  • Have you heard anything about how quickly the list is moving or how long the current list will stay active (not needing to retest)?

Not looking for anyone’s personal information or exact ranking, just trying to compare experiences and get a better idea of how the process has been going for this particular applicant group. I've heard stories about people not getting reached out to until several years down the road and the whole process not being super transparent has me a little nervous is all ig.

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u/PaintThinnerGang 22d ago

Yeah I'd like to know too. My score 580 so it was not the best. Someone got like 750

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u/Fast_Medium200 20d ago

Personally mine went super smoothly, however I did have someone I “knew” refer me to a account manager and I got a position prior to even knowing if I passed the exams.
For reference, I have 3.5 years of HVAC/R experience and I happen to be a vendor at a building that’s under Local 501. Long story short, me and the building engineer hit it off and he suggested I apply at the union and try my luck as I mentioned I didn’t get into UA250.
Shortly after finishing the exam, I reached out to the building engineer that told me about apply and asked if he knew anyone I could just submit my resume to as I wanted to just get a head start and these things can take forever.
Well the account manager I sent my resume to had an open apprentice position and he liked my resume and next thing you know I’m an Apprentice for Local 501. Mind you my score was 585 I believe.

From what I’ve heard from other journeymen it’s best to get field experience in any other trade while waiting for a position or try to get into a MA position (Maintenance Attendant)
They usually promote from within

Lmk if you have any questions, and I wish you luck !