Climate Works
Looking to build a future in construction, the building trades, or clean energy? The Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program is your gateway to exciting opportunities. This statewide initiative is designed to help students gain the skills and training needed to succeed in U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship programs.
0
or low out of pocket cost
Qualified applicants may have tuition and fees paid for while earning a credential. At the end of the program, participants will have received the education, experience, and connections with local employers to dive into a new career.
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We’ll guide you every step of the way—from recruitment and pre-screening to hands-on skills training—so you can confidently transition into high-demand careers.
Who is eligible to apply?
The program is focused on increasing opportunities for equity investment-eligible persons. Eligible applicants include those who are:
- 17.5 years of age or older
- Willing and able to pursue a career in construction and the building trades
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or are currently enrolled in a program preparing for a high school diploma or equivalent
- An Illinois resident
- Eligible to work in the U.S.
- Equity Eligible Persons (EEP), including:
- Graduates of, or currently enrolled in, the foster care system
- Formerly incarcerated
- Having a primary residence in an equity investment-eligible community, view the CEJA Illinois Map.
Why clean energy?
- The construction sector is projected to grow 12% in the next ten years
- Clean energy jobs in construction and building trades sectors are expected to grow even faster
- On average, jobs in this sector pay $18 per hour to apprentices and $32 per hour to those who successfully graduate and achieve journey worker status
What participants will learn?
- Introduction to Construction and the Trades
- Construction Basics, including Tools and Materials, Heritage of the American Worker, Diversity in the Construction Industry, and Blueprint Reading
- Essential Employability Skills
- OSHA 10
- First Aid and CPR
- Clean Energy Basics and Green Construction
- Basic Math for Construction
- Financial Literacy
How to apply
Start the application process by submitting your pre-screen to our partner, Hire 360. Hire 360 will notify us when your information has been submitted, and we’ll contact you with the next steps.
Start Your Pre-screen