International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Want to join an elite membership of skilled craftsmen and women who are trained to be the best? Looking for a defined benefit pension? Excellent healthcare for you and your family? A generous annuity plan? If you answered “Yes”, then the IUPAT’s Finishing Trades apprenticeship is right for you.

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More Than Excellent Wages

Our Apprentices Have An Opportunity To Build A Career In The Construction Trades

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Learn With The Best

Apprenticeship programs are designed to give you the advanced practical skills and knowledge you need to achieve success. During your apprenticeship, you’ll learn through an approach that combines classroom instruction and on-the-job learning. Your curriculum will include an introduction to our union and the finishing trades; health and safety; and leadership and professional development.

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Earn While You Learn

Certified WV Commercial Painters and Finishers are in high demand across the United States. As an apprentice with the IUPAT you will develop industry skills while you earn top wages and enjoy excellent benefits, including: Competitive Wages, Defined Benefit Pension Plans, Health Insurance, plus HAZMAT, CPR/First Aid, and 10-hour OSHA Construction Safety certifications. Training is provided at no cost to apprentices.

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Unlock Your Future

You’ll complete a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction as well as the required minimum on-the-job hours per year of apprenticeship as mandated by the U.S. Department of Labor. You’ll also have instant access to all training materials through the Finishing Trades Institute’s Learning Management System (LMS). This is a secure, web-based learning portal.

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Join A Brotherhood Of Skilled Craftsmen & Women

The IUPAT represents a growing force of men and women in the United States and Canada who work in the Finishing Trades – industrial and commercial painting, drywall finishing, glazing and glass work, sign and display, floor covering installation, and many more trades in the construction industry and public sector.

We have opportunities for residents of West Virginia that help support our work, the values we stand for, and the betterment of our industry and communities.

Become An Apprentice

Our History

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades proudly represents 140,000 workers in various trades within the finishing trades across the United States and Canada. Since our founding in 1887, we’ve provided security for millions of working families, and we organize every day to ensure the opportunities of our skilled trades benefit as many people as possible.

IUPAT WV Painters Union Apprentice painting large pipe with paint sprayer

What We Do

A union painter is responsible for preparing surfaces for paint finishes to be applied, using sanding and chemicals in some instances, sandblasters and blowtorches to remove old paint. Surfaces must be primed and prepared properly so that the paint work is of exceptional quality. A skilled painter may use a spray gun, a roller and a brush and will be skilled at all techniques. Industrial painting work requires removal of previous coatings and preparing surfaces for application of coatings and applying them where necessary on industrial structures. Projects can include buildings (interior and exterior), bridges, water tanks, structural steel and many other types. A union glazier (or glassworker) is responsible for selecting, cutting, installing and replacing all types of glass used in construction.

WV Operating Engineers Union Jurisdiction Map

Work Anywhere In West Virginia

The Painter District Council #53 covers all 55 counties throughout the state of West Virginia. PC 53 has five locals under its jurisdiction in West Virginia, and the training center is in Weston.

Become An Apprentice