Operating Engineer at Operating Engineers 965 Apprenticeship and Skills Improvement

Operating Engineers 965 Apprenticeship and Skills Improvement sponsors a registered Operating Engineer apprenticeship located in Mechanicsburg, IL. This employer-sponsored program offers a paid, structured training experience for individuals entering the heavy equipment construction industry in central Illinois.

The four-year program requires 6,000 hours of on-the-job training combined with 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices gain practical experience operating heavy construction machinery — including excavators, bulldozers, cranes, and compaction equipment — under the supervision of experienced professionals. Technical coursework addresses equipment operation, machine maintenance, workplace safety regulations, and site management fundamentals.

Graduates of the program earn recognition as skilled Operating Engineers prepared to take on roles across a variety of construction sectors, including highway, utilities, and commercial building. The earn-while-you-learn model allows apprentices to develop a trade skill set and build financial stability at the same time, with no tuition burden for the practical training they receive.