Operating Engineer at Operating Engineers Local No. 917 Apprenticeship & Training Fund

Operating Engineers Local No. 917 Apprenticeship and Training Fund sponsors this apprenticeship for heavy equipment operators in Knoxville, TN. Administered through the local's dedicated training fund, this program prepares apprentices for skilled work in Tennessee's active construction and infrastructure industries. Although not a formal JATC program, Local 917 draws on deep industry ties to connect apprentices with employer partners on real construction projects throughout the region. Apprentices are paid throughout their training.

The program runs four years and is structured around 6,000 hours of on-the-job training paired with 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices gain hands-on experience operating bulldozers, excavators, cranes, motor graders, and other heavy equipment across a variety of construction environments. Classroom instruction covers equipment safety, hydraulic systems, preventive maintenance, rigging principles, and OSHA compliance standards relevant to heavy construction.

Graduates complete the program as skilled heavy equipment operators with the training and experience needed to pursue careers on commercial, highway, and civil infrastructure projects throughout East Tennessee and beyond. This earn-while-you-learn program offers a practical entry point into a well-respected and in-demand skilled trade.