Drywall Installer at Or & Sw-Wa Drywall Finishers JATC
at Or & Sw-Wa Drywall Finishers JATC in Portland, OR
About This Program
The OR & SW-WA Drywall Finishers JATC, based in Portland, OR, administers this union drywall installer apprenticeship covering Oregon and southwestern Washington. As a Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) program, it represents a partnership between employers and the union, offering apprentices strong training standards, structured wage progressions, and access to union benefits. Apprentices are paid from the first day on the job.
This 3-year program includes 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices learn to install and finish drywall systems, frame interior walls with metal studs, hang ceiling grid systems, and work on fire- and sound-rated assemblies. Classroom instruction covers safety regulations, blueprint reading, Oregon and Washington building codes, and professional trade practices.
Graduates complete the program as journey-level drywall installers with the backing of their union. The JATC structure provides pathways to continued career development and access to work across a broad network of union contractors in the Pacific Northwest.
Wage & Training
OJT Hours
6,000
RTI Hours
432
Duration
3 years
What to Expect as a Drywall Installer Apprentice
Duration
3 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom instruction
On-the-Job Training
~40 hours/week of hands-on work under journeyman supervision (6,000 total hours)
Classroom Instruction
432 hours of related technical instruction (~144 hours/year)
Paid Training
You earn a wage from day one, starting at a percentage of the journeyman rate and increasing as you progress
Time-based program: You'll progress through the program based on completing a set number of hours in both on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
This is a union-affiliated program. Union apprenticeships typically offer strong benefits packages, pension contributions, and structured career advancement through the local hall.
Trade School vs. Apprenticeship for Drywall Installer
Apprenticeship
Trade School
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