Applicants to the program must adhere to the following criteria:

1. You must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
2. All applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States and have a Social Security Card or other proper Immigration and Naturalization Service papers (green card) for working in the United States.
3. You must have a government issued photo ID card. (Some Contractors require a valid drivers licence.)
4. You must be able to pass a Contractor mandated drug screening.
5. Within the guidelines of the American Disabilities Act and other applicable laws, all applicants shall be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the trade with or without a reasonable accommodation, and without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of the individual or others.
6. You will be required to complete at least 4 weeks of related daytime training per year at one of our 3 training centers. You will be assigned to the training center nearest your home.
7. You will be required to purchase tools to do the work.
8. Our Program also requires you to be a member of our Union, The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

The Carpenters Education Program and the Southwest Council realizes that some applicants have previous experience in the carpentry field that should rightfully be counted towards their apprenticeship. To that end we have devised a ranking system to properly place you in the program were your present skills can be enhanced to finish your apprenticeship. Training will only make you a better carpenter, and training is what we are about. Our motto is, "The more training you get, the better off you will be".

All individuals shall have an oral interview with a Business Agent, Organizer, or Educational Program staff member to determine their ranking level. Apprenticeship credit can be based on either work experience or vocational training. (You must bring proof of experience in order for it to be counted.) All experience must be related to the carpentry field you are applying for. Letters of reference on Company letterhead or check stubs are sufficient proof of experience. Experience must be in the Carpentry field.

Previous Experience Ranked Level:

•  None 0
•  1 to  6 months 1st period
•  7 to 12 months 2nd period
• 13 to 18 months 3rd period
• 19 to 24 months 4th period
• 25 to 30 months 5th period

The State requires that an apprentice stay in the program a minimum of 2 years so apprentices can not be brought in higher than a 5th period.

Our Program and Union takes great pride in the diversity of people and cultures that make up the great State of New Mexico. To that end we make the following pledge:

Equal Employment Opportunity Pledge

1. The recruitment, selection and referral of apprentices by the affiliate local of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters in New Mexico/West Texas shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or sex. The Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters and the affiliated locals will provide Equal Opportunity in Apprenticeship and will conduct the selection of individuals for apprenticeship in the New Mexico/West Texas Carpenters and Interior Systems Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 30, and the Equal Employment in Apprenticeship as outlined in the New Mexico State Apprenticeship Council Regulations, and as may be amended.
2. The affirmative action responsibilities of the New Mexico/West Texas Carpenter’s Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) not only apply to the recruitment and selection of apprentices, but also to the employment and training of apprentices throughout their apprenticeship. In its Affirmative Action Plan, the JATC pledges to uniformly apply all rules and regulations, including but not limited to equality of wages, period advancement, promotion, assignment of work, performance evaluation, rotation among work processes of the trade, imposition of penalties and other disciplinary action, awarding of credit, and all other aspects of the program operation.