Last updated August 23, 2026
Everything you need to get into Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 538: whether apprenticeship applications are open right now, how the process works, and a free alert the moment the next window opens.
The next application window is April 1, 2027 to May 31, 2027.
Window opens: April 1, 2027 · Window closes: May 31, 2027
Official application page ↗Status last verified August 23, 2026. Source: official local/JATC site. Windows can change on short notice — always confirm details with the local before making plans.
Windows at competitive locals can cap out in days. We watch Johnson City’s application status and email you the moment it opens — so you apply on day one, not day last.
We publish a journeyman rate only where the US Department of Labor has a union wage determination for the local — that figure is the local's own negotiated scale, because DOL adopts collective-bargaining rates wholesale. The counties covering Johnson City, TN are on wage surveys instead, which are not union scale, so there is no rate here we can stand behind.
For reference, the median journeyman base across the 170 UA locals that do publish one is $46.10/hr — about $95,900/yr at 2,080 hours. Ask UA Local 538 directly for its current scale.
All 170 UA pay scales →UA Local 538 is based in Johnson City, Tennessee. It represents and trains: Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R.
Union hall: (423) 928-5751
From our last verification: Hard deadline — no applications accepted after May 31 for the 2027-2028 school year. Must be 18 before classes start and a HS graduate/GED holder; provide copies of diploma/GED/college certificates. Informational letter with interview dates mailed to all applicants in June; ALL applicants get an interview (July). Contact (423) 928-5751 / info@local538.org.
Most UA locals rank applicants by aptitude-test score and fill seats from the top down. The applicants who get in prepped early — start with a free GAN-style practice test or the GAN aptitude test guide.
As of August 23, 2026: The next application window is April 1, 2027 to May 31, 2027. Application schedules are set by the local and its training fund and can change on short notice — always confirm on the local's own site before making plans.
Applications go through the local's apprenticeship/training program (https://www.gobuildtennessee.com/training-program/plumber-and-pipefitters-local-union-538-jatc/). The usual process: submit the application with your HS diploma or GED and ID, take the aptitude test, then complete a scored interview that sets your rank on the eligibility list.
UA Local 538 (Johnson City, Tennessee) represents Plumber, Pipefitter, HVAC/R — its apprenticeship program trains those trades. If you want a different pipe trade, check the neighboring UA locals in the directory.
Most UA locals test applicants with the GAN aptitude battery — reading comprehension, numerical computation and reasoning, problem solving, paper folding, and mechanical comprehension — and rank candidates by score. Your test score plus interview decide your ranking, so prep before the window opens.
Applying is step one — the aptitude battery and the scored interview decide your rank. Set this local in the app and your study plan gets paced to its deadline.
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PipePrep AI is an independent directory and study tool — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the United Association (UA), any UA local, any JATC or training fund, or GAN Human Resources. Application windows, fees, and requirements change constantly; always verify details on the local's own website before you act on anything here.