The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Oswego County
Welding Apprentices at Boilermakers Local Union 5 Prepare for Clean Energy Jobs with Specialized Training
With NYSERDA-funded training, New York State welder trainees get the qualifications they need for specialized projects in hydropower, nuclear, energy storage, and more.
About the Boilermakers
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers has four geographical sections in the U.S. and one in Canada. The union has a diverse membership, representing more than 60,000 skilled craftsmen and women and industrial workers.
Training Locations:
Albany, Orchard Park, Oswego
NYSERDA Program:
Workforce Development and Training
Number of Trainees/ Apprentices:
126 The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
What Does a Boilermaker Do?
Boilermakers are skilled tradespeople who construct and repair power plants, refineries, water treatment plants, pulp and paper mills, steel mills, and more. They may work in clean energy, hydrogen and carbon capture; they help build naval ships, commercial tankers, blast furnaces; and they help construct nuclear and hydroelectric power plants. They also work in the railroad industry, repair, mine, forge tools, and more.
New York-Based Apprenticeship & Training Opportunities
The Northeast Area Boilermakers Local 5, which is based in New York, offers an enhanced welding training as part of its registered apprenticeship. Over a two-year period, Local 5 is training and certifying up to 126 apprentices from priority populations (including veterans, single parents, and others) in specialized welding.
Clean energy projects throughout New York State require aluminum and stainless-steel welders to perform highly specialized forms of welding. That means Local 5’s program is integral to the transition to clean and affordable energy for New York.
Getting ready for bend testing. Source: Northeast Area Apprenticeship. Used with permission.
Hard work pays off. An apprentice holds bent welding coupons that have passed inspection. Coupons are small pieces of metal used to test a welder’s skills and proficiency. Source: Northeast Area Apprenticeship. 
“Thanks to NYSERDA, I was able to train on equipment that allowed us to weld material that wasn’t available to us before. Now I’m certified in these different processes and ready to go to work.”
– Logan, Constableville, NYApprentices from Albany, Oswego, Orchard Park, and Floral Park are now training in advanced aluminum and stainless-steel welding processes. These workers will in turn be qualified to work on New York clean energy projects that include hydropower, green hydrogen storage, nuclear, and long-duration energy storage.
Training Welders for Clean Energy Jobs
As part of this NYSERDA-funded training program, participants will also receive three week-long trainings in these specializations:
- Aluminum gas metal arc welding
- Stainless shielded metal arc welding
- Stainless gas tungsten arc welding
“Training the future generation of Boilermakers to be safe and productive workers in the transition to clean energy has come with challenges. The funding NYSERDA provides makes it possible for us to purchase training equipment to perform jobsite skills and welding processes that were previously unavailable to us.”
– Jason Dupuis, Administrator of the Boilermakers Northeast Area Apprenticeship Program
Interested in Learning More?
To learn more about Boilermakers apprenticeship program, contact Jason Dupuis, Administrator of the Northeast Area Boilermaker Apprenticeship Program, at [email protected] or 860-569-8368.
Learn more about how NYSERDA can fund your own clean energy training program.
Learn more about how NYSERDA can fund your own clean energy training program, visit NYSERDA’s Workforce Development and Training program page, or email [email protected].