Coming to the academy
Earn a wage while you learn to operate.
We are building a Registered Apprenticeship pathway: paid on-the-job training on real Lone Star Civil sites, combined with related instruction here at the academy, ending in a credential recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Status: in development. This pathway is not yet registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and is not currently open for enrollment. Register your interest below and we will reach out as soon as it is.
How the apprenticeship will work
A Registered Apprenticeship is a U.S. Department of Labor program that pairs paid, structured on-the-job training with related, hands-on instruction. Every apprentice works toward a portable, nationally recognized credential, not just a certificate from us.
Paid on-the-job training
You work real Lone Star Civil sites under a qualified journeyworker, earning a wage from day one and stepping up as your skills do.
Related instruction at the academy
Hands-on and structured instruction hours here at the academy build the theory and technique behind what you are doing on site - not a semester in a classroom.
Wage progression, not a flat rate
Pay increases are tied to documented skill milestones, not just time served, so getting better at the job means earning more, sooner.
A federally recognized credential
A Registered Apprenticeship is administered through the U.S. Department of Labor. It is a portable, nationally recognized credential, not a certificate that only means something to us.
U.S. Department of Labor
Occupations this apprenticeship will cover
Every occupation below is a real, DOL-approved apprenticeship occupation, cross-checked against the federal RAPIDS approved-occupations list. The hour range is the full national standard for that occupation - on-the-job training plus related instruction combined, typically two to four years.
Operating Engineer
O*NET-SOC 47-2073.00 · Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Full apprenticeship term
- 4,000-6,000 hrs
- Apprentice wage
- $$18-$$24/hr
Related instruction covered by:
Surveyor Assistant Instrument
O*NET-SOC 17-3031.00 · Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Full apprenticeship term
- 4,000-5,000 hrs
- Apprentice wage
- $$19-$$22/hr
Related instruction covered by:
Utility Locator/Locator Technician
O*NET-SOC 47-4011.00 · Construction and Building Inspectors
- Full apprenticeship term
- 2,000-4,000 hrs
- Apprentice wage
- $$17-$$19/hr
Related instruction covered by:
Asphalt Paving Machine Operator
O*NET-SOC 47-2071.00 · Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
- Full apprenticeship term
- 6,000-7,500 hrs
- Apprentice wage
- $$19-$$22/hr
Related instruction covered by:
Construction Craft Laborer
O*NET-SOC 47-2061.00 · Construction Laborers
- Full apprenticeship term
- 4,000-5,100 hrs
- Apprentice wage
- $$15-$$17/hr
Related instruction covered by:
Truck Crane Operator
O*NET-SOC 53-7021.00 · Crane and Tower Operators
- Full apprenticeship term
- 6,000-7,500 hrs
- Apprentice wage
- $$23-$$25/hr
Related instruction covered by:
Wage figures are typical apprentice starting-to-progression ranges for this region, not the full journey-level wage. Actual apprenticeship wage schedules will be set when the program is formally registered.
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a real operating career, not just a certificate. You must be 18 or older and ready to work. No prior experience is required, and graduates of our courses will be well placed to apply once applications open.
Why it is worth the wait
- A wage from day one, with progression tied to skill, not tenure.
- A federally recognized credential that travels with you, anywhere.
- Structured related instruction, not learning purely by trial and error.
- A direct line into steady work with a working civil contractor.
Common questions
Is the apprenticeship open for enrollment yet?+
Not yet. We are building this pathway now and registering it with the U.S. Department of Labor. Register your interest and we will contact you the moment applications open.
Do I get paid during an apprenticeship?+
Yes. That is the core of the model: you are a paid employee from your first day, with wages that increase as you hit skill milestones, not just a trainee.
How is this different from your existing courses?+
Our courses are the related-instruction building blocks. An apprenticeship wraps paid on-the-job work around those same courses and adds a federally recognized credential at the end. Taking a course now is a head start, not a separate track.
Who is it for?+
Anyone who wants a real operating career, not just a certificate: 18 or older, ready to work, no prior experience required. We expect strong graduates of our courses to be well placed to apply.
Why do the occupations below list such long apprenticeship terms?+
Those hour ranges are the full, multi-year DOL standard for that occupation nationally (on-the-job training plus related instruction combined) - not the length of any one course. Our individual courses are sized to one year of the related-instruction portion.
Be first in line when this opens.
Register your interest and we will contact you as soon as the apprenticeship pathway is registered and accepting applicants.