FTIUM Apprenticeship Programs

Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest:
A new model for higher education.

Careers in the finishing trades are in high demand.

They only require progress toward a high school diploma or the equivalent to get started.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) pushes students to become the best they can be.

Our grant-funded Worker Readiness Programs have placed over 60% of program completers into Apprenticeship Programs, leading to safe and fruitful careers.

Our Apprenticeship Programs have completion rates of over 80%.
Apprenticeship Programs employ 100% of participants.

As a society, we need to start giving young people the choice of going to a traditional college or university, or educating them about the diverse array of debt-free opportunities that exist in the finishing trades.

Take a virtual tour to learn more about our facility!

Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM) is an educational institute dedicated to developing professional tradespeople, advancing their skills and certifying their qualifications in the Upper Midwest.

Our learners include commercial painter decorators and industrial painters, drywall finishers, glaziers, glassworkers, sign technicians and convention workers.

An Apprenticeship with FTIUM opens you up to the varied and growing opportunities within the Finishing Trades industry.

FTIUM Apprenticeship Programs are all registered with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, the North Dakota Department of Labor, and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry where applicable. Each of them require:

• An average of three (3) years of training
• An average of 432 Related Training hours
• At least 6,000 On-the-Job Training Hours
  • The 2-year drywall program requires about 4,000 On-the-Job Training Hours
  • The 3-year drywall program requires about 6,000 On-the-Job Training Hours
• IUPAT membership required for program participation
  • Get the lifelong benefits and support that come with union membership

Apprenticeship applications will be accepted on the basis that applicants have met and shown documented proof of all required minimum qualifications at the time of application.

Apprentices will be accorded equal opportunity in all phases of apprenticeship employment and training, without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age (40 or older), genetic information or disability.