Apprenticeship - Sheet Metal
Program Description
The Sheet Metal trade is unique as it is one of the few crafts that starts with raw material, creates a component, and installs and maintains the product. Using a combination of mathematics, layout tools, hammers, drills, plasma and laser beam cutting systems, computers, cutting, forming, seaming or welding machines, workers manipulate the material into the product desired. The maintenance sector includes preventive maintenance, repair, testing, balancing, and sometimes certification of the installed systems. Items commonly fabricated and installed include HVAC systems, metal roofs, kitchen hoods, various flashings, gutters, decorative architectural features, and many other items made of a variety of metals. It is an interesting and evolving field with exciting growth potential. The apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn program involving paid "full time" work and related classes.
Learn more about the program on the Apprenticeship website.
Program Learning Outcomes
Students are prepared with the skills and expertise to detail, fabricate, and install a variety of sheet metal products in compliance with applicable standards and codes, aiming for optimum environmental and energy efficiency. These highly demanded skills are acquired through on-the-job training and lead to employment in the construction industry. After five years of classroom and work experience students are recognized as journeypersons within the sheet metal industry.
Career Opportunities
Upon completion of all course requirements and 6500 hours of related work experience, graduates will be recognized as specialist in the Sheet Metal Building Trades field. Depending upon the student's career interest and courses taken, graduates may find employment as a: sheet metal worker, site foreperson, superintendent, sheet metal shop fabricator, residential sheet metal journeyperson, sheet metal building inspector, welding inspector, sheet metal apprenticeship instructor, sheet metal detailer, sheet metal contractor, HVAC service technician, sheet metal ship yard worker, air conditioning specialist, or decking and siding.
Award Type(s)
- AS = Associate in Science Degree
- CA = Certificate of Achievement
- CCC = Career Certificate [Non-Transcriptable]
Units Required
- Major: 64.5-66.5
- Certificate(s): 6-66.5
Associate Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| English Proficiency | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ENGL 1A | COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ENGL 1AH | HONORS COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| ESLL 26 | ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING | 5 |
| or equivalent | ||
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Any course in the ETHN (Ethnic Studies) subject code, currently approved for Area F of CSU GE and Area 7 of IGETC | ||
| Mathematics Proficiency | ||
| College-level math course at or above the level of Intermediate Algebra | ||
A minimum of 90 units is required1 to include:
- Completion of one of the following general education patterns: Foothill General Education, CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
- Core courses (57 units)
- Support courses (7.5-9.5 units)
- 1
Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificate.
Core and Support Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| APSM 101 | SMQ-1 TRADE INTRODUCTION | 3 |
| APSM 102 | SMQ-2 CERTIFIED SAFETY & BEGINNING TRADE MATH | 3 |
| APSM 103 | SMQ-3 SHEET METAL TOOLS & SHOP | 1.5 |
| APSM 104 | SMQ-4 SOLDERING & COMMON SEAMS | 2 |
| APSM 105 | SMQ-5 DRAFTING INTRODUCTION & VIEWS | 2.5 |
| APSM 106 | SMQ-6 BEGINNING DUCT FITTINGS | 1.5 |
| APSM 107 | SMQ-7 PARALLEL LINE FITTINGS | 1.5 |
| APSM 108 | SMQ-8 TRIANGULATION FITTINGS | 1.5 |
| APSM 109 | SMQ-9 RADIAL LINE LAY OUT & OGEE OFFSETS | 1.5 |
| APSM 110 | SMQ-10 BASICS OF ARCHITECTURAL SHEET METAL | 2 |
| APSM 111 | SMQ-11 ARCHITECTURAL SHEET METAL | 1.5 |
| APSM 112 | SMQ-12 FIELD INSTALLATION | 2 |
| APSM 113 | SMQ-13 WELDING 1: PROCESS & SAFETY OVERVIEW | 1.5 |
| APSM 114 | SMQ-14 WELDING 2: GMAW | 1.5 |
| APSM 116 | SMQ-16 PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS | 3 |
| APSM 117 | SMQ-17 SUBMITTALS & SHOP DRAWINGS | 2.5 |
| APSM 118 | SMQ-18 INDUSTRIAL & STAINLESS STEEL INTRODUCTION | 1.5 |
| APSM 119 | SMQ-19 HVAC AIR SYSTEMS & DUCT DESIGN | 3 |
| APSM 122 | SMQ-22 CODES & STANDARDS | 3 |
| APSM 124 | SMQ-24 METAL ROOFING | 2 |
| APSM 126 | SMQ-26 FOREMAN TRAINING | 2.5 |
| APSM 127 | SMQ-27 BASIC AUTOCAD | 1.5 |
| APSM 128 | SMQ-28 HVAC ENERGY CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY | 2.5 |
| APSM 136 | SMQ-36 SERVICE BASICS | 2 |
| APSM 159A | INTRODUCTION TO TESTING ADJUSTING & BALANCING HVAC SYSTEMS | 2.5 |
| APSM 175A | TABB TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION | 2 |
| APSM 177A | TITLE 24 MECHANICAL ACCEPTANCE TESTING | 2.5 |
| Support Courses | ||
| Select six courses from the following: | 7.5-9.5 | |
| SMQ-20 MEASURING & SKETCHING | ||
| SMQ-21 FABRICATION & SHORTCUTS | ||
| SMQ-25 DETAILING | ||
| SMQ-30 ADVANCED WELDING | ||
| SMQ-31 CAD DETAILING | ||
| SMQ-32 INTERMEDIATE CAD DETAILING THIRD PARTY | ||
| SMQ-33 ADVANCED ARCHITECTURAL | ||
| Total Units | 64.5-66.5 | |
Elective Courses
These courses are recommended to fulfill the additional elective requirements to reach 90 units for the degree as they augment the major:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CWE 60A | OCCUPATIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE: APPRENTICE | 10.5 |
Note: Additionally, students who complete the core and support courses will satisfy Foothill GE Area III, Natural Sciences; Area IV, Social & Behavioral Sciences; Area V, Communication & Analytical Thinking; Area VI, United States Cultures & Communities; and Area VII, Lifelong Learning.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate of Achievement in Sheet Metal Building Trades
- Units: 64.5-66.5
The certificate of achievement is awarded upon completion of the core and support courses. General education courses are not required.
Currently offered at: Bay Area Sheet Metal JAC.
Sheet Metal Air Conditioning Specialist Career Certificate
- Units: 6 [Non-Transcriptable]
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| APPR 188A | ORIENTATION; SAFETY & BEGINNING RESIDENTIAL SHEET METAL INSTALLATION (SPECIALIST 1A) | 1.5 |
| APPR 188B | RESIDENTIAL COMPONENTS IDENTIFICATION & INSTALLATION (SPECIALIST 1B) | 1.5 |
| APPR 189A | RESIDENTIAL SYSTEMS; DUCT & HVAC SYSTEMS (SPECIALIST 2A) | 1.5 |
| APPR 189B | PLANS & ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL SHEET METAL (SPECIALIST 2B) | 1.5 |
| Total Units | 6 | |
Currently offered at: Bay Area Sheet Metal JAC.