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BRICKLAYER

CONSTRUCTION

Job Corps’ Bricklayer Masonry program is a Trainee, Pre-Apprentice program offered through the International Masonry Institute (IMI).

Career Details

Skills

Students in Bricklayer are trained in the following subject areas:

  • Laying and binding building materials, such as brick and concrete, with mortar or other substances to repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures
  • Measuring distances from reference points and marking guidelines to lay out work
  • Properly constructing corners and arches
  • Removing excess mortar with trowels and hand tools
  • Finishing joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance

Career Options

Program graduates mostly go to work as brick masons or block masons for private companies or public works organizations. Working as a brick mason or block mason is physically demanding work, and many days are spent outside.

Requirements

Before entering the program, students must:

  • Complete the core curriculum with passing scores on all written and performance tests.
  • Meet basic academic requirements in math and reading.
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Credentials

As a Job Corps student, you will have the opportunity to earn credentials in your training area that may lead to greater employment opportunities, higher wages, and promotions.

Students who complete a center-based program in the Construction training area can earn nationally recognized credentials from organizations such as:

  • National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)

Students training in union-affiliated programs can earn a certificate of completion that offers apprenticeship opportunities and on-the-job experience from organizations such as:

  • United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC)
  • International Masonry Institute (IMI)
  • International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
  • The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
  • National Plastering Industry Joint Apprenticeship Trust Fund (NPIJATF)

Bricklayer Numbers to Know

$35K

National average earning potential for this career

18+

Months to complete career training program

Expectations

While on the job, you will be expected to display the following traits at all times:

Attention to detail
Focus
Physical strength
Steady hands and fingers

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