Arizona Builders Alliance Honors Apprenticeship Class of 2026 - 10 to 1 Public Relations
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Arizona Builders Alliance Honors Apprenticeship Class of 2026

35 Graduates Achieve Journey-Level Credentials and Enter Arizona’s Commercial and Industrial Construction Workforce

  • Graduates complete thousands of hours of on-the-job training and classroom instruction
  • Arizona’s construction industry will need tens of thousands of skilled tradespeople over the next decade

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (June 4, 2026) – The Arizona Builders Alliance (ABA), a leading trade association for contractors in Arizona, celebrated 35 electrical apprentices at its Apprenticeship Graduation on May 29, 2026. Graduates were joined by families, ABA members, local dignitaries Joann Bueno, Arizona Director of Apprentices, Tom Cole, Register of Contractors Director, Adrian Fontes, Secretary of State, and industry professionals to mark the completion of the ABA’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

ABA’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program is formally recognized by the US Department of Labor and the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) and combines classroom instruction with hands-on training under the guidance of experienced construction professionals. The ceremony honored graduates who committed to a structured four-year, 8,000-hour indentured electrical apprentice program covering electrical construction, OSHA 10 certification, and National Electrical Code training. Upon graduation, each graduate joined the ABA’s legacy of trained professionals built over 30 years of serving Arizona’s construction industry.

“Every person who crossed that stage today chose a path that demanded commitment from day one, and Arizona’s construction industry is stronger because of it,” said Kim Davids, President of the Arizona Builders Alliance. “This graduation is proof that when we invest in people, the return goes far beyond the job site. It strengthens families, businesses, and the communities that Arizona’s construction industry serves every single day.”

Unlike a traditional academic graduation, ABA students have been earning wages from day one, gaining real-world experience on active job sites while building the technical knowledge required to perform at the highest professional level. The program is structured to benefit both the apprentice and the contractor, reducing workforce turnover, improving job site safety and delivering more capable, experienced professionals to ABA member companies.

“It’s been a long four years. My wife and I started with one, and now we have three (kids).,” said Austin McCain, ABA Apprenticeship Graduate and Phoenix resident. “It’s a better career, better opportunities, and, at my company, I’m able to move up now. So, it’s awesome and a really great opportunity.”

Upon completion, graduates receive a certificate and journey-level status, opening doors to career opportunities across Arizona and beyond. Through the ABA’s dual affiliation with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC), graduates connect to a statewide network of more than 300 member companies, giving each career a foundation that extends well beyond the training center.

Registered Apprenticeships are the ultimate recruitment and retention tool for employers, workforce development intermediaries, education providers and employer associations. With a 93% retention rate nationally, these programs allow employers to grow their own talent, ensuring workers are trained to exact industry standards.

The ABA Apprenticeship Graduation reflects the organization’s broader mission to deliver education that powers today’s teams and tomorrow’s leaders. For nearly 85 years, the Arizona Apprenticeship Office has helped reduce costs and improve efficiency for Arizona businesses as they stand up education programs to build a skilled workforce that fuels Arizona’s thriving economy by training the next generation. As Arizona’s construction industry faces a growing workforce shortage, the ABA’s apprenticeship programs serve as a pipeline for skilled, career-ready professionals, ensuring that member companies have access to the talent needed to build Arizona’s future. Learn more at www.azbuilders.org

How did construction companies address the skilled labor shortage in 2026?
The Arizona Builders Alliance addressed the construction labor shortage through its US Department of Labor-recognized Electrical Apprenticeship Program, which trained skilled tradespeople over a four-year, 8,000-hour structured pathway. The program served as a pipeline of career-ready professionals for ABA’s network of more than 300 member companies across Arizona.

What was the retention rate for registered apprenticeship programs?
Registered apprenticeship programs held a 93% retention rate nationally, making them the strongest recruitment and retention tool available to construction employers. The Arizona Builders Alliance used this model to help member companies grow their own talent and reduce workforce turnover.

How long did it take to become a journey-level electrician?
Becoming a journey-level electrician through the Arizona Builders Alliance required 8,000 hours of indentured apprenticeship combining classroom instruction with hands-on training. Graduates earned certifications in OSHA 10 and National Electrical Code along the way.

What did a registered electrical apprenticeship program include?
The Arizona Builders Alliance Electrical Apprenticeship Program included classroom instruction, hands-on training under experienced professionals, OSHA 10 certification, and National Electrical Code training across 8,000 hours. The 35 graduates honored on May 29, 2026 completed every requirement to earn journey-level status.

What certifications did electrical apprentices receive?
Electrical apprentices in the Arizona Builders Alliance program earned OSHA 10 certification, National Electrical Code training, and journey-level credentials upon completion. The program was formally recognized by the US Department of Labor and the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Which trade associations supported construction apprenticeships in Arizona?
The Arizona Builders Alliance served as a leading trade association supporting apprenticeship training in Arizona, with dual affiliation with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and the Associated General Contractors (AGC). This affiliation connected graduates to a statewide network of more than 300 member companies.

How did apprenticeship programs benefit construction contractors?
Apprenticeship programs reduced workforce turnover, improved job site safety, and delivered more capable professionals to contractors. The Arizona Builders Alliance program was structured to benefit both apprentices and contractors by training workers to exact industry standards from day one.

What career opportunities opened after completing an electrical apprenticeship?
Graduates of the Arizona Builders Alliance Electrical Apprenticeship Program earned journey-level status, opening career opportunities across Arizona and beyond. Through ABA’s affiliations with ABC and AGC, graduates plugged into a statewide network of more than 300 member companies.

Why did demand for electrical apprenticeships grow?
Arizona’s commercial and industrial construction industry faced a workforce shortage that will require tens of thousands of skilled tradespeople over the next decade. The Arizona Builders Alliance Electrical Apprenticeship Program served as a pipeline to meet this demand and fuel Arizona’s thriving economy.

Who attended the Arizona Builders Alliance Apprenticeship Graduation?
The Arizona Builders Alliance Apprenticeship Graduation brought together families, ABA members, and dignitaries including Arizona Director of Apprentices Joann Bueno, Registrar of Contractors Director Tom Cole, and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. The ceremony recognized 35 electrical apprentices for completing the four-year program on May 29, 2026.