The ULPA Apprenticeship Program is a DOL-registered five-year pathway designed to train and qualify lightning-protection installers in compliance with NFPA 780, UL 96A, LPI 175, and related OSHA safety standards. 

Program Requirements- 

To be eligible for the ULPA Apprenticeship Program, the sponsoring company must qualify and provide the following:  

• Provide each apprentice with a minimum of 1,000 verified lightning-protection-specific on-the-job training (OJT) hours per year, totaling approximately 5,000 lightning-protection hours over the five-year program. General construction, roofing, or electrical hours do NOT qualify toward this requirement.
• Maintain a strict 2:1 ratio of lightning-protection apprentices to journeyman lightning-protection installers on active jobsites. Ratios using journeymen from other trades do not meet program requirements.  Lightning Protection Institute Certified Master Installers & Master Installer/ Designers qualify as journeyman for the purpose of establishing this ratio.   
• Verify and submit OJT logs, as required, for each portion of the apprenticeship program.  
• All employers, with active apprentices in the program, must provide proof that they have contracted with a nationally recognized testing agency for inspections for a minimum of 10 projects in the past 2 years. These certifications must be submitted annually with your registration to the ULPA apprenticeship office. This is intended as a method to ensure that employers participating in the ULPA apprenticeship program can provide the required on-the-job training for their apprentices in the lightning protection trade.  
• All employers will submit a list of their journeyman installers annually, along with the annual registration payment for compliance with apprenticeship program ratios.  

 If an employer with apprentices enrolled in the program does not submit this information, they will be prohibited from enrolling apprentices into this program.  

The rate for ULPA members in good standing is $500/annually. Apprentice rates will be $200/course per Apprentice. 

Non–ULPA affiliated member companies will be charged a separate rate for employer enrollment.  The rate for Non-ULPA members is $1,500/annually. The rate for Non-ULPA member Apprentices will be $600/course per Apprentice.

Founding Donors

             Their belief in bettering the education and training of lightning protection professionals laid the groundwork for something truly impactful. This program isn’t just about meeting a standard—it’s about raising it. Because of their commitment, we’re equipping the next generation with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to lead this industry forward.

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