The learning period generally lasts much longer than an apprenticeship program, however. Apprenticeships for bricklayers and stonemasons are usually sponsored by local contractors or by local union-management committees. Apprentices often start by working with laborers, carrying materials, mixing mortar, and building scaffolds. This period generally lasts about a month and familiarizes them with job routines and materials. Next, they learn to lay, align, and join brick and block.
Apprentices also learn to work with stone and concrete.
This enables them to be certified to work with more than one masonry material. Applicants for apprenticeships must be at least 17 years old and in good physical condition. A high school education is preferable, and courses in mathematics, mechanical drawing, and shop are helpful. The International Masonry Institute, a division of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen, operates training centers in several large cities that help job seekers develop the skills needed to successfully complete the formal apprenticeship program. Those who work in residential construction usually work primarily for small contractors and specialize in only one or two aspects of the job.