How to Apply

Basic Qualifications

To be considered for an apprenticeship, a candidate must meet the following five conditions:

Be at least 18 years of age at time of hire, AND
Possess a Social Security Card, AND
Possess a High School Diploma, OR GED, OR an equivalent certification, AND
Possess a Valid California Class C Driver’s License, AND
Possess Proof of one (1) year of Algebra I (with a passing grade of C or better).

Step 1

Start by visiting SF Career Opportunities to learn about city employment benefits and the application process or to browse open positions for apprenticeship program.
Once you find an open position you are interested in, click on it to read the full job description, position details, and any minimum qualifications required.

Step 2

To apply to a position, click the "Apply Now" button, you will be asked to upload your resume or you can manually enter your education and experience.
Next, you will be prompted to answer some preliminary questions that will vary depending on whether it is a non-civil service or permanent civil service recruitment.
Once you click "Submit" you will be asked if you want to create a Smartrprofile. This profile will allow you to track your applications in one place and reuse your information to apply to other jobs in the future.

If the position you are looking to apply to is not being actively recruited for, you can sign up for job announcements via the "Notify me of Jobs" button on the Job Seekers webpage. If you are interested in a specific job class, you can type the four-digit job code in the keyword field, eg: 3410.
By signing up, you will receive an email notification when the apprenticeship program you are interested in has openings and is currently accepting applications. Please include an email address you check regularly.

Once you have applied for an apprenticeship, your application will be reviewed for minimum qualifications requirements. If your application shows you are qualified for an apprenticeship position, you will be contacted and may be asked to take an apprenticeship readiness assessment and/or the department interview assessment.
If you pass the assessments, your name will be placed on an eligible applicant list, and you will be contacted by either the apprenticeship coordinator or a department representative regarding next steps.
Once the department extends an offer to hire you, the next step in the hiring process is determined by the position and the department. This will include background screening, fingerprinting, drug testing, employment and education verification, and California Department of Motor Vehicles review, etc.
Learn more about Job Classifications and Compensation
Learn more about the meaning of a word and an explanation on the ApprenticeshipSF Terms & Definitions page