Free independent study resources

Free union apprenticeship test prep

Prepare for your next step with clear lessons and practice you can return to. The Union Project’s current exam-focused study path is for IUOE Local 12; check your own program before choosing what to study.

Browse free study lessons

Begin with your program’s requirements

Find the current applicant notice or official study guide from your training program. Write down the subjects, timing, allowed materials and application steps. Do not assume that one union’s test format applies to another.

Build the foundations

Review written instructions, basic calculations and interpreting diagrams. The lesson directory makes it easy to choose a small topic, read a worked example, and continue into practice.

A repeatable study session

Use this sequence with any skill that appears in your program’s study requirements.

  1. Choose one topic and read its main rule.
  2. Work through an example, writing each step yourself.
  3. Answer fresh practice questions and review the explanation.
  4. Return to the topic in a later session to check what you remember.

Keep preparation and application separate

Studying here does not submit an application or register you for an entrance exam. Use the training program’s own channels for deadlines, eligibility questions and appointment details.

Lessons to start with

Search all study lessons or practice a skill.

Common questions

Does this site cover every union’s entrance exam?

No. The current exam-focused materials center on IUOE Local 12. Some foundational skills may be useful elsewhere, but you should compare them with your program’s official requirements.

Do I need to pay to study?

No. The lessons, labs and practice tools on The Union Project are free. Optional support is not required to use them.

Official applicant resources

For the exam rules and your appointment, use OETT’s own guidance. The exam information linked here was checked October 1, 2026.

Original independent study material. Not affiliated with or endorsed by IUOE Local 12 or OETT. Practice scores do not guarantee an exam result or apprenticeship admission.