The Admissions Process

Admissions

How to Apply

Our Admissions Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Application Process

What to expect when you apply:

Preparation: To get ready, jot down details of your employment history, including the dates for each job you've held, and gather up the required documents. Please scroll down for a helpful list.

Pay the application fee: You will need to pay a non-refundable application processing fee of $60, which is payable by debit or credit card.

Provide documentation: You must provide all necessary documents. Our staff will review them with you, using the checklist below.

Complete your application: You'll fill out the application onsite, so please provide sufficient time. We recommend allocating at least one hour, so plan on arriving no later than 3:30 p.m.

Helpful tips: Here are three ways to improve your success as you proceed through the admissions process:

1. Look for email notices from us and, when required, respond promptly.

2. Treat the admissions process as a job interview. Every interaction makes an impression! This includes following instructions, complying with admissions requirements and showing up on time.

3. If you are a candidate who has not previously worked for one of our affiliated employers, we encourage you to pursue working as a pre-apprentice.

When can I apply? You can apply for ARPEC year-round. Our next term for newly accepted apprentices begins January 12, 2026. The deadline to apply for that class is October 31, 2025.

Where do I apply? When you're ready to apply and have gathered all the required documents you’ll need to submit your application in person at ARPEC, which is located at 13201 NW 45th Ave, Opa-locka, FL 33054. Applications can be submitted between 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please plan to arrive no later than one hour prior to closing to allow time to complete your application.

The step-by-step admissions process

ARPEC is an equal opportunity educational institution with an on-the-job training component. We will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy), or because they are an individual with a disability or a person 40 years old or older. ARPEC will take reasonable steps to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30.

If you have questions about your candidacy, please contact us at info@arpec.org.

STEP 1: Let us know you’re interested:

Please provide us with your contact information so we can help guide you through the application process.

Following is a list of documents you will need to provide when you complete your application in person at ARPEC.

Click here for a printer-friendly check list.

1. Proof of age eligibility:

A copy of your birth certificate showing that you’ll be at least 18 years old by the start of school.

2. A valid Florida driver’s license.

Note: Applicant will obtain a complete driving record for each candidate from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Having a clean driving record is important, especially for the HVACR Service Program, since service technicians drive vehicles provided by their employer.

For your own awareness, you may want to obtain your own copy of your driving record, however, ARPEC will not accept reports provided by candidates. If you decide to obtain your record, you may do so by visiting the FLHSMV website.

3. Proof of your eligibility to legally work in the United States.

ARPEC’s training program includes on-the-job training as an essential part of the education process. This requires your employment with one of the affiliated contractors who fund the program. Additionally, graduates are expected to continue to work for one of our affiliated employers following completion of their apprenticeship. Because of that work component, each candidate, although not an employee of ARPEC, will be required to prove eligibility to legally work in the United States.

To prove eligibility to work in the United States, you will be required to complete the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-9, which requires you to confirm your ability to be employed by providing documents that establish both your identity and employment authorization.

To learn more about employees’ requirements to provide documentation to their employers to show their identity and authorization to work, you can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services list of Form I-9 Acceptable Documents. This website provides a lengthy list of documentation that establishes identify and employment authorization.

You may also use the free E-Verify Self Check service to confirm employment eligibility. Keep in mind that ARPEC cannot accept E-Verify self-check reports that are provided by candidates.

Instructions:

You must either provide one document from Form I-9 List A, or alternatively one document from both List B and List C.If one item from List A is provided, that is sufficient, and you would then not need to provide additional documentation. For more information, you can visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services list of Form I-9 Acceptable Documents.

List A:
1. U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
2. Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
3. Foreign passport that contains a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa.
4. Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph (Form I-766)
5. Foreign passport with Form I-94 or Form I-94A with Arrival-Departure Record, and containing an endorsement to work. A foreign passport must be accompanied by a Form I-94/94A Arrival-Departure Record bearing the same name as the passport and containing an endorsement of the individual’s nonimmigrant status and authorization to work for a specific employer based on this status.
6. Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), provided that the passport is accompanied by Form I-94 or Form I-94A indicating nonimmigrant admission under the Compact of Free Association Between the United States and the FSM or RMI.

Note, for candidates who provide Form I-94 under either #5 or #6 above, the employer-based authorization must indicate an ARPEC affiliated employer within 30 days of acceptance.

If you do not provide one item from List A, then you’ll need to provide one document from both List B and List C:

Form I-9 List B: Items in List B only serve to establish your identity. While there are other options, most commonly, applicants provide their Florida Driver’s license (since that is a separate requirement in our admissions process) which is an option under List B. Other documents include U.S. military ID card, and a Voter Registration Card, among others.

Form I-9 List C: Items in List C are employment authorization documents. Please provide one of the following:

U.S. Social Security account number card that is not restricted in any way. A card that includes any of the following restrictive wording is not an acceptable List C document:

Not valid for employment
Valid for work only with INS Authorization
Valid for work only with DHS Authorization

U.S. Department of State certification of birth abroad.
Certified copy of birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority or territory of the United States, bearing an official seal.
Native American tribal document
U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-179)
Identification Card for use of Resident Citizen in the U.S. (Form I-179)
Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
Note, if you have a Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, that is a List A document, and not a List C document

4. Proof of education.

Provide one of the following (required)

An official, sealed high school transcript.
or
An official high school equivalency (GED) certificate and official test results.

Provide, if applicable:

An official, sealed certified transcript for post-secondary schools you have attended (e.g. colleges or trade schools).
Any industry-related licenses or certificates you have earned. For example, OSHA 10, or EPA license.
Any industry-related training you participated in while enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces.

5. Proof of military service, if applicable. ARPEC welcomes veterans. Candidates who provide proof of honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty Form DD-214) earn points toward their applicant experience score.

ARPEC is located at 13201 NW 45th Ave, Opa-locka, FL 33054. Applications can be submitted between 9:00a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please plan to arrive no later than one hour prior to closing to allow time to complete your application. You’ll be required to pay a non-refundable application processing fee of $60, payable by debit or credit card.

Scheduling. Once you submit your completed application, we’ll email you with available dates for the exams assessing your English and Math proficiency.

Exam resources: Here are some helpful resources to help you prepare and perform your best on these tests.

Wonderlic GAIN Sample Test

Math Antics

How are scores used during the admissions process? ARPEC considers factors like your entrance exam scores, high school GPA, relevant industry experience, industry-related certifications, and, where applicable, an honorable discharge from the U.S. military service.

Is work experience required? No, industry work experience is not mandated, but having industry work experience, like that of a pre-apprentice, is helpful and viewed positively. For more information, please visit our Employment page.

Putting your best foot forward. Every interview cycle, we encounter numerous candidates who tell us they are satisfied with their entrance exam scores, even though they’ve barely met the minimum requirement. "Getting by" isn't in line with our career standards; we encourage you to always aim for your highest possible score and give each assignment, whether at school or on the job, your very best effort.

Why do we require these tests? English comprehension and math skills are fundamental to success in the field. English comprehension is essential for understanding training materials included in student textbooks, technical manuals, safety guidelines, and communicating effectively with instructors, peers and supervisors. Math skills are crucial for calculations related to system design, sizing, load calculations, and troubleshooting. ARPEC will provide apprentices with training on each of these concepts. Demonstrating proficiency in fundamental mathematics through geometry ensures that students can grasp complex concepts, follow precise instructions, and solve problems efficiently, all of which are daily demands in the HVAC/R industry.

Candidate ranking. Top ranking candidates will be invited to participate in an in-person interview with a panel of industry experts. Prior to interviews, we will provide recommendations intended to help you put your best foot forward.

We’d like to get to know you. Be on time, conduct yourself professionally, including wearing clean, professional-looking attire, and be prepared to discuss your career interest in either the HVAC service or pipefitting programs. You can learn more about each of these programs by visiting our Explore tab.

After interviews, we'll notify you by email of your admission status which will be categorized as one of the following: conditional acceptance, provisional acceptance, or not accepted.

Candidates who are conditionally or provisionally accepted: If your admissions status is deemed “conditional” or “provisional” that simply means that there are additional requirements you must comply with, including passing our drug screening and participating in our physical aptitude test, before becoming an enrolled apprentice.

How is conditional acceptance different from provisional acceptance? In addition to what is required of conditionally applicants, provisionally accepted candidates may be accepted as an alternate or may be required to obtain employment as a pre-apprentice prior to the start of the school term.

What to do if you aren’t accepted. Don’t be discouraged --many successful apprentices applied multiple times before they were accepted. We’re only able to accept a limited number of candidates each term. We encourage you to apply again or seek employment as a pre-apprentice working for one of our affiliated employers.

What can you do to improve your likelihood of getting accepted in the next admissions cycle? Working as a pre-apprentice can be an important first step. As a pre-apprentice, you’ll work with experienced tradespeople to learn the skills of your craft. Not only does it give you valuable industry experience, but it shows that you’re serious about pursuing a future opportunity as an ARPEC apprentice. It also helps cultivate relationships with local professionals who can later become references during the application process. Visit our Employment page to learn more.

Physical Abilities Test.
Why are candidates required to participate in a “Physical Abilities Test”? Simply put, there are certain physical requirements candidates must have to be able to perform industry work. ARPEC’s training program includes on-the-job training, which requires employment with one of the contractors who fund the program. Because of that work component, each candidate will be required to demonstrate that they can physically perform the work of the trade; for example, climbing a ladder, bending to reach tools or differentiating between red or green wires. Candidates either pass, by demonstrating they can perform routine trade-related activities, or fail if they cannot reasonably complete these activities. No score is assessed.

ARPEC’s Drug Screening Policy.
WARPEC has established a drug-free policy to ensure a safe environment for our students and employees. As part of this commitment, all applicants must pass a drug screening test. Refusal to participate in the test or a positive result will result in the applicant’s rejection. Screening tests may be conducted at any point during the admissions process.

Begin working in the industry.
If you aren’t already working for one of our employers, you’ll begin your work in the industry. Except for rare circumstances, such as safety concerns, candidates are expected to accept work assignments we’ll arrange for you. Keep in mind that an employer may be located far from your home, however, you will be dispatched to job sites all over south Florida. Visit our Employment page to learn more.

Attend orientation.
Attend our mandatory orientation session where you’ll learn important information about working in our industry, safety precautions, what is expected of you and how to handle situations that may be new to you.

Sign your Scholarship Loan Agreement.
Each ARPEC apprentice receives a scholarship that covers 100% of tuition, books and related materials. Compliance with the terms of the scholarship agreement means you’ll graduate without any tuition debt. In return, you’ll be required to work for one of our affiliated employers who pay to fund your training. Costs for the amount of training, textbooks and computer tablets we provide will be collected if you were to leave the program and work for a non-affiliated employer in the HVAC industry or fail to turn in tablets and textbooks.

Your final acceptance into the program will be issued after you attend our mandatory orientation and meet all other requirements. Candidates who do not comply with these requirements will cease to advance in the admissions process and can reapply for a future term. Candidates who meet all requirements will be notified of final admissions acceptance and will be notified of the upcoming class schedule.

As an accepted candidate, you’re ready to launch your apprenticeship with ARPEC. We’ll provide your class schedule and will coordinate with your affiliated employer, so they can track your progress. You’ll begin hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art training center, guided by instructors who are industry experts. This is your first step toward a rewarding career in HVACR or pipefitting, blending classroom knowledge with real-world experience on your path to success.

You’re now part of ARPEC’s legacy, ready to grow, learn, and excel in the trade with the support of our community!