Are you interested in pursuing a career in the trades? The City’s Rebuild initiative in partnership with the Preservation Trades Center (PTC) is recruiting participants for our Winter 2025 Carpentry, Cement Masons & Plasterers, and Bricklayer and Allied Craftworkers academies. These full-time, paid training programs ($15/hr) are 40 hours per week at Eastern State Penitentiary with the instruction and support of expert craft workers. At the end of the program, participants will have the chance to interview for a full-time apprenticeship. No experience is required! 

PTC at Eastern State Penitentiary is a hub for workforce development in the preservation trades. Gain hands-on experience working alongside expert craft workers and prepare for a career in the trades while preserving Eastern State Penitentiary, a National Historic Landmark.

Interested applicants must attend one information session, demonstration day, and submit an application by Thursday, January 15, 2025, at 5 p.m.  

Winter 2025 academies schedule

  • Carpentry Academy: March 3, 2025, through April 17, 2025
  • Cement Masons & Plasterers Academy: March 10, 2025, through April 3, 2025
  • Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Academy: March 24, 2025 through May 2, 2025

Attend one mandatory information session

Session #1: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 6 p.m., virtual via Zoom

Session #2:  Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 12 noon, virtual via Zoom

Mandatory Demonstration Day: Tuesday, January 14, 2024 at 9:30 a.m., in-person

  • Eastern State Penitentiary; 2027 Fairmount Ave., Phila, PA 19130  
  • Registration is required and will be shared with all info session attendees.
  • The academy application link will be shared with all demonstration day attendees. All applicants will be considered for all three trade academies, but are welcome to indicate if they have a preference

Application for the Masonry or Carpentry Academy closes on Thursday, January 15, 2024, at 5 p.m.  

Who qualifies? 

  • Minimum age of 18
  • Philadelphia residency
  • High school diploma or GED equivalent
  • Valid Photo ID (unexpired Driver’s License preferred)
  • Willing to undergo a background check (Justice impacted strongly encouraged to apply)
  • Ability to pass a drug screening
  • Ability to engage in strenuous physical work
  • Interested in a career in construction

The academies are held in partnership with Eastern State Penitentiary, PowerCorpsPHL, PA CareerLink®, Eastern Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters, the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 PA/DE, and the Cement Masons & Plasterers Union Local 592. 

Questions? Please email the the Preservation Trades Center at tradescenter@easternstate.org or call (215)-309-4883. 

Learn more and sign up at EasternState.org/TradesCenter
Not ready to apply yet? Fill out our workforce development interest form.
This form is open year-round and is how we communicate upcoming training programs to Philadelphia residents. We’ll notify you first when the next round of applications opens. Thank you for your interest!