For an ITI fitter or electrician from Kanpur, Coimbatore or Jamshedpur, the step that most often turns a certificate into a career is an apprenticeship. An ITI apprenticeship places a trainee inside a real factory or workshop, with a stipend, under the Apprentices Act. This guide explains how to find one, apply and make the most of it.
What an apprenticeship is
Under the Apprentices Act, 1961, employers engage apprentices for structured on-the-job training for a set period, paying a stipend at least at the notified rate. For ITI trades, the training builds on the ITI course with real machines, production targets and safety systems.
Finding openings
- Register on the official Apprenticeship India portal with Aadhaar, ITI details and bank account.
- Search by trade (Fitter, Electrician, Welder, Turner, COPA and others) and district.
- Apply to establishments; many large PSUs and private manufacturers also publish apprenticeship notices on their own websites.
- Watch for apprenticeship melas organised in many districts, where several employers recruit on one day.
Do PSUs take ITI apprentices?
Yes. Railways, defence production units, power and oil companies and other PSUs regularly notify apprenticeships for ITI trades, usually selecting on ITI marks. Always apply through the official notice.
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Documents usually needed
- ITI marksheet and NCVT/SCVT certificate.
- Class 10 marksheet (date of birth).
- Aadhaar and bank account details.
- Caste certificate if claiming reservation.
- Medical fitness certificate where required.
Making the training count
- Keep a log of machines, jobs and tools handled; it becomes your resume's strongest section.
- Learn the plant's safety systems (lockout-tagout, PPE); employers value this.
- Ask to rotate across sections: maintenance, production and quality.
- Collect a training completion letter with duties listed.
After the apprenticeship
Apprentices who complete training and pass the trade test receive the National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC), recognised for employment. Many are absorbed by the same company; others move to similar plants, contractors or Gulf placements with the experience on record.
Writing the apprenticeship on your resume
Put the apprenticeship directly under the ITI qualification: establishment name, trade, period, and three or four bullet points with machines and tasks (for example “assembled and aligned gearbox units on a production line” or “carried out preventive maintenance on 15 motors under supervision”). Add the NAC once received. Employers read this section first, so it should be specific.
The ITI resume format page has a full sample for fitter and electrician trades with an apprenticeship section, ready to edit in the resume builder.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for an ITI apprenticeship?
Register on the official Apprenticeship India portal, search by trade and district, and apply; also watch PSU notices and apprenticeship melas.
Is a stipend paid during apprenticeship?
Yes, at least the rate notified under the Apprentices Act.
What is the NAC certificate?
The National Apprenticeship Certificate awarded after completing training and passing the trade test.
Do PSUs hire ITI apprentices?
Yes; railways, defence units, power and oil companies regularly notify apprenticeships.
Does apprenticeship help get a permanent job?
Often yes; many apprentices are absorbed, and the experience helps elsewhere.
Keep reading
- ITI Resume Format: the free tool this guide explains.
- All fresher resumes calculators
- Jobs After BSc for Freshers: Lab, QC, Data and More
Sources: Apprentices Act, 1961; official apprenticeship portal of the Government of India (apprenticeshipindia.gov.in).