The International Finishing Trades Institute (iFTI) is the education department for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and the Finishing Contractors Association. The iFTI’s core purpose is to develop and expand a qualified and competitive workforce for the finishing trades industries and oversee the apprenticeship training program where those who wish to enter our trades learn their craft. The iFTI not only provides the necessary skills to do the job right the first time, but also provides the training to do it safely.
The iFTI offers journey worker upgrade and retraining as well as trade and product-specific “train-the-trainer” programs to prepare our instructors to effectively deliver important and up-to-date training and knowledge to the tradesmen and women in our over 29 district councils across the United States and Canada.
The Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Technology (CIAT) Department of the iFTI designs and develops trade-specific courses and course materials as well as provides other relevant learning programs and opportunities for our members and affiliates. Aiming to stay at the cutting edge of technology, the CIAT Department incorporates technology and multimedia resources into the development of course materials for immediate and widespread dissemination and implementation to its regional training centers through the use of a Learning Management System (LMS). The department stays abreast of initiatives and trends in the construction industry in order to provide relevant and employable job skills to its members and provides train-the-trainer classes for its instructors across the nation.
The IUPAT is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland is home to the iFTI International Training Center and a 36-room residence hall for visiting students and member meetings. The state-of-the-art training facility provides 52,000 square feet of office and training space, and contains six classrooms, a flexible lab, and a hands-on training area. The training center is equipped with multimedia projectors, flip charts, white boards, TV/DVD, multimedia recording and microphone capabilities as well as laptops, personal laptop connections and Internet services.
The flexible lab and training area provides 10 welding booths, 2 abrasive blast booths, 4 spray booths, a simulated steel structure for rigging and hoisting and other operations, a confined space tank, male and female locker rooms, and floor space for constructing various decontamination facilities, containment, and mock-ups for reduction strategies. The facility is equipped with all of the necessary tools and materials and mock-up rooms to perform the approved techniques.
The iFTI exists to provide IUPAT members with the skills they need to have a fulfilling and rewarding career in the finishing trades. Learn more about the iFTI and its education and training programs throughout this website.