INSTALL Expands Apprenticeship Recognition in Washington, Oregon, and Montana, Adding to Statewide Acceptance in California
Workforce needs and contractor demand continue to drive expansion in the West
Washington, D.C. (August 2026) — INSTALL, the North American leader in floorcovering installation training and certification, has significantly expanded recognition of its apprenticeship and workforce training in the western United States in response to contractor demand and skilled labor needs across the flooring industry. Recent approvals in Seattle, Washington, and reciprocity agreements in Oregon and Montana have added to INSTALL’s statewide apprenticeship recognition in California earned in 2024. The launch of these apprenticeship programs by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) reinforces INSTALL’s role as the flooring industry’s most endorsed and specified training program provider.
“Our continuing approvals throughout the West demonstrate our commitment to doing the work necessary to attract new contractors and apprentices while maintaining the highest standards of our trade,” said INSTALL Executive Director David Gross. “Expanding INSTALL’s apprenticeship reach is a critical part of achieving our broader goals of training the next generation of installers and establishing performance assurance through installer qualifications that become part of the procurement process.”
According to Gross, Nevada also continues to experience strong growth, with the Las Vegas area seeing sustained increases in apprentice work hours and contractor demand for INSTALL-trained installers.
What Apprenticeship Offers
INSTALL apprentices receive hands-on training and technical instruction delivered by veteran instructors at INSTALL training centers. The curriculum is developed by the Carpenters International Training Fund with input from manufacturers and industry leaders, and it is reviewed regularly to keep pace with emerging flooring trends, technologies, and techniques. The current curriculum is built on nine pillars—Standard Skills, Carpet, Resilient Flooring, Resinous Flooring, Hardwood Flooring, Concrete Polishing, Safety, Productivity, and Green Building Awareness—and includes manufacturer-specific methods informed by the INSTALL Alliance of more than 130 top mills and manufacturers.
INSTALL standards define the competencies apprentices must demonstrate and the requirements needed to complete the program, and they are regularly reviewed by the U.S. Department of Labor and by Canadian provincial labor departments. This structured approach helps ensure workers develop the technical knowledge and practice required to meet industry standards and evolving jobsite demands.
To learn more about INSTALL’s apprenticeship program, visit installfloors.org/training/install-training-program.
About INSTALL
INSTALL, the International Standards and Training Alliance, is an association of professionals representing the entire flooring industry: installers, contractors, manufacturers, associations, and consultants. By bringing together stakeholders at every level of floorcovering installation, INSTALL has the resources, capability, and commitment to deliver work we can all take pride in. Rigorous standards, comprehensive training using manufacturer-directed curriculum, and the industry’s only free, extended, and non-proprietary third-party warranty on labor demonstrate our commitment to long-term value. For more on INSTALL, visit www.installfloors.org.