Skilled Trades

• The skilled trades is a term for industries that are particularly hands-on in nature and require particularly well-trained workers. Among the skilled trades are ancient professions, such as carpenters, stone masons and bakers, as well as much newer crafts like electricians and machinists. Not all of the skilled trades are construction fields; service work like hairstyling and early childhood education are sometimes considered skilled trades. No matter what the specific profession, anyone working in the skilled trades goes through at least a vocational training program and sometimes an apprenticeship. Those working in construction usually must be bonded or covered by a employer who is bonded.
  
  

Apprenticeship

• Before a tradesman can be bonded to work in her industry, she usually must train for the profession in an apprenticeship under currently employed tradesmen. The apprenticeship process is basically an on-the-job training program, though many modern apprenticeships include a course of study at a vocational school or community college. The standards for apprenticeship are often set by the government or a union for workers in the trade.
  
  

Surety Bonds

• Skilled tradesmen and their employers, especially those in the construction industry, are often required to purchase a surety bond to protect their customers from failures to meet their performance obligations or defects in craftsmanship. Generally, state government agencies like the LSU Agriculture Center advise against hiring tradesmen who are not legally bonded and insured, as they may be on the hook for any damage to their property or the tradesman's failure to deliver on their promises. State governments keep a database of tradesmen with current bonds that consumers can examine before signing a contract.
  
  

Licensing

• Bonded tradesmen usually also carry a current trade license to meet regulatory obligations or provide security to their customers. State agencies usually regulate licenses and help to ensure a minimum level of education and experience. To get a license, a tradesman must provide documentation of his experience and education and pass a rigorous exam in his field, according to the LSU Agriculture Center. In addition, tradesmen with a license must have adequate bonding and insurance to cover their work and keep up to date with advances in their field.