Onboarding plan

Boilermaker Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new boilermaker from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Boilermaker onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: Boilermaker apprenticeship, AWS or ASME welding certifications (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: welders; torches; rigging gear; hydraulic jacks
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Boilermaker training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Follow confined space rules
  • Use fall protection
  • Wear welding PPE
  • Rig safely
  • Shadow an experienced boilermaker through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: replace a boiler tube
  • Supervised practice: rig a heavy component
  • Supervised practice: work safely in a confined space
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Read blueprints: independently
  • Fit steel plate and tube: independently
  • Weld: independently
  • Rig heavy components: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, Boilermaker apprenticeship)
  • Discuss the career path: Apprentice → Journeyman → Foreman
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Replace a Boiler Tube
Rig a Heavy Component
Work Safely in a Confined Space
Welding
Rigging
Blueprint reading
Fitting

How to measure onboarding success

  • Weeks until the new hire works without close supervision
  • Recordable incidents and near-misses in the first 90 days
  • Rework caused by new-hire errors
  • Apprentice retention through year one

How Boilermaker training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Boilermaker Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Boilermaker Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Boilermaker Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
Get team pricing
Team pricing