Onboarding plan

Brickmason Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

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

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Brickmason 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: Apprenticeship completion, OSHA 10 or 30-Hour Construction (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: trowels, jointers and brushes; levels, string lines and line blocks; story poles and tape measures; mortar mixers
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Brickmason training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Use wet cutting or vacuum dust control and respiratory protection for silica
  • Inspect scaffolds and never overload planks
  • Lift block properly and share heavy loads
  • Wear eye protection and gloves when mixing and cutting
  • Shadow an experienced brickmason 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: lay a course of brick to the line
  • Supervised practice: mix mortar to the right consistency
  • Supervised practice: install flashing and weeps in brick veneer
  • 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 and lay out walls: independently
  • Mix mortar to the right consistency: independently
  • Build leads and set string lines: independently
  • Lay brick and block in level, plumb courses: 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, Apprenticeship completion)
  • Discuss the career path: Mason Tender or Helper → Apprentice Brickmason → Journeyworker Mason or Restoration Specialist
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Lay a Course of Brick to the Line
Mix Mortar to the Right Consistency
Install Flashing and Weeps in Brick Veneer
Laying brick and block
Mortar mixing
Reading plans and layout
Leveling and plumbing walls

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 Brickmason training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Brickmason Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Brickmason 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 Brickmason Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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