Question about membership

I am actively trying to join the boilermakers. I live smack dab between two pretty active locals. (Im gonna vent a little)

I have been trying to join for a few months now and it just doesnt seem like the process is going anywhere.

I currently am a certified structural steel fabricator. I have a 3g 1" cert via duak shielded flux.

My current role i read the blueprints, fabricate the detail, fit said detail and psrts then weld them out to the blueprints spec.

Im aware they weigh pipe experience heavier when applying ti join the apprenticeship, but whats the deal? It seems like the experience i have doesnt really count for anything and im getting a bit discouraged.

For the last 15 years all ive heard is "we cant find enough guys" " we need workers" etc from every trade out there...but then when you go to join.....they want people who already have advanced certs. Whats the point in having an apprenticeship if the goal is to hire already advanced certd workers?

How does this approach not hurt the trade?

Ive seen the welds from these weld school guys...theyre terrible. Yet they weigh that more than someone like myself with experience running a bead who also can fab and already read blueprints.

Ive made my mind up to become a union welder, if you were me, what would your approach be? I dont know what to do next.