The Truth About The Electrical Apprenticeship 

Are you going to a technical school?

can you also help me out since i just graduate?

@@prettyboishah2898 no. Personally I wouldn’t recommend that. Start an apprenticeship program and most companies will send you to school for free and you’ll get schooling and on the job training which you need both of o become a journeyman.

@@ayubeeabdille3650 I’d just recommend looking for bigger companies or unions looking to hire apprentices. It took me like 3 months but it’s worth the wait.

Could you tell me how did you find an company which hired you ?

We love to hear it man!

@@americanelectrician right on brother. Thanks for the videos.

What route did you take? Did you go to trade school?

@@handledright no straight field experience. I educated myself on the code book and electrical theory.

Idk about the rules for different states/countries, but how are you a master with only 4 years in the trade? In texas, you need 4 years/8000 hours just to get your jiw license, and then a few thousand more hours to even test for your masters. Thats damn quick to get there

So you don't recommend going to a college to get a diploma in it?

@redacted_csgo no. With the right attitude and work ethic you'll learn everything you'll need in the field. I'm not against going to school, I just don't think it's absolutely necessary.

Hahahaha you make it sound terrible man c'mon

@GORILLA_PIMP I'm trying to get potential apprentices to make a commitment. To become the best electrician possible. After almost 30 years in the trade I've noticed a huge decrease in knowledge and general passion in what these youngsters are achieving. It's almost like there isn't a love for what they do anymore. It's sad to me.

Oh shut the hell up

Do it! Best of luck man

Same here man I’m doing it so excited (37)

It’s never too late!!! Welcome!!

52 years old here. I am an electrician apprentice

37 years old as well and going to apply...

You're right but it's almost all trades that are "dying"/struggling to find people

@@shenkichin6295one main problem is the pay rate is very low, the people who actually know how to do the job right and have a solid work experience, they are not going to get into apprenticeship for 30hr, here in California, I have to move to I&E and gain experience making more than a 100K a year, apprenticeship is good for 18-25 after that people with families dont really recommend just my opinion of course everyobody is a grow human. Cheers and God bless!

@robertdeforest9682 ^ about service and mmos your already on the path I’m about to take

@@BlackFlashDemon Yeah sure man, whats up?

@@robertdeforest9682 currently what are you makingn and your rank?? You’re already on the path I’m about to go on and haven’t gotten a chance to speak with anyone doing the same MOS. I plan to do 7-12 years

Damn we’re literally carbon copies of each other. I went to college, left, enlisted into the military. I have one more year left and looking to get into the trades when I get out.

@@Scalesti Yeah man I've met many other people like us in the military, seems like college didn't agree with a lot of us for whatever reason. Btw dude, are you working on getting yourself into an apprenticeship program for when you get out? I went through TAPS a few months back and it seemed to be geared for those just wanting to go through the usual college route, but it was lacking in information for us prospective tradies. I had to reach out to some IBEW Union folks and they set me down the right path. If you're interested or need some help let me know. Stay safe out there brother

Currently 33 and an apprentice electrician, I’d say join a union it’s hard getting into the field. Good luck you got this 🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️

Keep at it bro!💪🏼

That’s the whole goal with videos like this. Trying to save some people some hardships

Glad it was helpful!

I’m 29 and feel like it’s a late start, but better late than never I guess. How’s it going so far? I’m a CDL A trucker and I’m over this lifestyle. Thinking of going to trade school for electrician here in NYC

@@HabituaILineStepper go sign up for the apprenticeship I’m making 145k a year now I journey out this year I’ll make more

How is it going for you guys, 33 yo female thinking of starting an apprenticeship next month

I'm 32, out here in Oregon and just started applying to programs. BMCC is my first choice because it's the only thing on the eastside of the state.

Thank you for the support!

If it makes you feel any better you probably won't even be alive in 10-15 years so if i was you id just try an have as much fun as possible while you're still young AND alive

Dawg wtf kind of advice is this LMAO@@GORILLA_PIMP

I feel in the same damn boat. I just hate my office job and honestly I got electrician friends trying to get me in the trade and I've been so scared to take the risk and see if I really am cut out for it. I think if we just keep living in this fear we won't get a life that we want. Did you decide to get through with it? @yayday? Apply at the very least for your local union! Its a very long waiting list and its at least worth putting in the effort and dipping your toes in. We got this! I hope you can find what you want in life.

@@GORILLA_PIMP horrible advice.

At 26 I felt lost as well, we all do, especially in todays society with so many distractions. I would suggest you adopt a responsibility (electrician seems to be a very exciting path, I'm considering it myself), no matter what it is as long as you are contributing to society. Also, never forget that God loves you and he will set your life free if you let Him in. Much love brother! 🙏

Do it!

Congrats! Love to hear it

Bro thanks for the feedback

Bro thank you! I would definitely suggest getting into a program!

Thanks!

Congrats bro! Getting that head start

In my experience as an electrician for 19 years, the unions around here don’t get as much work as they did when I started. Not sure if it’s the same everywhere though

I'm making about 56 an hour and 75 an hour ot as a non union apprentice doing prevailing wage jobs. Thank you unions lol.

Same here. Associate in General Studies…& working a dead end job. But I want to change my life, we can make it happen bro.

Turn that hate into a greater motivation, keep on dancing brother.

I agree but you can definitely still make it work. I believe in that path for electricians but an entrepreneur is an entrepreneur. If you want to man I am sure you can find a way to make it work!

7 figures?

​@dakkerrins6344 start your own company as a masters sell it for 7 figures, or go big start a utility sized solar company and go for 8 to 9 figures.

I know it depends on the area but people are looking for people somewhere

You don't apply with companies if you want to be worth anything (a union apprentice). The hall/your school will place you.

I started work building a solar plant with a company doing cable management. I went online and applied for my apprentice card (Wyoming). Turned that into the office to begin accumulating hours. I worked hard and let my interest in the trade be known and a month later I started working directly under a journeyman on inverters. I am preparing to enroll in school now and have a job offer to follow my current journeyman and foreman to the next solar project While it is not a traditional apprenticeship it meets the states requirements for advancement.

Best of luck to you I’m hoping to start my apprenticeship soon also!

I started when I was 29, 46 now best decision I ever made.

what kind of corperate job did u do bro

I would encourage you to read the standards and see what it takes to get a re-interview if you dont get an offer of apprenticeship when work picks up in the spring (for most places anyway). they arent going to contact everyone on the list, only the people at the top that get offers. there will be a timeframe like 2 years, when your name will roll off the list. normally you can apply to re-interview after one year if you do something related to the trade or school like take a math class, take some other related class, or get a job that is relevant like at a parts house, or material handler. good luck and dont give up. many people in my local had to apply more than once before they got in.

Honestly as a black man in a trade full of white people and other races.. rarely do I see other black ppl like myself (which is not a pro or con to me, just an assessment). Some might think I wouldnt fit in at all, but to be honest everyone has their own unique life experiences and we are all different in our way. so i wouldnt worry about fitting in. I would just work hard and learn to do what you dont know how by asking many questions. Your journeyman will be there to help and learn from.

Go for it! It is actually super interesting and a great career choice

Bro thanks for the feedback! It can really differ on the area and company. Here is a lot more in depth explanation: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z_-XCINoalU.html

I had to call companies around me and finally found a good company and went with them!

That’s awesome! Are you in school or are you finished now?

Nope. Wind and solar are "similar". Automation is more of an industrial track and a lineman is high voltage. Our definitions of high voltage may be different.

Dude seriously? You barely know green from red and you being picky??? Just take whatever place that will hire you wtf

Some jobs require apprentices enrolled in a school/program. Some states may require an accredited apprenticeship to reciprocate your license. On the job training isn't really great about teaching you the code book which you need to pass you jw test. But you are right, in most states you just need 8000 recorded hours and to pass the state test.

It really depends on where you’re at and where you come from. Union wages are set but it depends on the area you live in

Yes, If you can avoid trade school don’t go

It’s more about the company than the trade. They paid for my schooling here but im pretty sure most companies do

​@@americanelectricianas an over the road non union apprentice working for a commercial solar company. I made 98k last year, 130k with per diem. Granted that's 50 hours a week over the road. Some of the prevailing wage jobs we are seeing are paying 50+ for laborers and apprentices with the pay increase and fringe cash.

No Unless you have a CDL A and are looking to join a utility company. Generally union doesn’t require CDL for any reason. Unless it’s specifically required for your job/position.

So I just took mine recently and it reminded me of the SATs in highschool, where you had to bubble in the answer you thought was correct. There was a math section based on Algebra and then there was a reading section and that was all. So I would say make sure you're good on all aspects of Algebra and be able to answer questions correctly based off what you read, hope this helps

if you need a refresher on your math skills alot of people use khan academy.

It's like an 8th grade standardized test. Just make sure you know metric conversions.

It's good.

Completely agree

Hahahahaha no height requirements what so ever. Best of luck on your journey!

What part of Indiana

i'm in the martinsville/bloomington area. i'm looking at possibly trying to apprentice through the Terre Haute IBEW Local 725 but if you have any suggestions i would be keen to hear them! This seems like such a rewarding field and I wish I would have jumped into it years ago. @@americanelectrician

I'm in the Martinsville/Bloomington area. I just put in an application for the Terre Haute JATC Apprenticeship but I would love any recommendations you might have! I only wish I had looked into this career option years ago. @@americanelectrician

Marrtinsville Bloomington area. Just put in an application to the Terre Haute JATC through their IBEW Union. Would love to hear any alternatives you might suggest though, too! @@americanelectrician

Yes it’s way better to go through an apprenticeship program

Cut the bottom green wire No not THAT green wire!!

I have the same exact question. Currently working full time sales job but looking to switch to trades and I am unsure if I must leave my current job once accepted into a program.

An electrical apprenticeship requires a certain amount of classroom hours AND on the job hours. That means you will have to work as an apprentice full time for 4 (or 5) years to become a journeyman electrician. So, yes, you'll have to leave your job

You'll have to quit to be an apprentice since you have to work full time, but they won't expect you to until like the day before you start working at a site.

Correct. The company will let you know if they offer a apprenticeship

Go in wearing a nice expensive suit and briefcase and demand to speak to the boss or owner then raise hell if they try an give you the run around Rinse and repeat everyday until they say yes

I am 32 too and I just was accepted into the IBEW here in PA, best career move I ve ever done! You re not alone, and hopefully when you get accepted, you ll notice that you re not the oldest of your classroom. Best of Luck brother!

@@Hitman.13. im 19 and just graduate how do apply for ibew?

You’ll be apprentice SAURUS 🦕 . You’ll work a lot in your beginning years and at your 5th year you’ll be sent to the local hall and your hall rat 🐀 days will commence. Remember what I said, I’m gone now. Bow your head.

@@ayubeeabdille3650 Hello man, if you really decide on what you wanna do in your life then you ll have YEARS on most people! You ll be a millionaire by retirement! Google "IBEW "your city/town", drive there and ask to talk to an organizer and say that you want to apply for the apprenticeship (some locals have online application, others it's in person), you ll need the highschool diploma and a valid driver's license (also a car is a must), apply as soon as you can, you ll be scheduled to take an aptitude test that includes basic algebra and English reading and comprehension (since you re fresh out of highschool I assume it won't be much trouble to do well in it), you ll need to get an average of 4 out of 9 possible score, then if you pass you ll go to the interview phase, you ll be interviewef by a panel of 6 to 8 people (half of them are IBEW leadership and the other half is the contractors), if you convince them that you re serious and this is what you really want, you ll be accepted. Also you can RU-vid "Mad Electrician, how to apply for the apprenticeship" he is the best resource on the matter, also shares tips on every step.

@@PeymanSultan-wn6iw Apprenticesauruses are in their 40s and some 50s, early 30s are SUPER common where I am from! Also that hall rat shit is a generalization, first of we don't call Brothers of the IBEW Rats! That is wormy to say. I know people who were not laid off once and they re in their 50s, worked steady ADN overtime during 2008/2009, Covid...I guess it depends on the area, and on your reputation as a worker, which you should do all you can to build and maintain!

Yes! Thank you!🙌🏼

Yeah some places are harder to get on in. I’d just try calling around until you find the right shop. There’s 10x more companies in your area then you’d think

I see trucking jobs posted on indeed and they are garbage tier man. Im talking like $15/16 an hour to drive semis. Wtf

​@@isolatedbutjacked7036 Wow really??? Could probably just get a job sitting in an office doing nothing all day for that lol

I went to school one night a week and worked a full schedule

Is that for every Apprenticeship program? They have only go in for 1 day? Can you elaborate more on that please because I always hear that people quit there regular jobs and then go into the program full time.

Every program is different but for mine I would work as an electrician for my full week and one night a week I would go in to wchool

That’s fantastic!

😂

You're a chic.... right?

Absolutely not!

No make your country great. We are good

Lol

Borders closed homey

WYT? What's that?

@@hmoobmikaheverything I posted I stand by. It is the absolute truth and I think it should be known.

you in the trade?

@@Isaiahkool1671 not anymore, 18 years sentence.

Oh c'mon homey don't be like that let your hair down an live a lil Ware tf you at you bring the wires an ill bring the chics