Apprentice over 25? - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

esctave · 11-01-2009, 06:58 PM

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, please feel free to move it mods.

I am looking to get into the electrical trade and after researching, it seemed the ideal path was to get someone to take you on board and train you and go to school to get the credits, etc.

I recently read that people aged 25 and over are not eligible for the government benefits involved in the apprenticeship path and are less likely to get hired on. It makes sense since I have been having a hard time getting anyone to take me on.

So now my question is; Would it be best to just study hard for the next yr or so(take an online course/attend school part-time - i work full time)while the field is slow and then try to appy for a job with the newly aquired electrical theory or suck it up and wait until an employer bites?

Thanks guys for any advice.

drsparky · 11-01-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esctave

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, please feel free to move it mods.

I am looking to get into the electrical trade and after researching, it seemed the ideal path was to get someone to take you on board and train you and go to school to get the credits, etc.

I recently read that people aged 25 and over are not eligible for the government benefits involved in the apprenticeship path and are less likely to get hired on. It makes sense since I have been having a hard time getting anyone to take me on.

So now my question is; Would it be best to just study hard for the next yr or so(take an online course/attend school part-time - i work full time)while the field is slow and then try to appy for a job with the newly aquired electrical theory or suck it up and wait until an employer bites?

Thanks guys for any advice.

What government benefits?

NolaTigaBait · 11-01-2009, 07:21 PM

He's in Canada , so no telling. Can't hurt to read about the trade.

electricguy · 11-01-2009, 07:22 PM

I havent read this
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/emp...rio/employers/

BCSparkyGirl · 11-01-2009, 08:57 PM

thats BS. I have not heard of anyone not getting the grants.

nolabama · 11-01-2009, 09:01 PM

your government helps you instead of taxing you into oblivion and selling all your jobs ?? interesting very interesting

BCSparkyGirl · 11-01-2009, 09:02 PM

yup, Im getting like 4 grand back in tax credits this year for finishing, plus I get a grant for getting my JM papers.....cha ching........

nolabama · 11-01-2009, 09:04 PM

i just paid for my j man card which expires in two months after the issue date (its a birthday thing) and they did not pro rate it - yay

BCSparkyGirl · 11-01-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolabama

i just paid for my j man card which expires in two months after the issue date (its a birthday thing) and they did not pro rate it - yay

bastards!

william1978 · 11-01-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nolabama

i just paid for my j man card which expires in two months after the issue date (its a birthday thing) and they did not pro rate it - yay

I haven't paid for my journeymans card in like 4 years. I probably need to get that caught up .

BuzzKill · 11-01-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1978

I haven't paid for my journeymans card in like 4 years. I probably need to get that caught up .

Just go get your masters!

william1978 · 11-01-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzKill

Just go get your masters!

I got it that is why I have sliped on keeping up the journeymans.

BuzzKill · 11-01-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1978

I got it that is why I have sliped on keeping up the journeymans.

So why bother keeping up with a lower level card??

william1978 · 11-01-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzKill

So why bother keeping up with a lower level card??

Thats what I tell myself when I think about. Part of me wants to keep it up because it is a achievement, but the other side says what the hell.

bobelectric · 11-02-2009, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCSparkyGirl

bastards!

But, are you working?

John Valdes · 11-02-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1978

Thats what I tell myself when I think about. Part of me wants to keep it up because it is a achievement, but the other side says what the hell.

I am in a similar situation. I have a state masters and a state contractors license. I have not worked since 2005. Good chance I will not work again. I am on SS. Disability. I cannot let either license lapse. I am paying for two licenses I do not use.

BCSparkyGirl · 11-02-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobelectric

But, are you working?

always am, unless I choose not to. I have never been out of work unless I wanted to be since I was 16. In that time, I have only been off for 9 months (not mat leave, just took time off and partied) and the last time I sent out resumes, I had a job within 1 hour. That is a benefit of being a female in this industry, I suppose.

william1978 · 11-02-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCSparkyGirl

That is a benefit of being a female in this industry, I suppose.

I would say it doesn't hurt.

RyanB · 11-03-2009, 11:39 PM

I'm currently attending the EJTC school jointly run by the IBEW and Electrical Contractors Assc. of BC. About half of our class is over 25 (I am too). All of the students, regardless of age, wrote the same entrance exam and went through the same interview process to get in.

All of the top students in the class are over 25.

Our instructor was 35 when she became an apprentice (she did have related trade experience) and made it to B Foreman (so far).

I don't think your age is much of a factor in getting into the trade, especially if you have experience that will give you an edge.

The only disadvantage to being older is that your pension will be smaller when you retire because you will have put in fewer hours than a younger guy.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-...9250-eng.htm#b
Average age for electrical apprentices is around 30 according to statscan.

ryanapplequist · 11-04-2009, 04:14 AM

hey nolabama lets move to canada