schroedes

hey everyone, iwas browsing and ran across this site,very interesting,i am about to start school in august for construction electricity, i have no experience in this field but ive always been told its a good field to be in,its a two year program and i was wondering how far this would count towards an apprenticeship and if it will help me get my foot in the door a little easier? any info is helpful so thanks alot

HighWirey

Welcome to the forum.

You have chosen a good trade. Skip that 'construction electricity' program and enroll in an accredited apprenticeship program. You will 'be out' in four to five, with credentials.

Work'in For That Free Tee . . .

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schroedes

how exactly would i do that? im new to this,so the schooling wouldnt even be worth it?

Idaho Abe

I agree with Highwirey If you are serious call several Electrical contractors and go to work for one of them and enroll in an apprentice school.

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schroedes

do you know if i would be able to do both,the degree counts as two years towards your apprenticeship,i start aug 25, any info is helpful,thanks alot

480sparky

Greetings and welcome!

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brian john

This schooling costing you money?

Apprenticeship is generally paid by others you work as you learn. THE ONLY WAY IMO....A school without field training is not a good approach.

HighWirey

Sir,

I cannot speak to your 'construction electricity' program. I do not what that program is, however the first question that pops into my pea brain is how many dollars will that 'construction electricity' program cost you out of pocket?

An accredited apprenticeship program should cost you very little, other than your well spent time.

Work'in For That Free Tee . . .

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schroedes

its a two year program at the technical college here,it will cost about 12 grand and will count as a year towards the journeyman license,the instructor said it would be hard to get in an apprenticeship without the degree as i will be competing with others that do have it. its alot of lab work and hands on work

brian john

Not sure where you are located and further your education is never bad,,,,but $12,000.00 GET AN APPRENTICESHIP.


You can become an electrician without ever going to school, you'll never be an electrician with only school.

I say this only to make a point.

A combination of the two completed simultaneously is best, hands on with field expierence is necessary.

schroedes

thaks alot for the info,i am going to try to do both,work part time in the summer if possible, is the job outlook good out there?? you guys making pretty good money? lol

brian john

OH Jeeze I see you are from Fargo...You have electricity there?

Wages are location dependent. my guys make 90,000.00-100,000.00+ a year but it is very expensive here, 100 miles south of here and wages are 1/2 this amount.

Call a few contractors and try to get on full time, check for local IBEW or other reconized apprenticship. Our apprentices take classes every other week one day a week and get paid for going to class.

Oh and you'll be getting benefits H&W, vacations, holidays (maybe) and retirement. HARD TO BEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


SERIOUSLY take a hard look at full time work/apprenticeship.

http://www.dakibew.org/Local1426.html

http://local.yahoo.com/ND/Fargo/Home...1lICYgR2FyZGVu

http://www.abc.org/Newsroom2/News_Re..._Projects.aspx

Big R

I just started my apprenticeship. I would say the majority of those in orientation had electrical construcion 2year degree (which most said cost them $18-25K.) I think the degree helped many of those get into the IBEW program. The degree will only jump them ahead 1 year in school providing they pass out that year in the proficiency exam. So in essence they well be paid more than me while I start from year 1.

headrec

Welcome to the forum. From the bit of studying I have done on the subject an apprenticeship is the best way to go.

randomkiller

Welcome to the forum.

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brian john

I may have blinders on in this as I never served a REAL apprenticeship, never went to school, heck barely graduated high school. I was told by the local in my interview I was not qualified to be an electrician.


I have never been against school and really am surprised by the Big R post. The locals are delaying workers entry and making them spend $$$$$$ to join (if pre-schooling becomes the standard). I understand accepting HS training as a benefit but I find this sad that young men spend big bucks to get in. Get the workers to the work.

Started in the trade at 17, 1st license at 20 first masters at 21.

schroedes

haha! ya we do have electricity here,theres actually about a 160000 people here, any ways thanks for the info guys,im going to look into the local apprenticeships around here, a degree never hurts tho and thats why im getting into this field because electricians arre needed everywhere and i can move out of this wasteland,lol

brian john

You'll never damage your brain with education, I just thought/think you could get to the wager earner status faster.

p_logix

However most electricians without schooling are sasquash electricians. True schooling alone doesn't make you a electrician its the foundation you need and the hands on and experience can not be taught. I myself started the trade at 13. I had about 5 years part time of hands on before even going to school. But school is where i really learned theory and that can't always be taught on the job or in the field. I never went through an apprenticeship program i went to La trade technical college 2 years full time and worked part time as a electrician for a NON UNION contractor. As soon as I finished school i took and passed the IBEW local 2295 industrial journeymans test passed no problem. There are always alternate ways as long as you have the right mind set and goal and a passion to become an electrician. Bottom line schooling and hands on experince is best. good luck.

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brian john

Most electricians are assembly line electricians, doing little or nothing that involves schooling, run pipe, set gear, ECT.

I never went to school, I was working on a deck and saw my future and it was not pretty so I decided to read a book. I did take code classes and over the years some courses that interested me, but mostly I am self taught.




Should I take this as a compliment?

90%+ of the "A" mechanics I know cannot calculate primary/secondary amperage of a transformer given, KVA, primary voltage, secondary voltage and the primary/secondary amperage. Not that they are not knowledgeable, but they learned it so long ago and never used it after class. Don't use lose it retain what you need in your day to day job.

No disagreement here.

But my main point was you can become an electrician without schooling you can't become an electrician with just schooling. Heck most of the journeymen I worked with in the 60's and 70's never thought about attending any schools, I am sure the mechs they learned from had even less formal training, yet you always here about the quality of work in the good old days.

Though you can obtain a license as I know a few masters that never worked in the field.