Dr. Electro

I started as an electrician in 2000. Ticketed in 2004. It took me 50 months from start to journeyman. I attended Siast Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw, SK. When I started, the apprenticeship board covered tuition completely. My first and second years cost only registartion fees. Third and fourth year I had to pay $120 tuition per year plus registration($14.00). I know that each year now runs a student about $300+. Also in Sask we claim Employment Insurance during school.

I am a newer business owner in Regina and would like to know how the system works in the other provinces.

Cheers.

jontar

I think the systems are pretty close, there are 2 electricians and 1 lineworker in alberta a does everything electrician (red seal) and a power systems electrician (grey seal), PSE mainly work for Utilities in substations or on metering. I'm a does everything, I apprenticed for 4yrs with a big contractor doing comm, light industrial (including oil/gas), high volts, then as a first year jman switched contractors to resi, indust, hi volts (fortisalberta/enmax/epcor contract work), then went to all hi volts only, after I got my masters, had kids and got on at a plant where its all indust, with some hi volts and a little resi, they own 7-8 houses on the section of land and rent them out.


Schooling is 4yrs 2months, 2months, 2 months, 3 months, and the rumor mill of going to 5yrs never happens, then after 3yrs as a jman you can write your masters, which I'm a CME (Certified Master Electrican) there is also RME (restricted) and ME. To pull a permit in alberta you need your masters, there are some things like if you live in the house you can wire it aslong as its 300v below and 100amps and below. are as a jman if you go to church or comm hall you can wire but not for profit, powerlineman can pull permits in some situations, but never do they just do what they want. etc.

1yr school mainly resi, single family dwelling, some hotel/motel, some condo, can't rember everything its been 12yrs, 2nd yr is industrial/oilfeild haz loc. single phase power triangle stuff, 3rd is more indust with motors/transformers, and 3 phase power triangle stuff, 4th yr is review everything, plus indust electronics, plc, single phase motors, vfd, maybe motor starters that maybe 3rd though. then after passing TQ (Tech. Quiz) you write IP (interprovinical) and if you pass can work any where in Canada except Quebec.

Theres a new TILMA thing with BC so, you don't ness. need your IP (red seal) and if you hold your masters you can get your fsr (field safety rep), and bc guys can go fsr to masters. Also some type of deal with newfoundland with apprentices, not sure 100% but they can take maybe 90% of there hours in Alberta and still hold a Newfoundland ticket, or something like that. Somebody else would know more.

I'd say 80% or maybe more of the electricians in Alberta either work in the oilpatch or did a one time. Theres some big comm (over four storey or huge warehouse) in Calgary/Edmonton with a little in RedDeer/Lethbridge.

Power is 120/240 single split phase 180degrees apart, 120/208 + 277/480 + 347/600 wye 240+480+600 delta or resistor grounded neutral. 2400+4160+7200+13.2+13.8+14.4+25+33+69+138+240kv anything above 69kv is transmission anything below is distrubtion.

control voltage is usually below 120, so like on a 4-20ma analog channel its 24vdc or older analog 0-10vdc or +-10vdc, plc is 24vdc or 110/120, crap like doorbells are 16vac, theres alittle 240v control but its rare, if it exists its at a plant were only an electrical worker can access it.

I think schooling is somewhat funded by Province, but you have to pay for each yr. some employers pay for this. Sometimes you go on EI and sometimes large indust employers will pay.

Hope this helps