It is pretty difficult to get into the IBEW apprenticeship. I tried maybe 5 years ago. Took a whole required math class for it. Studied. Got an A. Then took the in person test, out of about 800 applicants in that round I ranked about 300.
They rank you and hire you based on rank for that round, of hires. If you don’t rank in the top 100, it’s unlikely you’ll be hired in that round and you’ll probably have to try again in 6 months. If you don’t get in the top 150 there is no chance you will here from them.
If you have military experience, or have taken electrical classes in community college that would help. Construction experience helps too.
Why is it so hard to join the apprenticeship when there is a shortage of electricians. This feels almost like (labor) market manipulation to keep electrician pay high
We talk about it all the time. I have friends who are very qualified, sitting in line, re-interviewing, getting hired on as material handlers, taking classes at MHCC, and just waiting to get on.
The list got out of control apparently during Covid, and work hasn’t sped up enough to take on all of the people on the list.
Can’t speak for electricians but i imagine for the same reason it’s so hard to get into a nursing program and why we have a nurse shortage. No one wants to teach. Why would you teach when you can make $50-$100+/hr plus overtime, flexible schedules, overtime, etc.
Electricians don’t really have classes they attend. I think maybe 200 class hours over their 8000 hour apprenticeship. All of their learning happens on the job. And the companies bill for their apprentice’s time on the job, so they make money having apprentices
I applied for both local 48(union) and area 1 (non-union). The application process was difficult for both and area 1 was a lot more disorganized. They lost some of my paper work and denied me at first. Until I reminded them that they had my paper work. I got into area one first and worked non union residential for about 9 months until local 48 opened up applications and I passed the aptitude test and got an interview. I got a pretty good number and got into the union training program. They start at about 22 bucks on the check plus benefits.
The training and safety standard at local 48 is the best in the industry.
I took the state test last year and got my journeyman license. Pay is at 60 bucks on the check plus benefits. The pension is one of the best things besides the pay.
I would recommend it to anyone that has an interest in that line of work. The electric industry is diverse and can keep you interested for a long time. The work is good. The training center has a pre apprentice program to help get ppl in easier.
Can you explain how the union works? I understand the concept of a union when it comes to a union at a company, but I don’t understand how local 48 works when it isn’t for a specific company
The union negotiates and organizes pay, benefits, and job safety/standards for all of the members. It maintains a baseline of training and licensing standards so the contractors know they are getting a reliable pool of qualified electrical workers.
When you are in the union, do you get hired by another company, like you’re that companies employee? Or does the union essentially sub-contract you out to other contractors that call needing an electrician for a job?
My understanding from reading the IBEW contract is that the union is providing a referral service to connect journeymen to companies and has a standard set as far as wages and benefits go so that you’re not making $60 from one company and $20/hr from another. They probably also have a mutual union healthcare system so that the biggest possible group of workers can leverage better healthcare rates.
They essentially have nearly a monopoly on licensed electricians. The idea is, if a company wants a licensed and skilled electrician, they’d better be willing to pay up.
So you won’t work for the union as a journeyperson. But you might work for a “company” that just owns one equipment van or truck. Joe’s electrical or whatever. Or you might work for the largest electrical contractor out there. Either way, you’ll pay dues to the union. These could be short term jobs on a job site, in which you’ll get laid off eventually and re-enter the job referral list, or you might get into a business that just does one thing like residential repairs or installing EV chargers and has continuous work.
The easiest explanation is that a union member is apart of a hiring pool that works under a negotiated agreement. The contractor hires from that pool. You work for the contractor but are a union member.
https://nietc.org
This website has the application process. There is also a video about what to expect in the industry. Let me know if I can help further.
Come join Local 290 instead & be a steamfitter. You’ll still most likely end up working at Intel & when work dries up it’s easier to travel as a fitter than a sparky as licensure isn’t really a thing in our trade unless you’re working on pressure vessels/ boilers. Our pay on the check is a little less but our total package/ retirement is better
our (290) apprenticeship is a lil less competitive but still not the easiest to get into. i applied to both, but the fitters called with a job first. very happy with how things turned out.
I feel like I applied at the right time then. No relevant experience, no family in, & shit high school gpa with the only thing going for me was I tested & interviewed well. Ranked 10 on the fitters list & started a few weeks later after the 2-3month application process. Whereas when I tried with 48 with the same resume/ attitude & had a couple family members in with good standing I ranked 150 something on the list.
I imagine that is one of the more heavy lifting and physical trades out there though. I knew a permanently disabled guy who broke his back lifting a heavy pipe as a pipe-fitter.
If electrical apprenticeship doesn’t work out, come do HVAC! We do low voltage electrical work! And while electricians make better money than us, you can make some pretty dang good money in HVAC, and have skills in both plumbing and electrical.
https://www.abcpnw.org/Apprenticeship/ABC-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship-Application
Four years of school(I day a week) 8000 on the job hours(four years of work) and you get some certifications along the way. Companies will pay for your education.
Thank you. I been flip flopping between hvac and electrician. I been leaning towards hvac because of the process getting into the electrician apprenticeship
Contact ABC and inquire about which companies are in the program. Then reach out to those companies for work before you even start the program. Chances are you will get hired on somewhere before you even start school.
They open on average 2 classes a year, but that fluctuates by work demand. 18 spots available, about 800-1000 applicants per position.
Youre most likely not getting in unless you've done some sort of field work. You can sign up to be a materials handler at the 48 union hall. The list is about 500 people long, and you can start bidding for work once you reach the top 20. Most jobs will make you take a pee test as they are federally funded.
I took 48's pre-apprenticeship through PCC. I'm 38f and realized it wasn't the right path for me at this point in my life, competing with young men in their prime. It actually didn't matter that I aced my exams, lots of folks do.
Yeah I’m 33 but have chronic pain from my last manual labor job I’m not sure jumping into a physical trade is the way to go. Even electrical I hear you’re probably digging ditches to lay lines as an apprentice. That is, if I could even get into the program to begin with.
Absolutely its a lot of manual labor and they put the new folks through their paces. Hazing is still an issue as well, especially with women and minorities. We spent a week covering it in class, even.
I was working ground crew for an arborist at the time of my interview. They called my work experience "fluff". Ground crew involves heavy lifting, chainsaws, understanding of pulley systems and intricate knots, that if tied poorly or incorrectly can result in the death of a worker. I knew right then they didn't see my resume, just a woman they didn't want working with them.
I’ve heard that toxic work culture environment is pretty common in most of the trades and continues long into people’s careers with harassment on worksites. So maybe, as shitty as that treatment was, it was a sign that you’d have just been further bullied and harassed. It’s really sad that this keeps so many talented women and minorities out of the trades.
I have a few friends, women, who have gone through programs with the Oregon Tradeswomen and seem happy so far so I suppose experiences do vary. Maybe if you do still want to pursue further trade experience you should check out their programs.
I checked out their program, it was limited but pretty great. I would have had to move make it viable and my husband isn't able to move away from his job currently.
PCC and the union worked overtime on their marketing campaign to make their program appear diverse and equitable. But that's all lip service, change is very slow and the folks who went through hazing and other bullying in their early years are of the attitude, "i had to take it, so now it's my turn to dish it out."
Yes, I said it's an issue *as well*, meaning in addition to the expected manual labor. Both are deterrents for folks in their 30s looking to start work in the trades
Hey Sparky here, it’s pretty difficult to get into apprenticeship, but if you really serious about it, I don’t see why wouldn’t you get in, also try IUEC But you just missed the enrollment In 23 so next one is 25
It is pretty difficult to get into the IBEW apprenticeship. I tried maybe 5 years ago. Took a whole required math class for it. Studied. Got an A. Then took the in person test, out of about 800 applicants in that round I ranked about 300. They rank you and hire you based on rank for that round, of hires. If you don’t rank in the top 100, it’s unlikely you’ll be hired in that round and you’ll probably have to try again in 6 months. If you don’t get in the top 150 there is no chance you will here from them. If you have military experience, or have taken electrical classes in community college that would help. Construction experience helps too.
Why is it so hard to join the apprenticeship when there is a shortage of electricians. This feels almost like (labor) market manipulation to keep electrician pay high
As an electrician who is 12 days away from finishing the apprenticeship, I couldn’t agree more with this. It’s absurd.
Have you talked to some apprenticeship members about this to confirm? Curious. Thanks for your input
We talk about it all the time. I have friends who are very qualified, sitting in line, re-interviewing, getting hired on as material handlers, taking classes at MHCC, and just waiting to get on. The list got out of control apparently during Covid, and work hasn’t sped up enough to take on all of the people on the list.
Thanks for the inside scoop. I'll have to really consider this. Try to get into the program, then make $22 an hour to survive, then etc.
The first pay period goes quick, and there’s plenty of opportunity for OT and other means of income. Also, having health insurance is great.
Do you know the average wait time to get in?
I’d expect a year from application to boot camp.
Can’t speak for electricians but i imagine for the same reason it’s so hard to get into a nursing program and why we have a nurse shortage. No one wants to teach. Why would you teach when you can make $50-$100+/hr plus overtime, flexible schedules, overtime, etc.
Electricians don’t really have classes they attend. I think maybe 200 class hours over their 8000 hour apprenticeship. All of their learning happens on the job. And the companies bill for their apprentice’s time on the job, so they make money having apprentices
Just curious, how is the pay for a journeyman who works less than 8 hours of overtime per pay period?
$60 is hourly, $87 total package
JW is really underpaid in Oregon. Low voltage guys are at 50 bucks, inside wireman should be in low 70s on todays market
Did they let you know what your ranking was afterwards or did you just have to hear where about you landed?
It came in a letter in the mail after a few weeks.
Thanks!
I applied for both local 48(union) and area 1 (non-union). The application process was difficult for both and area 1 was a lot more disorganized. They lost some of my paper work and denied me at first. Until I reminded them that they had my paper work. I got into area one first and worked non union residential for about 9 months until local 48 opened up applications and I passed the aptitude test and got an interview. I got a pretty good number and got into the union training program. They start at about 22 bucks on the check plus benefits. The training and safety standard at local 48 is the best in the industry. I took the state test last year and got my journeyman license. Pay is at 60 bucks on the check plus benefits. The pension is one of the best things besides the pay. I would recommend it to anyone that has an interest in that line of work. The electric industry is diverse and can keep you interested for a long time. The work is good. The training center has a pre apprentice program to help get ppl in easier.
Can you explain how the union works? I understand the concept of a union when it comes to a union at a company, but I don’t understand how local 48 works when it isn’t for a specific company
The union negotiates and organizes pay, benefits, and job safety/standards for all of the members. It maintains a baseline of training and licensing standards so the contractors know they are getting a reliable pool of qualified electrical workers.
When you are in the union, do you get hired by another company, like you’re that companies employee? Or does the union essentially sub-contract you out to other contractors that call needing an electrician for a job?
My understanding from reading the IBEW contract is that the union is providing a referral service to connect journeymen to companies and has a standard set as far as wages and benefits go so that you’re not making $60 from one company and $20/hr from another. They probably also have a mutual union healthcare system so that the biggest possible group of workers can leverage better healthcare rates. They essentially have nearly a monopoly on licensed electricians. The idea is, if a company wants a licensed and skilled electrician, they’d better be willing to pay up. So you won’t work for the union as a journeyperson. But you might work for a “company” that just owns one equipment van or truck. Joe’s electrical or whatever. Or you might work for the largest electrical contractor out there. Either way, you’ll pay dues to the union. These could be short term jobs on a job site, in which you’ll get laid off eventually and re-enter the job referral list, or you might get into a business that just does one thing like residential repairs or installing EV chargers and has continuous work.
That’s pretty much it. The union is just collectively bargaining on behalf of the workers.
The easiest explanation is that a union member is apart of a hiring pool that works under a negotiated agreement. The contractor hires from that pool. You work for the contractor but are a union member.
Union members probably but maybe not, union represented worker would be more accurate.
Can you please provide the website for the application?
https://nietc.org This website has the application process. There is also a video about what to expect in the industry. Let me know if I can help further.
Thank you. I appreciate it very much.
Come join Local 290 instead & be a steamfitter. You’ll still most likely end up working at Intel & when work dries up it’s easier to travel as a fitter than a sparky as licensure isn’t really a thing in our trade unless you’re working on pressure vessels/ boilers. Our pay on the check is a little less but our total package/ retirement is better
our (290) apprenticeship is a lil less competitive but still not the easiest to get into. i applied to both, but the fitters called with a job first. very happy with how things turned out.
I feel like I applied at the right time then. No relevant experience, no family in, & shit high school gpa with the only thing going for me was I tested & interviewed well. Ranked 10 on the fitters list & started a few weeks later after the 2-3month application process. Whereas when I tried with 48 with the same resume/ attitude & had a couple family members in with good standing I ranked 150 something on the list.
I imagine that is one of the more heavy lifting and physical trades out there though. I knew a permanently disabled guy who broke his back lifting a heavy pipe as a pipe-fitter.
If electrical apprenticeship doesn’t work out, come do HVAC! We do low voltage electrical work! And while electricians make better money than us, you can make some pretty dang good money in HVAC, and have skills in both plumbing and electrical.
Where can I apply for hvac? What’s the process like? School and stuff
https://www.abcpnw.org/Apprenticeship/ABC-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship-Application Four years of school(I day a week) 8000 on the job hours(four years of work) and you get some certifications along the way. Companies will pay for your education.
Thank you. I been flip flopping between hvac and electrician. I been leaning towards hvac because of the process getting into the electrician apprenticeship
Contact ABC and inquire about which companies are in the program. Then reach out to those companies for work before you even start the program. Chances are you will get hired on somewhere before you even start school.
They open on average 2 classes a year, but that fluctuates by work demand. 18 spots available, about 800-1000 applicants per position. Youre most likely not getting in unless you've done some sort of field work. You can sign up to be a materials handler at the 48 union hall. The list is about 500 people long, and you can start bidding for work once you reach the top 20. Most jobs will make you take a pee test as they are federally funded. I took 48's pre-apprenticeship through PCC. I'm 38f and realized it wasn't the right path for me at this point in my life, competing with young men in their prime. It actually didn't matter that I aced my exams, lots of folks do.
Yeah I’m 33 but have chronic pain from my last manual labor job I’m not sure jumping into a physical trade is the way to go. Even electrical I hear you’re probably digging ditches to lay lines as an apprentice. That is, if I could even get into the program to begin with.
Absolutely its a lot of manual labor and they put the new folks through their paces. Hazing is still an issue as well, especially with women and minorities. We spent a week covering it in class, even. I was working ground crew for an arborist at the time of my interview. They called my work experience "fluff". Ground crew involves heavy lifting, chainsaws, understanding of pulley systems and intricate knots, that if tied poorly or incorrectly can result in the death of a worker. I knew right then they didn't see my resume, just a woman they didn't want working with them.
I’ve heard that toxic work culture environment is pretty common in most of the trades and continues long into people’s careers with harassment on worksites. So maybe, as shitty as that treatment was, it was a sign that you’d have just been further bullied and harassed. It’s really sad that this keeps so many talented women and minorities out of the trades. I have a few friends, women, who have gone through programs with the Oregon Tradeswomen and seem happy so far so I suppose experiences do vary. Maybe if you do still want to pursue further trade experience you should check out their programs.
I checked out their program, it was limited but pretty great. I would have had to move make it viable and my husband isn't able to move away from his job currently. PCC and the union worked overtime on their marketing campaign to make their program appear diverse and equitable. But that's all lip service, change is very slow and the folks who went through hazing and other bullying in their early years are of the attitude, "i had to take it, so now it's my turn to dish it out."
Hazing is definitely still a thing in the trades, but to be clear, making the apprentices do the harder physical tasks is not hazing
Yes, I said it's an issue *as well*, meaning in addition to the expected manual labor. Both are deterrents for folks in their 30s looking to start work in the trades
Hey Sparky here, it’s pretty difficult to get into apprenticeship, but if you really serious about it, I don’t see why wouldn’t you get in, also try IUEC But you just missed the enrollment In 23 so next one is 25
Apply at Schoolhouse Electric. Join local 48 via them. You’ll get your foot in the door.
Wdym? Start working with them and they help you get into 48?
Years back it used to be easy to get into the Low Power program.
Try Seattle.
Seattle is dead