Off topic: any recommendations on how to become an electrician ?

[Jberger93]

I’ve taken 2 semesters at a local community college towards mechanical engineering . All I have completed is maths and English , and a couple electives .
I work as a machinist right now m-f 7-330pm. I decided I’d rather be an electrician . The issue is I can’t afford to join an apprentice and take the $7/hr paycut, as I am 26 years old and have a house . Is there any “real” way to become an electrician ? I found a couple of local schools that offer electrician technician and electrical technology certificates . Is this the same ?
any advice ?

 

[wondo]

Not sure what licensing requirements are for PA but in michigan you need to have 8000 hours worked in no less than 4 years under direct supervision of a licensed electrician and pass a state test. But they do give some credit for certain training programs. In michigan at least the best move is to take the test to get into the union apprenticeship get paid decent to learn and get scheduled pay bumps the farther into the apprenticeship you are. Then get your journey card and full pay with 4 years experience.

 

[IBEW702]

Have you been to a local IBEW union hall? Our first year guys start at around $20 an hour plus benefits.

 

[CJM8515]

Union is the best way, you may take a pay cut but the fringe benefits and OT make up for it.

 

[klassenl]

If you want to get "in" somewhere the best way is to know someone.

Small companies are a great place to learn.

The union shops have their place but it's not for everyone.

 

[Jberger93]

Have you been to a local IBEW union hall? Our first year guys start at around $20 an hour plus benefits.

From what I’ve been reading it appears that the local apprenticeship at IBEW starts at $14 an hour

 

[IBEW702]

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[Jberger93]

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Awesome ! Thanks . Is this specifically for just that state ? Or does the IBEW have the same rate nationwide ? Also any tips to get into the apprenticeship ? Does it help that I’m currently in a union as well ?

 

[Kaizen]

Call the local. Might want to stay put till this covid mess is over. Would not be good if you jumped ship and they shut down construction again


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[IBEW702]

The wages are different per local. Talk to your local about the next test date for first year apprenticeship class. You should take a math and reading test if I removed correct. They will pick the best test scores and do interviews. I would mention you have fab and welding skills and bring a your school transcripts. They will ask for all that info to sign up for a test. Make sure you have a good resume typed up.

 

[Jberger93]

Call the local. Might want to stay put till this covid mess is over. Would not be good if you jumped ship and they shut down construction again


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This is a great idea ! I’m glad you mentioned something hahah , I’m just excited to get started and wasn’t thinking .

 

[Jberger93]

The wages are different per local. Talk to your local about the next test date for first year apprenticeship class. You should take a math and reading test if I removed correct. They will pick the best test scores and do interviews. I would mention you have fab and welding skills and bring a your school transcripts. They will ask for all that info to sign up for a test. Make sure you have a good resume typed up.

Awesome thanks ! I’m assuming you’re an electrician than hahah . Just a quick question , I don’t “love” heights . Is this enough to deter me from becoming an electrician ? I’m fine on a 10ft ladder , I more or less just hate getting off the ladder onto a roof . I also am nervous when I climb up a 20ft ladder for the first few times , then I get more and more comfortable after that . I just find electricity and being an electrician interesting and hate letting something small like heights get in my way

 

[IBEW702]

Awesome thanks ! I’m assuming you’re an electrician than hahah . Just a quick question , I don’t “love” heights . Is this enough to deter me from becoming an electrician ? I’m fine on a 10ft ladder , I more or less just hate getting off the ladder onto a roof . I also am nervous when I climb up a 20ft ladder for the first few times , then I get more and more comfortable after that . I just find electricity and being an electrician interesting and hate letting something small like heights get in my way

Yeah, I have about 20 years in. As far as heights we work a little of everything. Very common to work in a lift 20’ in the air. My company has two bucket trucks and we service a lot of parking lot lights. You should get the time to ease in the bigger ladders. Once you see the other guys going up and down you should feel better. It a great job for a regular working guy like myself.

 

[Jberger93]

Yeah, I have about 20 years in. As far as heights we work a little of everything. Very common to work in a lift 20’ in the air. My company has two bucket trucks and we service a lot of parking lot lights. You should get the time to ease in the bigger ladders. Once you see the other guys going up and down you should feel better. It a great job for a regular working guy like myself.

I’ve never been in a bucket truck before , but I have been in a basket that attaches to the forks in a fork truck . I was in this about 15’ in the air maybe 20. I was way more comfortable on that thing than on a ladder . Thanks for the info tho !hopefully this all works out .

 

[matt_i]

Awesome thanks ! I’m assuming you’re an electrician than hahah . Just a quick question , I don’t “love” heights . Is this enough to deter me from becoming an electrician ? I’m fine on a 10ft ladder , I more or less just hate getting off the ladder onto a roof . I also am nervous when I climb up a 20ft ladder for the first few times , then I get more and more comfortable after that . I just find electricity and being an electrician interesting and hate letting something small like heights get in my way

In the plants where I've worked Electricians work constantly out of manlifts. Working on electrical bus and running conduits/pulling wire to machines as well as AC power for lights & receptacles, running network cables (Cat 5+)

Just from experience with working in them myself and assigning work to others, some people take a day to get used to it and others won't ever go over 8ft off the floor.

Obviously there's a very wide range of electrical work and this is just one small part.

 

[engineer2]

I like the fact that the IBEW has extensive training programs for their members. You might start out as an R-card apprentice huffing bundles of conduit up 6 flights of stair, but the possibilities are endless. The IBEW represents worker in many industries besides construction. Look at manufacturing, transportation and utilities industries for better paying positions.

 

[MBfreak]

Consider the industrial electrician route.
A lot more "electrically" challenging and there are often very good company paid courses when new equipment/technology enters.
You need some math ( basic algebra, geometry related to electrical stuff and complex numbers are really useful). Also motor drives with VFD.
Lots of automation, which today is 90 % computer based.

Intersting work in a challenging environment.

All above is European points of view, guess it is much the same in the US?.

Ola

 

[Kaizen]

This is a great idea ! I’m glad you mentioned something hahah , I’m just excited to get started and wasn’t thinking .

Yea I’m old so.......
Line it up so you are ready to pull the trigger. If they need you to take training or such do that and be up front that you need to make sure projects will not be shut down.
Unless you have an actual phobia about heights don’t worry about it. You will be on a 12 foot ladder for so long your fear will go away. Just takes time. Still happens to me every time I get up over 15 feet. I look like a cat clawing up a tree. But after an hour it is fine. I’m not afraid of heights but I’m petrified of gravity.


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[larry_g]

Around this country there are a lot of ways to become an electrician and states vary in their requirements. There are also a wide varity of jobs that electricians do. In some places you need a licence to do anything. In other areas not so. I spent my main career as an electronics tech. No licence required. Anything beyond the main disconnect belonged to the electronics techs. Building and panel wiring belonged to the electricians. So spend some time learning the dividing line in the state you want to work in as it does vary.

So what do you really want to do as an 'electrician' ? A lot of jobs fall under that title so make sure that you don't end up with a grunt job in the rain when you think you want to have a clean job programming industrial machines.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jagmandave]

I would consider seeing if there is a community college or other school in your area, it's not expensive to go and you'll at least learn the basics and see if you like it?

 

[frankush]

There is no better training than what the IBEW provides. It covers most everything you see in the field. During the apprenticeship, raises come every six months. You will be covered by a Cadillac insurance plan. Once you become a JW you can take additional classes to enhance your skills or brush up. It is not all roses, but if you like working OT you can do very well. I've worked with a few guys that couldn't do heights. It may or may not be a problem.

Seeing that you're in a large city, I would also consider becoming an elevator mechanic. Heights are generally not an issue because a lot of the work is done on top of the car. Not as many jobs available but you will not be sitting home during times like these. Covid and working from home is going to hurt the trades bigtime. You've got 40 more years to work and there will always be slow times.

 

[u2slow]

Union is the best way, you may take a pay cut but the fringe benefits and OT make up for it.

Agreed - that's what I did. Had to **** it up. No OT though... typically dismiss you before OT is incurred. (Maybe times have changed.)

A raise every 6 months isn't bad. Your IBEW local may have a higher pay rate for industrial work, so try to get on those jobs.

 

[pmiranda]

How much math have you taken? If you've made it through calculus with good grades, you can probably transfer from CC to U of Pittsburgh or CMU and pursue a 4-year engineering degree. It's a long road and not cheap, but it will pay off in the end, unlike some university degrees.
But it's definitely not for everyone. If you like seeing the sun occasionally and don't want to be stuck at a desk (or lately, on the couch with a laptop) for 30 years, the world always needs good electricians, and the way to learn that is in the field with a real pro. The CC work you've done will help you when you are your own master and you're planning the jobs.

 

[rburke65]

Around here they are begging for skilled trades

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, The IBEW Apprenticeship Program is the best I am aware of.

Wages vary by location and bargaining unit; that is Construction pay more than Marine (Shipyard) work, but construction employment depends on the employer having a job to send you to. My experience was both Marine and Facility/Industrial maintenance.

Good Luck

 

[Firebrick43]

I have worked out of a 45 and 60 foot job so much that i should be more afraid than I am. However a month ago me and another guy were changing sodium vapor bulbs in the high bay(50’) but one light was over the machine so we had the 60’ maxed out in reach. I am 5’2” and 240, the other guy weighed the same but not nearly so tall. I was there as he lacked 6” of reaching the bulb.

I was scared sk&;&@:, by the time I got down. At maxed reach and max weight it felt really weird. Went back up by myself to install the new bulb and felt fine

 

[Rusty Fords]

Over 26 years in the trades some in the union. Good young people are hard to find and will generally make more in their life then some getting a typical college degree ( of course not a lawyer or doctor and maybe some others..). Like already mentioned wages will be different form area to area and what you do with in each union ( New construction, Commercial, industrial, residential...). One thing people looking at a trade in the union is that medical.

Height can be a problem its one of the questions I ask when interviewing people. Above 60" is where I start sucking wind from the wrong end...

I am a member of Local 16 sheetmetal trades but work on the service side which is more consistent work. Close to 90% of what I do is electrical troubleshooting. Now I'm not speaking for all electricians but most I know pull new circuits residential and industrial and normally don't get into the troubleshooting of electrical circuits. So if you are liking the service side make sure to looking at getting into that side if available.
My oldest Boy is in the trades as well and after about 3 months hasn't had to pay anything for medical insurance for him and his wife. so if you are paying for health insurance right now there is quite a savings..

IBEW does have some great courses I wouldn't turn them down if I had a chance.
Good luck and be safe!!

 

[jchev53]

I’m on the other side of the state and my son just finished his first year as an IBEW apprentice. He was in the same situation as you but moved back in with us for financial reasons. He is also 25, trained as a machinist at Penn College for a year, but didn’t like the field. He ran a tree removal crew for a few years and made decent money but decided the long term outlook in that field wasn’t for him.
I was surprised he got into the apprenticeship program you always needed to know someone when I was coming up.
His math skills are good and my guess is yours are as well.
If you decide to take the test spend some time with the math practice sheet.
It might be time to take a step back financially to take a step forward in the future.



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[Mr. T]

Not sure what licensing requirements are for PA

As a state, there are none. You’re an electrician if you say you are.

Municipalities can have their own rules however.




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[techlaf]

Seriously consider frankush's elevator suggestion. It's a niche field covering a lot of mechanical disciplines, but anytime we need help they are slammed. Lots of opportunity.