How to Become an Apprentice Electrician

What’s up future sparkies?

My name is Stephen and this is my first video in a series about how to become an apprentice electrician. This is a fantastic career and one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. If you’re asking yourself if you should become an electrician, the short answer is yes.

In this video I give you an overview of what an Electrician apprenticeship looks in a nutshell.
I then go on to explain what the application process, aptitude test, and interview look like. This information is specific to my personal experience with IBEW Local 48, but this will also give you a good general idea of what the process looks like with other Local Unions or ever non-union shops.

I hope you find this video to be informational and beneficial. Let me know down in the comments what other electrical related videos you’d like to see from me. I’d like to be a resource for future and current electricians and help out with any questions they might have.

Please subscribe to my channel so you can stay updated with my future videos. In these early stages of my channel, any likes, comments, shares, or subscriptions help out a ton.

Link to my Instagram page:

The Mad Electrician Lounge Discord:

Information on IBEW Local 48 Application Process:

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Thanks for watching!
Cheers!

#electrician #career #ibew

[MadElectrician]

Friends, after 6 months of hard work, I’ve just finally completed and launched my online electrician pre-apprenticeship course! This course is self paced and designed to help you get accepted into an apprenticeship program, and then hit the ground running once you start. You will always have access to the course after purchasing, and that also means you’ll have access to any updates or additional lessons that I end up adding. Upon completion, you’ll get an official certificate that you can add to your portfolio when you have your apprenticeship interview. I believe that there is no better online resource that will help you be prepared for and get accepted into an electrician apprenticeship program ⚡️

[anotheronebitesthedust]

My journeyman is one of the worst person that I've known. " i don't teach u right because u are going to stole my job" study hard guys. Some will try to stop u.

[jamesechevarria]

I was 20 in 1999. Became an electronics tech in the navy. Got kicked out after 2 years for pot. Around 30 went to college n 2 years of electronics engineering degree w honors. Overdosed from drugs. Here I am at 43. Serious considering this route. All you young men, learn from my mistakes. However, whether you are 60 or 20, it's all in your mind. You can do this. Be Smart!

[Ofunes]

Watched some of your videos last year after deciding to take different direction with my career. Applied to the IBEW. Studied for the test with the resources you provided. Got the interview in March and practiced for it with tips you gave. Had to wait until this month to find out whether I got in or not and I’m happy to say Local 26 here in VA has given me the apprentice position for this fall.

Thanks for all your help during my journey. You made the process so easy and I’m so blessed to have been accepted.

Thank you and glory to God.

[nque]

I'm 19 living with my parents, currently working retail. I've been considering electrical work on and off the past year, and I'm gonna try to jump into it. It seems like it will be something I'd enjoy, and it pays a lot better than cashier work

[ShutUp-tsro]

This vid is really helpful! Im just graduating highschool and decided against going to college despite pressure from my family and school counselors. I did go to a vocational highschool and i did electrical and it was so fun! But i never thought of actually pursuing it till recently. Im just nervous because as a female im unsure if I'll be able to do the job as well as men because of physical strength 💪 but i am good at the work ive done at school im just concerned that i might be overwhelmed by the real thing.

[stuartmcnulty]

If being an electrician doesn't work out for any reason you could definitely be a talk show host or tv presenter. Really appreciate having the process boiled down into a concise and easy to understand video

[ReeseJoseph]

You're a naturally gifted presenter, man! This was great info for me. Thank you!

[JuanNOnly]

This channel has been a big help! I’m 24 and deciding to make a career change into becoming an electrician. I have a good job right now with great benefits but it is horrible work place for my asthma. I know I’m gonna have to take a pay cut but it’ll be worth it in the long run. You have helped me with getting ready for applying for the apprenticeship, thanks a ton!

[TheMycelliac]

this process sounds complicated. im 28 i just applied with no experience at one place but they were hurting for workers so they just hired me without an interview. they had me doin labor work for the first couple weeks which was pretty overwhelming for me. now 1.5 months later they have me with a journeyman installing/bending conduit and strut racks all day long for a hospital. my feet dont hurt anymore and im actually excited to start my day.

[sweetsteven]

Minimum requirements to be an electrician:

-must have at least one DUI.
-must have at least one deduction from your check on child support with verification on paper.
-must show up on the job site already drunk.
-must be able to work while drunk.
And be able to get stuff done even though they don’t have enough equipment nor material for you to finish the job.

If you meet those minimum requirements then welcome!

Just in most cases this is what you really get on the job sites with at least one of these issues that’s no joke. Did the entire IBEW apprenticeship and these issues are all I saw.

[Kevin-ipuf]

First off - great videos. I love that someone is preparing the youth for the road ahead if they're hoping of pursuing the great spark trade.
And I can appreciate that math COULD be very important to an electrician. mostly in school when learning the theory.
I'm a journeyman in both Canada and the US with licenses in a couple different states, and a journeyman lineman to boot! But honestly I could go up to a couple weeks without having to math anything unless I need to calibrate an instrument with a weird specific gravity.
So math is important for sure, but it's not like you need it all the time - it's just when you do need it, you really need it.

If I can offer any further advice to viewers: don't shy away from the controls side of the trade, with everything getting more and more automated take advantage of learning about control circuits and relay logic and PLCs and even Arduino projects to get a leg up...you'll be in demand as soon as you get licensed and will never regret it.

[caddy]

There was a journeyman that put this idea in my head yesterday. I work in agriculture as a heavy mechanic. And a large portion of my job is wiring in mag switches, wiring in breakers for 240v 3phase and 480v 3phase, motors, wiring transformers, ect.

Well I really enjoy working with electricity. And he tried to poach me to his company and unfortunately I had to tell him I learned on the job and I am not certified. Made me feel good about my knowledge though that he thought I had my license.

But it made me think... I enjoy the work, I find it interesting... maybe I should pursue that... and I probably have a leg up on some with my experience.

[suzukisefrt]

I am Japanese electronicians.you made me inspired very much.

[eberts]

Both of my grandfathers were electricians and when I was a kid, I was fascinated by electricity and wanted to become an electrician. But my family wanted me to go to college. 40-some years later, I crashed and burned out of the corporate world and briefly looked at becoming an electrician. I've re-wired whole basements, run 220, worked on panels, and passed inspections in four different municipalities. I know there's a shortage, but the barriers to entry are still way too high. I mean, come on, the basic day-to-day work it's that hard. But who wants to hire a 50-something as a journeyman. It's unnecessarily complicated .

[jmwalker]

Thank you so much for the detail! I am a tutor/mentor and I provide your video link as a resource to my students who are interested in becoming an electrician. You are influencing many lives, sir. :)

[keigosaeki]

Thank you for this video. I just took my aptitude test and once I get my next step, will need to polish up on my interview . Your videos will help me alot!!

[CombLlam]

Almost 30, spent the past decade screwing around with crappy jobs. Hoping I can get an apprenticeship and turn this all around.

[enteraqua]

I’m halfway through trade school getting a degree in Small Industrial Electrician, studying for my journeyman’s test by reading the NEC from cover to cover, yet no one will hire me on as an apprentice because I don’t have any experience on the job, but I don’t have any experience on the job because no one will hire me as an apprentice. Catch 22

[timothyperkins]

Thanks again for all of the information! I used your guidance extensively during the last year and a half as I prepared before my local 275 opened the apprenticeship window, applying once it opened, studying for the aptitude test, touching up my resume, and preparing for the interview. I ended up ranking in the top 5, got my call to work a couple of days ago and have my first union electrician apprenticeship job starting this Wednesday! I don't think I would have been nearly as successful without your content as a resource. I'm extremely grateful. Thank you so much for what you do here!