Topic: Question for licensed Electricians re: your trade

[IndyFour]

I've been considering a career shift for a while and have been looking to pick up a trade (electrical specifically).  Partly due to the state of affairs with public schools, I'm looking to have a backup plan...or at least expand my skills set should things get worse down the road.  Also, I just really enjoy studying about and working on wiring (household, low voltage, etc.).

I know that there are varying routes to becoming an Electrician depending on what specific work one plans to do and where in the country one lives...but would anyone here who is licensed be willing to give me the basics of what I need to do and how to pursue this?  What kind of schooling is involved?  I know that things are tough out in the industry due to the downturn in construction, etc....but I'm still interested.

I've always had a brain for electricity, respect it, and have an understanding of Ohm's Law.  Perhaps it's time for a life change here and I feel drawn towards your craft.

Any help out there?

Thanks.

[flybox1]

I am not an electrician, but my employer has a force of electricians doing installations, all low voltage. (WA state) Our low volt apprentices normally work 2000 hours, and have 16 hours class time before they are eligible for testing for their low volt Journeyman Electrician License.
4000 hours, and x-hours per month class time are needed in this state before high-volt license testing can be done.
get on as an apprentice somewhere(hopefully interesting), and get through your licensing.  all the while, searching for that area to specialize....

[Duanob]

My step father was a union electrician. He always said," There are old electricians and ther are bold electricians but there aren't any old bold electricians". FYI.

I was going to enter the electricion's union (IBEW) apprenticeship program through a company I worked for years a go but my A-hole ex-boss screwed me out of that opportunity. I still hate him for it. I would say go for it and good luck in your future venture.

[Don R]

I retired a union plumber, We had electricians in out shop too, they worked a lot if they were good at it and willing to work. We had on call which sucked but got us a lot of customers when no one else would help them after hours. I had 3 years of built up insurance when I retired, that's how steady we worked.

[BobbyR]

From the guys I know it is pretty slow in these parts due to the economy. You can pick up work, but it may not be that steady.

[brooze72]

Well, my son is an IBEW member, did the first 4 years of his apprenticeship & all schooling thru them here in ON, steady work & got a great education.  Since he moved to southern Alberta two years ago, (wife's job transfer) he's had no work in his field(apparently they dislike unions out there, even the government doesn't hire them & goes for the lowest bid?).  Now he's thinking about moving back east for a while to complete his final hours for the ticket.  I guess union work depends on location but when you get your ticket, there's lots of work anywhere, union & non union.  I also hear it's real hard to get any apprenticeship thru a company, they won't commit for the long haul in this economy.

Me, I'm a millwright, but do 75% of my work in electrical & electro/hydraulic control systems.  If you like it, go for a ticket, & if you're good, you'll never be out of work if you don't want to be. 

[nghisus]

I took welding in high school because I always liked to weld.  Even though I was on the University path I had to fight tooth and nail to learn a trade just in case.  I've been welding since I was 13 and I really liked to do it. I was even the school welding champ one year.  Long story short, even though I went to college and got my BS and my MS, I'm still glad if everything goes totally wrong with my career choice I can always become a welder.  And welders make pretty good money and there's always a shortage of them.