What is an electrician?
Why become an electrician?
What is the apprenticeship program for electricians?
What are the job opportunities?
What pay can an apprentice expect?
Is there a cost to the apprentice?
Who can apply to the program?
What are the minimum requirements for applicants?
How do I apply?

What is an electrician?

An electrician is a skilled trades person who combines electrical theory with the knowledge of the operating characteristics of electrical equipment and devices. Along with this knowledge and the necessary job skills, this individual safely and correctly wires commercial, industrial, residential and other types of building facilities.

Why become an electrician?

Electricians earn high hourly wages and experienced men and women are always in demand. Many who complete apprenticeship move up the career ladder as estimators, supervisors and superintendents. You might even own your own company someday.

What is the apprenticeship program for electricians?

The apprenticeship program is a combination of classroom and on the job training over a four year period of time.

The program is designed to provide the apprentice with the necessary theory and practical training to earn the status of electrician. For completion, 576 hours of classroom instruction and 8,000 on the job training hours are required.

Apprentices who satisfactorily complete the requirements will be certified by the Apprenticeship & Training Committee. This committee sponsors, supervises and regulates the program. At the end of training, the apprentice receives a Completion Certificate as an electrician from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.

What are the job opportunities?

During the training period, the apprentice will be employed by electrical contractor members of the association. After the training period and when the apprentice has achieved electrician status, job opportunities will exist locally and nationally. The demand for an electricians services will be in direct proportion to attitude and eagerness to produce quality, useful work.

What pay can an apprentice expect?

The minimum pay an apprentice can expect is 50% of the hourly rate of pay for electricians. This rate is determined by the Apprenticeship & Training Committee. At this time the starting wage is $9.50 per hour. The apprentice receives 5% hourly pay increases every 1000 hours worked throughout the training period. When the apprentice has successfully completed the apprenticeship and training program, including qualifying tests, that person will be eligible for Electrician wages.

Is there a cost to the apprentice?

Yes, while in the program, each apprentice will have a predetermined amount deducted from their paycheck each pay period. This amount represents their contribution to the cost of the program as determined by the Apprenticeship & Training Committee.

IEC Contractor Members, who employ apprentices, will also be paying a predetermined amount as their contribution to the cost of the program.

Who can apply to the program?

Any person meeting the minimum requirements can apply by contacting IEC Fort Worth/Tarrant County Chapter at 817-496-8422.

What are the minimum requirements for applicants?

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
• Applicants must have completed four years of high school or must have successfully passed the GED equivalent.
• Applicants shall be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the apprenticeship program without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of the individual or others.
• In the four year period, applicants must be willing to attend 576 hours of classroom instruction at night without compensation and 8,000 hours in and on the job training program supervised by the Apprenticeship & Training Committee.
• Applicants must complete the apprenticeship application and submit it to the Apprenticeship & Training Committee.
• Applicants must appear for all scheduled interviews.

How do I apply?

The apprenticeship program will be accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year from April 1 to July 30, 2010. Applications are accepted Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

All applications must be completed at the chapter office, 5809 East Berry St., Fort Worth, TX 76119. Contact Independent Electrical Contractors, Fort Worth/Tarrant County Chapter at 817-496-8422 for more information.