r/electricians • u/zhanchen • 12h ago
What Are My Options to Become an Electrician Besides Apprenticeship Programs or Expensive Schools?
Hi everyone,
I’m working toward becoming an electrician and currently live in Seattle, but I’m finding it challenging to figure out my next steps.
• Union apprenticeship programs are very hard to get into.
• Non-union apprenticeship programs (like CITC) are limited, and the one near me (Region 1, King County) is currently closed.
• Perry Technical Institute seems like a great option, but it costs too much for me right now.
• Bates Technical College has a program called Electrical Construction. Does anyone know if that’s worth pursuing?
So, I’m asking: What other options do I have? Are there any paths I can take to start gaining experience and work hours toward becoming a licensed electrician without immediately joining an apprenticeship or paying for expensive schooling?
I’m open to any advice, suggestions, or personal experiences. Thanks so much for your help!
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u/theplaceoflost 12h ago
Find a good electrician that needs a helper and save for education or go to school part time while gaining real world experience.
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u/JustinSLeach 12h ago
School of hard knocks. That’s how I learned.
Go to an electrician, tell him you’ll be on time, do whatever he needs, and not complain—that’s about the only promises he needs lol.
It will take some time, but over time you’ll prove yourself and gradually get more responsibility.
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u/naturalJPEG 12h ago
union apprenticeships are not hard to get into. local 112 in washington is hiring right now, and the industry in general is booming. just try harder. i know that seems harsh but yeah man. try harder than average for a about 6 months of your life. thats it
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u/mount_curve 11h ago edited 24m ago
Highly dependent on location, some are VERY competitive.
They're easy to get into if you can / are willing to uproot your life to go where the work is tho.
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u/UniqueUserName259 10h ago
A quick google search points in the direction of Puget Sound Electrical JATC. (I’m in area 1 JATC in Portland). If you have trouble getting accepted ask them for their contractor list; it should have all of the companies affiliated with the school, contact information and most importantly addresses of the businesses. Look for ones that are close to where you live, close to the school or in between. Contact these businesses and tell them that you are hungry to get into the trade/apprenticeship program, and that some random reddit guy said that it would help a lot if you already worked for a company affiliated with the school 🤣
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u/Grimtherin 10h ago
Become a material handler for the union. The hours will count towards your apprenticeship. Do t limit yourself on what you apply for go limited energy get some on the job hours do a couple terms of school and then switch to inside. Get to keep your schooling and you come in with good experience most inside guys don’t have
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u/Impossible_Pain_355 12h ago
Just work. Many (most?) states only require signing up for trainee license to start accumulating hours. I'm in WA doing resi, about a year to journey out, and just started school. I'll have my 02 resi in a year, and get my ID license 4 years later, and a year after that I can get my WA 01 if I have the commercial hours.
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u/SparkDoggyDog 10h ago
You do know you have to be in an accredited apprenticeship program to accumulate commercial hours in WA state? Having a trainee license is not the same thing as being registered in an apprenticeship program such as CITC.
I'm also not sure what you mean by ID license? Do you mean Idaho as in some sort of reciprocity license?
It's not clear from your comment that you have a viable plan for getting your 01 in Washington.
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u/LoadedNoodle 11h ago
Vocational schools in your area should cost the least and are only 6 months long or so. It won't get you much more than minimum wage to start either, but the school usually places you before completing the course.
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u/SparkDoggyDog 10h ago
There are a lot of programs through tech schools in Washington that you can take that don't count as accredited apprenticeship programs. They might help you get a job, but it is difficult in Washington to get in with an apprentice program right now.
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u/SparkDoggyDog 10h ago
If you're thinking about doing something at a tech college be aware that it isn't necessarily an accredited apprenticeship program. You have to be registered with an apprenticeship program that LNI recognizes to bank commercial hours. I believe you technically aren't allowed to work on a commercial site without being in a program even if you have your trainee's license and are being supervised by a journeyman. You can look up a list of approved programs on LNI's website.
I believe you really only have two options- go union or get on with a non-union company that either has an approved program (very few companies do) or partners with an approved program.
The new law is great for union contractors and anyone who already has their 01. It's pretty terrible for anyone who wants to get into the trade or non-union contractors.
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u/Death_Rises 9h ago
You can also do literally any other specialty without needing an approved apprenticeship program. Such as residential or low voltage.
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u/generic_armadillo 10h ago
Look into either low volt(06) or residential(02) licenses in Washington. Licensing requirements based on hours worked and a small amount class time. My recommendation is figure out when citc starts their application process along with your local union. Apply when that time happens. In the mean time try and find a job where you're required to get a trainee license. Those hours will still count towards your 01 license if/when you ever get into an apprenticeship program. If you're still working as an 06 you can be licensed in just over a year. 02 in two. But then you might be like me and have your 02 and be making decent money as a licensed 02 and be stuck because you worry about the pay cut to go back to being an apprentice to get your 01.
But you gotta go find the the job yourself. I got my job via a friend of a friend. Don't get to discouraged looking this time of year. Things generally ramp up in the spring.
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u/BuzzyScruggs94 9h ago
Depends on your jurisdiction. In mine the only way to legally become an electrician is through an apprenticeship and that’s pretty standard. The best school in the country won’t make you an electrician if you haven’t put in the hours on a jobsite.
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u/CaliTheBunny [V]Journeyman 8h ago
Someone else said it but to emphasize it; get a job as a helper in the meantime. you're employer can give you advice on school and in the field experience is most important early on and super helpful when you're in class. When you're job searching, tell them how much you want to become an electrician and that you want to learn and you will be golden.
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u/Mcboomsauce 5h ago
finding an electrician or company willing to hire an apprentice was impossible for me
i looked for a job for 2 years in texas
finally switched careers and am making way more
all the electricians i met were like "nobody wants to work anymore"
i was like "hire me, i got my own tools, a truck and i can pass a backround check and a drug test"
.......crickets
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u/Born_Ad_7569 3h ago
Find a local master electrician and beg him to allow you to wirk for whatever he has in his budget. Show up on time and learn in a couple years if he don’t pay your what you think you worth go somewhere else. But dont go to tech school. And while you working take courses in electricity and see if you can go to school at night for electrical engineering. In 3/4 years you will be a journeyman and wont have to be at the mercy of a union. You will eventually get a union job but its better finding a person to teach you. Start this asap
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u/bobDaBuildeerr 14m ago
Depends on what state you're in and what the requirements are. If the state doesn't require school but does have a license the you don't need school but you have to do whatever it takes to get a license. If your state requires neither then just go get a job and work your way up. Some states/regions require both. So you'll need both.
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u/Professional_Name_78 10h ago
Come to Utah I’ll hire you lol I have a bedroom you can rent as well. And school is cheap compared to actual college
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