Electrical pre-apprenticeship · WTPA100
What to expect of an apprenticeship
A registered apprenticeship combines paid, supervised on-the-job training with related technical instruction. Here is how the program works and where the trade can take you.
Careers in the electric trade
Electricians work in many different environments and may specialize in particular types of electrical systems, equipment, or construction. Electrical career pathways may include:
Residential Electricians
Install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical wiring, lighting, panels, and equipment in homes and residential buildings.
Commercial Electricians
Work with electrical systems in offices, schools, retail facilities, hospitals, and other commercial buildings.
Industrial Electricians
Install, maintain, and troubleshoot electrical systems, motors, controls, and equipment used in manufacturing and industrial facilities.
Construction Electricians
Install electrical wiring, raceways, panels, fixtures, and equipment as part of new construction and renovation projects.
Maintenance Electricians
Inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain electrical systems and equipment in existing facilities.
Motor and Controls Technicians
Work with motors, motor controls, control circuits, and related industrial electrical equipment.
Low-Voltage and Systems Technicians
Install and service systems such as communications, fire alarm, security, access control, and other low-voltage systems.
Solar PV Electricians and Installers
Work with photovoltaic systems, including wiring, inverters, electrical equipment, and connections associated with solar energy systems.
Electrical Apprentices
Learn the trade through a combination of supervised on-the-job training and technical instruction while working toward journey-level qualifications.
What an apprenticeship consists of
3–5 years of electrical work, which includes:
Approximately 576 hours of Required/Related Technical Instruction (RTI)
144–200 hours annually
8,000 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) / on-the-job Learning (OJL)
2,000 hours per year on average
“Step Tests” — performance and written assessments at set intervals to demonstrate increased skills, knowledge, and accountability
After completing the RTI and OJT hours and passing the Step Tests, the apprentice can sit for the Journeyman Exam.
The Journeyman's exam consists of
- •Comprehensive written exam
- •Comprehensive performative exam
- •Formal interview(s) conducted by journeymen linemen
What's included in an apprenticeship?
A Registered Apprenticeship Program combines paid, supervised On-the-Job Training (OJT) with Related Technical Instruction (RTI). Apprentices develop their skills progressively through an established work process while also completing classroom or other approved technical instruction related to the electrical trade.
Registered Apprenticeship programs may use time-based, competency-based, or hybrid approaches. For time-based programs, the program standards identify the work processes an apprentice will learn and the approximate amount of training devoted to each area. The exact requirements vary by apprenticeship sponsor and the standards of the individual Registered Apprenticeship Program. Federal regulations require registered programs to include an outline of these work processes rather than allowing apprenticeship hours to consist of unrelated work.
Inside wireman / commercial-industrial training
For an Inside Wireman or Commercial/Industrial Electrician apprenticeship, training commonly exposes apprentices to a range of electrical work such as:
Residential & commercial rough-in
1,500–3,000 hoursLayout and installation of conduit, raceways, boxes, pull boxes, conductors, and other components used during rough electrical construction. Includes conduit bending and structural rough wiring.
Commercial & industrial services
1,500–2,000 hoursInstallation of service entrances, switchboards, panelboards, transformers, grounding systems, and larger feeders serving commercial and industrial electrical systems.
Finish wiring & fixtures
1,000–1,500 hoursInstallation and connection of switches, receptacles, lighting fixtures, lighting controls, and other electrical equipment and devices.
Motors & control systems
1,000–1,500 hoursWiring, installation, and troubleshooting of electric motors, motor controllers, relays, timers, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and related control systems.
Specialized low-voltage systems
500–1,000 hoursRough-in, termination, connection, and testing of systems such as fire alarm, security, voice/data/video, and building automation.
Maintenance & troubleshooting
500–1,000 hoursTesting electrical systems, diagnosing problems, locating faults and short circuits, replacing faulty components, and performing routine electrical maintenance.
Safety & blueprint reading
500 hoursJobsite hazard identification, electrical safety practices, lockout/tagout (LOTO), rigging, and reading and interpreting electrical drawings, blueprints, and schematics.