Electrical Apprenticeship Training

Earn While You Learn

Tuition Paid

Apprentices start their training earning at least 50% of the average Journeyman wage in Central Florida. The Journeyman rate is adjusted annually and is derived from a survey of FEAT Participating Employers. The FEAT program is known as an open shop or merit shop program. This simply means that you will be paid based on your ability.

Your first semester of school is "Construction Basics." The class has 4 main goals:

• Refresh your math skills
• Teach you basic electrical skills
• Lay the foundation for succeeding classes
• Safety, safety and MORE safety

Your second semester will be "Direct Current Fundamentals" or "Residential Wiring," depending on your class location. In "Direct Current Fundamentals" you'll start by learning atomic theory as it related to electrical energy. You'll work with Ohm's Law and Watt's Law and learn how voltage and resistance affect current and power. We'll show the different sources of power, including the chemical source of batteries and electro-magnetic production by generators.

Your first year of O.J.T. will also be focused on the basics. Depending on the jobsite you are assigned to, you may be working on the underslab of a new building, installing conduit (pipe for electrical wires) in commercial buildings or installing boxes and wire in a residential building.

Provided you progress as expected,  after approximately 6 months (1000 hours) of O.J.T. you will advance to 55% of the Journeyman wage. At the end of your first year (2000 O.J.T. hours) you will be at 60% of the Journeyman wage.

Year Two

If you took "Direct Current Fundamentals" last semester, your next class will be "Residential Wiring" This is the class where it all starts to "come together." This semester is based on the wiring of a single family home, but many things you learn are also applicable to a commercial building. In "Residential Wiring" you will learn to differentiate between the types of conduits and conductors. Studying the National Electrical Code (NEC) and how it affects the wiring of residences (single and multiple-family dwellings) is a major part of the semester. There are many mathematical calculations involved, including how many conductors can be legally put in a box or conduit. You finish the semester by calculating what size service (electrical panel amperage) is required by specific houses.

Year Three

The first semester of Year Three starts with "Commercial Wiring" if you have already completed "Alternating Current Theory." Commercial wiring encompasses the wiring of business, schools and restaurants. The text is based on the blueprint of a small shopping center which includes a drugstore and bakery. Many of the concepts you learned in "Residential Wiring" will be expanded on in this class. You'll work on sizing the service for the individual business and the shopping center. You'll work on the NEC as it applies to commercial buildings, transformer installation rules, cooling units and sizing conductors.

Depending on your class location, you second semester of Year 3 will be "Motor Control" or "Industrial Wiring."   "Motor Control" is most students' favorite semester. After you learn the theory of motor control, you'll be reading schematics and ladder diagrams...the "blueprints" of motor control. The last half of the semester will be spent in the Lab.  You may not believe it now, but by the end of this class, terms like limit switch, relay, contactor and starter will be part of your everyday vocabulary. On your job you will be assuming more responsibility.

Your conduit bending skills are ready to be passed on to green (new) helpers. You will be wiring equipment, (heating and cooling units) and "landing" panels (terminating wires on lugs and circuit breakers.) After 5000 hours of O.J.T (approximately two and one half years), provided your progress is on track, you will be 75% of the Journeyman rate. At the end of the third year (6000 O.J.T hours) you should be at 80% of the Journeyman rate.

Year Four

At last! Your final year of apprenticeship. Actually you won't believe it passed so fast. If you completed "Motor Control" last year, you only have one class left, "Industrial Wiring." This class is broken into two separate sections. The first section is based on the blueprint of an Industrial building and Unit Substation. The Substation is a building that contains the necessary equipment to connect, transform and distribute power. The NEC regulations that apply to specialized systems in an industrial building are examined. The last part of this semester is actually a review of your classes from the start. This review is designed to help you prepare for successful completion of the Journeyman License Exam that you will take after your apprenticeship is complete.

On the job you will be assuming increasing responsibilities. You may be in charge of a crew in the portion of the building you are working on--reading blueprints and selecting appropriate material. You may not be a journeyman yet, but learning supervisory skills is an important lesson. The equipment and lighting fixtures you install will be larger and specialized. After 7000 O.J.T. hours (three and one half years) if you are progressing as expected, you will be at 90% of the Journeyman rate. Not only is your percentage increasing every six months, because the Journeyman rate is evaluated yearly, the rate often increases also.

What can you expect in your future? You may be a project superintendent, estimator or even run your own business. You might want to check this to explore your options. Local Chapters of the Electrical Council of Florida, Florida Association of Electrical Contractors and the International Association of Electrical Inspectors offer upgrade and specialized classes. The FEAT calendar has these classes listed for your convenience.

Wherever your career path takes you, the future is up to you!