ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area How to become a journeyman electrician?

There seems to be 3 paths:
1) Union Apprenticeship (Jatc)-> 5yrs, 8000 work hrs, and 800hrs school
2) Non-union Apprenticeship (ie: McDean)-> ?
3) 4 year bachelor's degree

Questions:
1) What are the differences between the union + non-union apprenticeships? advantages/disadvantages of both?

2) What bachelor degrees are accepted to be able to take the Journeyman's test?

3) Advantage/disadvantage of being a union/non-union electrician?

4a) According to the state, all you need to take their Journeyman license test is 4yrs experience and 240hrs school. Why does the union apprenticeship require 5yrs + 800hrs?

4b) can you take the Journeyman test in the 4th year of the apprenticeship? If not, then why not since you will have 8000hrs by year 4? Why wait an additional year to earn full journeyman wages + benefits?

THX!