I took a year long Industrial Electricity course a few years ago at the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC). I live in rural Alaska and a local contractor is interested in hiring me on as an Apprentice. This contractor is not a member of the IBEW or ABC and I am trying to figure out how to get enrolled in a federally approved apprenticeship program.
I spoke with a friend of mine who went down a similar path to getting his journeymans license, he said he was able to enroll in a federal apprenticeship program. I believe he means it was not a local state of Alaska program. He did not remember the name and I am looking for any information I can find on this.

Thanks,

-David

Did you try to ask a vocational school for any info? Or maybe call the AVTEC to see what is available out there?

I don't know about Alaska but in Ontario there is no requirement to be a union member to be an apprentice. As long as you are working under a licensed journeyman you can be an apprentice.

The only school is in Anchorage. Even the union all over the state sends their patawons there. In Alaska, you are not required to attend school. After 4000 hours under the supervision of a journeyman you can apply for a residential electrician license that limits you to work on houses only. After 8000 of supervised hours, you can sit for your journeymans test

There are several good online courses you can take. If you are trying to use education benefits from the military, contact the VA and they can tell you what's covered. You may even get some sort of waiver giving that nothing here is easily accessible.

Where abouts are you at?

Thanks for the replies, I was nder the impression that in order to be an apprentice and build hours towards my Journeymans I must be enrolled in a federally approved apprenticeship program.. Is this correct?

@harold - I facebooked my old instructor from AVTEC I may try emailing him next, I dont think that anyone else at the school would have any information for me but I will try getting in touch with their job placement advisor.

@sparkyinak - I interviewed with the IBEW in Anchorage, I scored a 95.5 on my interview and am currently #5 on their list for new apprentices, however I am trying to go nonunion. I just had my first son who is 5 months old and we would like to stay close to family here in Cordova. The local contractor in town said he may be able to hire me on and work around my commercial fishing schedule in the summer so if I could continue to do that it would be a major plus. I am interested in these online courses you mentioned. Is this the equivalent to being enrolled in an apprenticeship program? I have tried googling a lot of terms regarding apprenticeship and all I find is local apprenticeship programs in different states.

Thanks again for the replies guys.. Hope I can find some answers..

-David Carlson

In the state if Alaska, you are not required to be attending classes how every if the opportunity arises, I'd be all over it. More exposure the better. with U of A having
a satellite campus there, they may have something to offer there.

Cordova. Been there a few times. I'm currently working on setting up an electrical project for the Federal Government there. Being the only local shop there that I am aware. If they get it funded, it be some more work there in town.

Thanks Sparky,

I would definitely jump on any opportunity I could find for training however what the college here in town offers is very limited.

What kind of federal project you working on here? I am very interested..

Regarding my getting enrolled in an electrical apprenticeship I guess what I am trying to figure out is if I can get enrolled without being sponsored by a contractor. I contacted the state of alaska about getting my certificate of fitness card but the woman I spoke with was not very friendly and clearly had better things to do then talk to me. I know if I was registered and ready to work it would be a lot easier for me to jump on these jobs when they come to town. Many of the craigslist ads I see for apprenticeship work around the state want you to have a certificate of fitness in place, however I thought you had to have a employer to get your certificate of fitness card. Seems like a catch-22 to me..

Hi David,
Welcome to ECN, mate.
Good luck with securing an apprenticeship, having done a couple myself, I reckon they are the only way to get trained up as an electrician.

Personally though, until you get the offer of employment in writing and signed by your prospective employer, a promise doesn't really mean that much, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be negative at all, but I've seen in the past here where there has been an "offer" of employment, but it has fallen through, by the boss saying "Well, I don't really have that much work to keep you busy".
I seriously hope that this doesn't happen to you.

Hope this is of some help to you and again, good luck.

Thanks Trumpy,

Honestly the contractors around here probably wouldn't have enough work to keep me busy all the time. Just trying to figure out how to get myself in a situation where I am a legal apprentice for them to use when they have the work..

Found the application for Certificate of Fitness in the State of Alaska http://labor.alaska.gov/lss/forms/cof-app.pdf

Looks like they want me to be enrolled in a federally approved apprenticeship program and a letter from my employer. (page 3)

Wow what a hassle.. I just want to go to work!

Mate,
The only way you are going to get a start is to unfortunately jump through their hoops.
You are going to need a bit of paper from the guy that is looking to take you on, otherwise the whole process stops right there.

I'm not talking union here, but is there an outfit over your way that shares trainee electricians around?
Quite a few electricians over here go with what we call ETCO (Electrical Training Company), they only take the best apprentices and the guys that go on this scheme learn the whole spectrum of electrical work, rather than just wiring houses and not having any industrial, motor or controls experience once it comes time to do the final exams.
David, I only wired 2-3 new houses during my time, most of it was industrial and commercial work, thankfully, this is where most of the money is these days, if you can get trained up in these 2 areas, you'll be set for life.

It does sound like a lot of hoops. I guess they are trying to discourage new people getting into their rice bowl.

Come to Florida, the weather is nicer and it is a right to work place. There are still plenty of hoops to get an EC license but you can work.

When I was in business, the vocational schools always asked us to take on apprentices in order to get them into the trade and work them up from apprentice to journeyman and beyond. I was non union, and I had to have a set list of salary increases and what the apprentice could expect from my company. After 5-7 years, he should know enough to become a journeyman. (Emphases on "SHOULD"!) I don't know how it works anymore, been out of business for 15 years, but after 8 years in the field, you were able to try and take you contractor license.

It's not that difficult to "get in to the business" up here. Just like anywhere else, there will be good years and bad. The hardest part is staying committed in the lean times. Contractors need dedicated people. A hard find these days. If you really want to get in the trade, you will have to travel for it up here. Go where the work is. It is a career choice here. Contractors can't dictate a schedule. Most won't work around fishing season. It's a big investment to hire people and they expect a commitment.

You are not required to be enrolled in school by state law for your license. You are required 16 CEU's to renew your license. An employer may require enrollment but the state of Alaska does not