interesting questions.
Generaly as an apprentice how much you learn depends on who is the lead guy.
I had several that would not teach me squat!!!
I was a free laboror, thats it. run cable install boxes, strip cable. eight hours a day of that and you are a pro in no time.
They were under no obligation to teach me so they didn't.
This " wait till it slows down" thing was a great big no show.!!!!
I quit after about 6 weeks and four "teachers"
I found an other apprenticeship program that I had to pay for, it garenteed hands on feild trainning, they equated it to your medical residencey.
you were paying them to help them wire a house to make money. I could not offord it.
Just out of curiosity, what do you get if you finnish the apprenticeship program????