Advanced Placement

WHAT IS AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM?

This program is for individuals who have previous electrical experience. If you have worked a minimum of 5,000 hours in the electrical experience, you may qualify for this program. Apprentices accepted into this program work full time for one of our electrical contractors under the supervision of a state-certified journeyman wireman.

The program is 2.5 – 3 years and the starting wage is $34.76 per hour. You do not stay at that wage the entire apprenticeship, instead, every six months each apprentice will receive a minimum $2.25 per hour wage increase provided they meet all the requirements to complete the semester.

You will receive full medical and dental benefits, with no additional cost to you, after you have worked your first 300 hours. After you have successfully completed your first year of apprenticeship you will begin accruing retirement benefits. Due to the fact that our jurisdiction is all of Kern County, some jobs offer sub-pay in addition to your wage to supplement the drive time.

HOW DOES THE SCHOOL WORK?

An advanced placement apprentice will also attend classes at our training facility at least one night per week, after work. In the classroom, we typically spend most of the day learning the theory of the electrical trade in a traditional classroom environment. The other portion of the day is spent demonstrating the newly learned concepts through instructor-led demonstrations and hands-on labs.

Some of the concepts that we will cover in the classroom include conduit bending, blueprint reading, AC/DC theory, the National Electrical Code, circuitry, transformers, motors, motor control, and a lot more. We study all of these concepts in-depth to ensure you receive a well-rounded education to facilitate your development on the job.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

If an applicant meets the minimum requirements to apply for the advanced placement program, the application process will be as follows:

Step 1 – The applicant will first need to provide documented proof of 5,000 hours of electrical work experience to Anecito Damo at the IBEW Union Hall.

Step 2 – Once Anecito Damo has approved the work hours, the applicant will then need to obtain an official high school transcript and submit it to the apprenticeship front office.

Step 3 – Once the apprenticeship has the official high school transcript, the applicant will be allowed to apply for the inside wireman apprenticeship online.

Step 4 – The applicant will be scheduled for a hands-on evaluation to determine the skill level of the applicant. The evaluation must be passed to be considered for the advanced placement program.

Step 5 – The applicant will be scheduled for an aptitude test that covers algebra and reading comprehension. This is the same exam given to apprentices applying for the 5-year program.

Step 6 – The final step in the process will be an oral interview with the apprenticeship committee. This interview will determine if an applicant will be accepted into the advanced placement program or not.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS?

To apply for the advanced placement program, the applicant must meet all the minimum requirements:

Must provide 5,000 documented hours of electrical work experience. This documentation can be in the form of tax returns, W2’s, pay stubs, social security printout, etc…

Must be 18 years or older at the time of the application

Must Provide a valid driver’s license or Government-Issued Identification

A High School Transcript must be provided to the apprenticeship

When required an Applicant may be subject to a Drug Test and a Physical Examination

Be able to read, write and speak the English language

Be physically able to perform all work of the electrical trade