How does the IEC's apprenticeship program work?

I went to a local IEC chapter in Rocky Hill, CT, with a whole list of
questions.


When I went into their office, the lady saw my list and said "before
you start asking your questions, are you an employer?"


I said no. She replied that we only accept people who have been
forwarded by employers.


"So you don't take people on an 'off the street' basis?" I replied.


"No."


A little baffled, I left, since I was tired coming off my second job
had to return back to work with my first job in about 5 hours.



From doing my research, I am getting this impression:


To get into the IEC's program, you have to locate a local electrical
contractor which is affiliated with the IEC association. Next, I guess
you ask if

1) They are currently looking for apprentices


2) They would be interested in sponsoring me for the IEC's
appenticeship program.


If the answer is yes to both questions, I presume I do the classwork
with the IEC and do the required number of hours of fieldwork with the
particular sponsor.


Am I correct here, or does it work diiferently from what I have
deduced?


Does IEC have its own aptitude test process?


As for the math issue, I am slower with numbers and quantitative
concepts, though that does not mean I am incapable with them. I found
math to be boring in high school, so I did not put much effort into it.

Now I have a motivation to pay attention and do the best I can with it
(Wanna stay at Wal Mart?).


As always, any suugesstions of other apprenticeships, union or non
union, are always welcome to aid in my research.


I spoke to a rep from IBEW local 40 in Hartford, and he suggested that
folks are trying to avoid working with electrical unions...


Brian Ghilliotti


PS AIT means "advanced individual training".

wrote:
How does the IEC's apprenticeship program work?
....

This IEC is a trade association founded (and funded by) to promote and
advance the interests of the independent electrical contractor.
Consequently, services are available only to member contractors and it
is not an organization providing training or other services to the
general population--hence, your reception.

Basically, your hypothesis appears to be correct--to be considered a
candidate for an IEC program you will _first_ have to be an employee of
a member firm or contractor.

D(id)AGS and found the following link to the CT Chapter -- while I
didn't pursue it further, looks like there's a list there of area
member contractors. First step would appear to be, as you surmised,
get yourself hired by one of them.

dpb wrote:
wrote:
How does the IEC's apprenticeship program work?
...

....

D(id)AGS and found the following link to the CT Chapter -- while I
didn't pursue it further, looks like there's a list there of area
member contractors. First step would appear to be, as you surmised,
get yourself hired by one of them.

Sorry, forgot to include the link--

http://www.iecne.org/

I think when I re-read your post your not quite right with the way I
understand what I saw--it's more than finding somebody just willing to
sponsor an apprentice, it's actually being an employed laborer or other
position first and then getting them to sponsor you for the
aprenticeship program.

As always, any suugesstions of other apprenticeships, union or non
union, are always welcome to aid in my research.

Think about it. Why do you need the approval of somebody already in the
biz (a future competitor) to get in the biz? The chief purpose of this
process is to maintain prices by limiting entry to the trade.

Be careful with the IEC!!! Some say they will re-imburse you for training
if you complete it, but will get rid of you before you finnish and you are
left paying for it!! If you your employment is terminated you are out of
training untill YOU can get another contractor to hire you. The new
contractor will not re-imburse you for the training you already did.

With the IBEW, the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committe is your
sponsor, if you get laid off you continue to attend school while the JATC
finds you another employer.

Checkout these websites for more info.

www.njatc.org
www.ibew.org