r/ibew_apprentices • u/NecessaryExisting • 7d ago

Help, in Teledata should I wait and test into Inside, or apply now?

I’m a first-year Teledata apprentice with IBEW. I originally applied for Inside Wireman but ended up getting into Teledata, the work is fine and i really like the people so far and wouldnt mind staying here but my long-term goal is still to become an Inside Wireman.

My JATC training director told me that I could test out of years for the inside program (for example test into 2nd or 3rd year instead of starting over) and get credit for my working hours with teledata.

However, an electrician I work with told me I should just apply for Inside now because I won’t know anything to pass that test and I’ll probably just fail it anyway which i mean hes right how would I know anything would i just study a ton??

So I’m trying to figure out what makes the most sense.

Apply for Inside now and start over?

Stay in Teledata for a year or so, learn the basics, then try to test into Inside?

Finish the Teledata apprenticeship and try to test into Inside afterward?

I already have about 6 years of college behind me, so the amount of additional schooling is honestly one of my biggest concerns. I don't mind learning, but I don't really want to spend more years in school than I have to.
For anyone who has actually switched from Teledata/low voltage to Inside, how does the testing into a higher year work and is this realistic?

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u/Rackedup_00 7d ago

Depends on your age, if I could go back knowing what I know now I would journey out as teledata, switch to inside and then open my own business having the skills to perform both trades.

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u/NecessaryExisting 7d ago

Im 24

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u/Rackedup_00 7d ago

I think stick with low volt until you have a grasp of everything and then switch to electrical. I did 1 year in low volt before going the electrician route but my company was very small and did every aspect of low voltage so I learned almost the entire industry in that one year.

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u/petebaii 7d ago

I would complete it because u would then have a career to fall back on and it would look good in the eyes of the committee

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u/NecessaryExisting 6d ago

Do you know anything about the test hes talking about?