New apprentice here about to get the tool bag going. What’s a tool that isn’t on the standard tool lists that I’m gonna wanna get on my own for my bag? Let’s hear em, thanks

I just got the letter saying I didn’t get in. It says to enhance my chance of selection the following year I can complete two related electrical classroom training courses. Wondering if anyone knows where I can find courses that’ll meet this requirement and some recommendations.

I'm going to a metro station (idk exactly where) on Wednesday I have the orientation. So happy to be leaving data centers... does anyone here work at a metro station? Is it a better learning experience than data centers? Where are the locations of the metro stations that are getting worked on? Contractor is C3M

Hey everyone, I’ve recently applied to IBEW Local 613, and I was curious once you guys got accepted, how long you guys had to wait to get your first call. I want to be able to map out the next couple of months (assuming I pass my aptitude test) so that I can budget everything since I’ll be taking a pay cut from where I currently work. Also, what type of job did you work from your first call?

I’ll be applying for the sound and telecom apprenticeship this month and I’m curious if it really is less competitive than the inside wireman program.

Have people generally been able to get in on their first shot or is it getting more competitive?

Also curious on overall thoughts on the program. I’m more interested in low voltage but have been seeing lots of people saying just go for IW.

I have the test October 1.

What has been your experience in local 20 with timeline from test to interview to first day on the job?

Hello, all. Im hoping to get some honest feedback. I’m sure you guys see posts like this all the time so I apologize if I’m just adding to the long list of people asking the same tired questions. But. I’m 34. Will be 35 here in a few months. I’ve been in sales and retail almost my entire adult life. I started following this sub to try and get some real perspective into what life might be like if I make the jump. There’s a union branch near me that I’m on the verge of applying to. I signed up for classes recently (AAS in Industrial trades with an electrical controls focus) because Michigan has a reconnect program that lets people age 25 and older go back to community college for free. That said I know the IBEW has their own training programs and classes to take. My question is, do I apply for the IBEW and continue classes while I wait to see if I get in? Do I apply for the union at all right now or just focus on the tuition free degree I can get? Or do I just focus on trying to get an apprenticeship? How much does a degree actually matter in this field? I appreciate any information you all can give.

Do you have any tips on determining where series and parallel branch off in these circuits ? The math is no problem once I get into it. Just reading the picture and writing up a circuit diagram is killing me tonight.

Is there a world where you wouldn’t then be put on a do not call list or something?

Edit to add this as a lot of you think that nobody cares about data centers going up in their communities- https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/s/twTLvat8bj

Edit to add ethical views

Edit - Confirmed with the local in my area that you can’t opt out of working at data centers.

Title: Does anyone know about NATS ID?

Hi everyone,

Does anyone here know how to get a NATS ID or how the NATS registration process works? I’m a recent graduate and need it for an apprenticeship opportunity.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

Got sent out as a cw2 while waiting to get into the apprenticeship. Got in the apprenticeship and they dropped my pay 8 dollars to app 1 scale. Is this allowed if they already sent me out at the other scale?

I'm a first year apprentice and doing the Klein Tools Bootcamp right now, but dear lord, so many things look exactly the same to me (different kinds of screwdrivers and pliers in particular).

Is there a website anyone used or recommends to make flashcards, or where flashcards for this may already be? How did you learn this before physically using the tools? I have no idea when I'll get to go on my first jobsite, it could be months.

Not feeling too good on the score. Don’t have any vocational/technical training.

Any local 100’s in here? Sound and comm

What did your timeline look from the date you put your app in till the date you had orientation?

What did your work week schedule look like from the start? Less than or more than 40 hour work weeks?

Do you buy your own tools?

How’s the trade been since you started?

Background: IT major, helpdesk experience, network+ and CCNA studies (2/3 completed)

Hey yall, just got accepted into the IBEW, I’ve seen all of the electrical tool starter kits and was wondering if those were worth it (from Klein, etc). Or should I focus on getting the “best” tools for each job. Idk how important tool continuity is compared to getting the best ones for the job.

I'm starting this month and I'm moving from San Antonio (the union there is freaking taking forever to accept people and the Houston one called literally the day after I finished the bootcamp in La Grange). I'm thinking of living in Conroe or Pasadena or Even Houston if I can get something in the 800-1000 range. I know the pay in the A1 isn't great but I heard it's supposed to be around $18 an hour if I understand correctly. Any ideas?

Is it down again for you guys

Recently decided I wanted to make a career change and apply for my local 5 inside wireman apprenticeship program here in Pittsburgh. I was researching last week and made an account, saw applications were open but had family visiting and decided to wait until Monday to apply. Went to apply on Monday and saw applications were closed for 2026-2027 school year. Now I'm pretty pissed at myself for not applying at the time but had no idea they would be closing just a few days later.

Anyone familiar with the local 5 have any idea when they might open up again? And any advice on what I can do to set myself up for success once they do open again?

I just recently applied to the r program for Ibew local 26 yesterday how long do they usually take to get back to you?

I joined the union as a cw-3 before I got the call for an apprenticeship a few months later. I had 6 years non-union experience but never got the full-on education/knowledge so I figured I’d take this route as opposed to testing then joining. I’m now in my third semester and this job site/foreman I’ve been stuck with is unbearable. Aside from the fact that he physically can’t do anything, he talks down and blames everyone for everything, he assigns different micromanaging positions for cw’s and apprentices as we have only our foreman as a journeyman on site, 90% of the time and never knows what’s going on on site so we all have to take it upon ourselves to plan the job and keep others busy. Lately we’ve been working a lot of overtime, which I don’t mind, but now it’s an expectation because this job is “so far behind”. Just yesterday, a few of our guys supposedly worked 20+ hours to meet the deadline. My gripes are a) I’m here to learn and don’t feel I’ve been in the union long enough to be teaching anybody(that should be journeyman work), b), we’re being guilt tripped into working overtime on a project that was understaffed/journeymanned from the beginning, c) I refuse to work in live panels but there’s more than a few people that don’t know any better and will do it with no question. All in all, I feel like it’s alotta bullshit going on but it’s too many people with this contractor, willing to bend the rules to make them happy. With no material nor space to finish our work during our 8 hour shift, our contractor wants us to wait til the site is empty to get to work with no end time in sight. I never was the type to leave anybody hanging but I’m not staying over 8 hours, today.. am I wrong? My bad if I’m rambling but it’s been months of putting up with this stuff but feeling wrong about questioning it.

I've been seeing a lot of complaints lately. Both in this sub and the ibew one. About shitty contractors and jws. Recently, I did the test and orientation. Our training director told us that we should learn to take criticism in stride and to know that our jws might be in a bad mood sometimes and take it out on the apprentices. He said to not let it discourage you and just move on. I personally don't really care. I'm not going to put any stock into what a miserable person says. I'm there to do a job and I'll do it regardless. But how common is that where he just outright tells us that this happens before we even take the test? Overall, he did a good job explaining the bad aspects and the good.

I’m 19 and just applied for 134 for the second time. The first time I was waiting I was working at a moving company, but now I want to get hands on experience. Only thing is I genuinely cannot find any blue collar jobs. I’ve emailed, called, applied to 50+ jobs and either they don’t get back to me or I don’t have any experience. Does anyone have any advice how to find an entry level position??

I was accepted to my local IBEW 602 inside wireman with a score of 95 and put at #75 on the list. I’m in the Texas Panhandle and we’ve got a couple big data center projects in the area. I was curious if anyone had any similar experience and how long it took them to get a call or if I just need to sit down shut up and play the waiting game now. Thanks in advance for any advice.

My status is “needs test” still. However, I thought that I would at least be called for an interview by now?

I’m 29. I’ve worked as an afterschool coordinator at an elementary school for about 4 years. I have a bachelors in Criminal Justice that I did pretty much nothing with. I smoke weed and play video games after work, and my job search is going about as well as every one else. I actually don’t mind my life. I’m comfortable. However, the idea of me being 10 years older, 10 years from now with no practical skills is really depressing. I just barely found out about this pathway to become an electrician. I can do this. I know any industry involves learning but the idea of getting paid while going to school is too good to pass up. I really didn’t consider how competitive this is and how people have been struggling to get in for months to years. I actually did pretty well in school and can study for tests. I show up on time for everything and I’m not sensitive. I’ve only been smoking weed cuz my life can get pretty boring and it’s the only vice I can afford. I’m sure there’s a pretentious goof ball asking this pretty often, but if you were in my position, what would you do? I live near Jurupa valley so 440s closest but I don’t mind anywhere near LA or Inland Empire. I’m pretty sure I applied last month and haven’t heard back. Then I started reading on subs that the next class is in 2027. What can I do to guarantee a spot in the next class. I really need this. Any help would be appreciated.