How to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Would you like to earn money as an electrical journeyman or as telecommunications tech specialist through an apprenticeship?

Read on and find out how.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Passing Grade in Algebra
• Drug Free
• No Experience Necessary

1. 
   IBEW LOGO

   Contact the IBEW Local for your region or jurisdiction.
   You can find all that information at the second link in the resource section.
   
   
   
   Ask the Local when they accept applications. Usually applications are accepted once a year for one whole month. You must go to the Local and fill out the application in person and pay a moderate application fee. The fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee acceptance into the IBEW NJATC program.

2. Once you have applied, you will receive a letter in a few months to tell you when you have to go and take the test. The will show your aptitude in basic math and spatial recognition.
   
   Passing the test does guarantee acceptance into the IBEW NJATC program.

3. A month or so later you will find out if you passed or failed your test.
   If you pass, you will need to collect your transcripts, birth certificate, social security, and any letters of recommendation you can get and send them to the Local.
   
   You will also find out when you will be interviewed.

4. At the interview, you will be interviewed by three to four journeyman electricians who have been in the trade for years. They will ask you questions ranging from your knowledge of the trade, your background, and other things.

5. Roughly a month or two after the interview, you will find out if you are accepted. Also by now you will need to take a drug test. Fail the drug test and everything you went through so far would be thrown out the window.

6. If you pass the drug test, you will be called for orientation at the Local where you will meet the President, Business Manager, Training Director, and people from NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association).
   You will start working the next week after orientation for an electrical contractor as an apprentice.
   
   The apprenticeship will last 5 years. In order to become a journeyman electrician, you will need to complete 5000 job hours and 1000 in class hours. Once you have all your hours, you can go and take the test for your license.

Tips & Warnings

• A good way to show your interest is work for an electrical contractor during the summer before your apprenticeship starts as summer help. Summer help usually runs stock to different construction sites but does not actually do any electrical work.

Resources

• IBEW's Main Website
• IBEW Directory