Requirements for an Apprentice Electrician in Houston
Apprentice electricians in Houston are required to obtain an apprentice license from the state of Texas. Apprentices are licensed to perform supervised entry-level electrical work. Apprenticeship programs combine paid, hands-on training with classroom education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, apprenticeships typically last four years. Students are given a minimum 144 hours of instruction annually, along with 2,000 hours of training per year.
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Prerequisites
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According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), electrical apprentices in all jurisdictions within Texas, including Houston, are allowed to assist with the installation of electrical work under the direct supervision of a master electrician. Electrical apprentices must be at least 16 years old; electrical sign apprentices are required to be at least 18. In addition to meeting TDLR requirements, apprentices must meet the prerequisites set forth by their chosen apprenticeship program. The Houston Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee offers an apprenticeship at the Electrical Training Center in Houston, Texas. Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or its equivalent and must have completed one year of high school algebra. They must also submit official high school transcripts (or equivalent), a valid driver's license and Social Security card. Applicants must be drug free and pass a reading comprehension and algebra competency test to receive an admissions interview.
Apprenticeship Program
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Houston apprentices must successfully complete an apprentice training program. To progress from apprentice to journeyman, both electrical apprentices and electrical sign apprentices must complete 8,000 hours of supervised training under a master electrician or a master sign electrician. The apprenticeship program offered at the Electrical Training Center provides 180 hours of classroom instruction per year and 8,000 hours of hands-on experience over five years. Curriculum includes the following: print reading, controls, grounding, testing equipment, communication equipment, electrical theory, testing equipment, pipebending and the national electrical code. Curriculum also includes first aid, job safety, supervision and job-site management.
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Fees
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Electrical apprentices and electrical sign apprentices are each required to pay a $20 licensing fee. Licenses must be renewed one year from the date of issue. Apprentices who are up to 90 days late with their license renewal must pay $30 for renewal. Licenses renewed more than 90 days late cost $40.
Continuing Education
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Electrical apprentices and electrical sign apprentices are required to complete four hours of continuing education annually. Continuing education curriculum must include the National Electrical Code, the Texas law and the Texas rules governing electricians, including Title 8 of the Occupations Code (Chapter 1305) and Title 16 of the Texas Administrative Code (Chapter 73). Continuing education curriculum must also include safety.
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References
- Photo Credit electrician image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
