Q: Apprentice Training: Why is there an extra person here at my job?
Apprentice training is a big deal here at Dynamic Electric and most of our service trucks are running a two-person team of an electrician and a qualified apprentice to make sure we can best serve our customers. We do get questions about why there are two people here to do the work.
While the basics can seem simple, electrical work has many different facets, especially for residential service work. Something as “simple” as changing an outlet may require broader experience as factors like age of the home, existing conditions and code requirements can all make a “simple task” much more complicated. Service electricians need to have knowledge and experience across a broad range of areas and systems. There is no substitute for hands on experience when it comes to these things.
Becoming an electrician is a long process. Consideration for a journeyman electrician (now journeyperson according to the NCAIEC) to even sit for the licensing test with the NCBEEC requires a minimum of 4000 hours of documented work under a qualified electrician. This is down from a previous requirement of 8000 hours so many journeymen electricians have years of experience before being prepared to take the licensing courses with the state. Trade schools can provide a great start but there is no substitute for hands on experience. In fact, the NCBEEC only recognizes a maximum of 600 hours for any school courses, the rest actually must occur as hands on training.
What will the apprentice do while here?
This depends on the experience of the apprentice as well as the type of job we are doing but here are some common apprentice duties:
Apprentices serve as helpers, bringing tools and materials and helping to hold, adjust or move things for the electrician, this helps with both time and safety on the job. (ie: reducing the number of times an electrician climbs up and down a ladder)
These are experienced workers; they may perform all sorts of tasks related to your job within their scope of experience and under the watchful eye of the electrician.
Apprentices may just observe and learn new things while on your job, if they are not familiar with the job specifics.
They may document our work, ask questions and assist with preparing quotes for the electrician.
Apprentices are always an important “second set of eyes” to check and double check our work.
One thing the apprentice won’t do is cost you extra money. They actually help us be more efficient. All of our pricing is “task” based, if you see the electrician take an extra few minutes explaining something, don’t worry this time is “on us” to help train the next generation, customers are never charged for this extra time.
Where or how do you get apprentices?
Our apprentices come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience levels. While apprenticeship is a learning path our apprentices are fully paid employees, we are OCLW certified and they enjoy the same benefits as our other employees. We’ve all heard about how trade skills are dying out and Dynamic Electric is committed to training and developing new electricians. Many of our current electricians have come up through the ranks of apprenticeship with our company to become journeyperson electricians with us now.
Chances are good that you will see an apprentice who is working alongside our electrician if we come to your home. They are a huge part of our ethos as a company to train and help future electricians. Say hello and feel free to ask them any questions, they are a wealth of knowledge and experience and a core part of our customer service approach. Apprentices make our entire team stronger. If you know of someone seeking a new career, send them our way at www.dynamic-electric.com/apprentices.
Ask the Electrician is a column we publish with our advertising partner WCHL/Chapelboro. In “Ask The Electrician,” Scott answers common questions about electrical work, from switches and outlets to safety issues and preventative maintenance. If you have a suggested question for us to answer – or need an electrician – please reach out to our office.