Question for electricians or those in the electric-related field

So I currently work in marketing, but have my Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice. As it stands, I have been currently taking civil service exams for different police departments with little to no avail, due to a combination of inexperience and not having went through the academy (most of the civil service tests grant extra credit for military or prior police service, so that doesn't help my case).

Nonetheless, I still have an interest in becoming a police officer, but have been toying with the idea of going back to school to gain experience in more of a "trade" related field. Having said that, the electrical field (if that is what its called) seems to interest me. I enjoy working in different and challenging environments and I'd like to think I'm a quick learner...yada, yada, yada..

With that said, is there a certain route I should pursue as far as the electrical field is related? Do I need a 4 year degree? 2 Year? Certification? Experience? etc...

FWIW, I currently live in Northeast Ohio if that has any impact on job or career opportunity.

Lastly, I am not a fan of heights, so a career as a linesman would not be the most ideal niche for me, so hoping there are other avenues I can explore!

Sorry for the long winded post, just hoping I can gain some insight from the professionals in this field. Thanks in advance!

 

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if you want to be just an electrician (residential, commercial, industrial) you can do one of three things ..... join the union, sign up at a school called Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) or walk into a non union shop and they will hire you then send you to school through the IEC. The union will send you to their school and its a 5 year program where as the IEC is a 4 year program. Both great schools. If you just want in the electrical field then there are other options like low voltage doing data cabinets (telephone, internet) and control panels (24v). You could also get into fire alarm systems or HVAC controls (heating and cooling). Those trades can also be obtained through the IEC or similar trade schools. I think the low voltage class is only 2 years. Once you graduate school you will then need to take your test to get your license. I think they require 8000 on the job hours and 4 years of school or 16000 on the job hours.

 

Thanks for the reply! when they send you through these programs, are you getting paid? Is that similar to an apprenticeship?

Pretty much at the beginning level of figuring out what route I want to go, I'd really like to get into a fairly large company, but I guess it depends on what avenue I decide to purse.

Please keep the comments and advice coming, it'll definitely help me get an idea of what to expect.

 

There are a lot of at home study courses, the states seem to differ as to what they want there must be an electrical board dept. in your state give them a call and ask what you need. You most likely will have to start as a helper the next step up will journeyman test. Generally this comes with hours working under a master electrician. If you want to get into the law enforcement field, police academy, sign on as a jail guard for a year to get experience then apply to a local PD.

 

Yep its an apprenticeship program. You dont get paid for the schooling. I went throught the IEC so i know primarily about it. Its a 4 year program. Here its only one night a week for 4 hours. The employer i worked for paid for all of my schooling but its not a requirement that they do so. The thing about the school is you cant take it unless you are also working. Like i said you are required to at least have 8000 work hours for you to be eligible to take your license test so its completely pointless to do the schooling without working. Haha also once you graduate school, that doesnt mean you are a licensed electrician. You still have to take that test. Surprisingly a decent number of people fail it but you can take it as many times as you like. Im an industrial electrician which includes doing some commercial, explosion proof work, high voltage (over 480v) and low voltage (24v including fire alarm systems, data cables, and control work). Pretty much i can do it all which makes me more valuable to an employer, thats why i found an interest in it.

Now i know nothing about the HVAC schooling but i believe its a 2 year course (at the IEC) and technicians generally make a higher wage then what i make. Of coarse thats not guaranteed cause it all depends on what your company wants to pay you but on average i think they make more

 

Gotcha...I think I'd like to go more of the commerical/industrial route, there seems to be more money that way (atleast from what I've gathered thus far). I don't think I'd like to do the HVAC, I know my local community college offers a 2 Year Associates in electric, so I am contemplating that. However, I don't want to take that, only to find out I have to go through more schooling...

 

Thanks! My main goal is still to become a police officer, but I always like to have some sort of contingency plan or something to fall back on. Most departments around here transport everyone to the county jail, and they are rarely hiring. I wouldn't mind starting out as a dispatcher, but after having done an internship with a local sheriff's office, I really am not a fan of the corrections side.

 

Corrections can be a pain a jail is not like a prison the guy in prison often have nothing to lose and don't care about anything or anybody. A local jail is short term usually less than a year they have done stupid stuff same sort of thing all kids do but they got caught some never learn. Drug offences, drinking, assaulting girlfriend/wife, OUI and they know if they misbehave in jail next step is prison. I am surprised that they are not hiring seems those jobs are hard to fill. The young guys at our jail usually lasted about a year than went looking for a job with a local small PD. It was kind of funny the new recruits were often just out of school and this was their first job. It paid well and the parking lot quickly filled up with new cars/trucks!

 

Here is a link to the associates degree program offered at my local community college. Would it be worth taking to gain some knowledge and general background and see where that leads me?

http://www.lorainccc.edu/Academic+P...tificate+Programs/eet-applied+electronics.htm

 

Might try to get an entry level job and go to school so more of the stuff you learn will make sense if you do the work everyday.

 

I've considered that...just not sure where to start, as a lot of places tend to require some actual experience or knowledge of the trade...

 

Yea most seems to want it, start out by making a really good looking resume, maybe study some stuff out of non current textbooks( not old, just the ones schools dont use anymore), act really professional when applying places and hopefully you are good at interviews(I'm not).

Also maybe just take 1 class your first semester so you can say you are going to school.

But if you plan on going do try to a really cheap text book and read it before you start so that maybe your ahead of the game a little. Talk to your teacher and get the chapters you need to read and try to some book work at home so when you do that part at school you will be familiar with it.

And I know what you mean about the experience Im in the same boat as you trying to find a job.

 

Also if you go to a trade school and have a crappy teacher who doesn't care, switch schools as fast as you can, if you can afford the extra drive time and gas money.

 

ODo you currently have a job.

If no maybe you could try doing an apprenticship.

 

Something to look into is the courses you take at IEC are they transferable to collage credits.Here in cali the union classes are through the local community collage and the non union are not. I went through a non union apprenticeship and now work for the state i.e. civil job.the five yrs of classes i took are a waste when it comes to collage credits. Now I want to get a four degree in electrical engineering I will have to take all those classes over.

 

Yes, I do. That's why I am at somewhat of a crossroads as to what I should do.

 

I'll have to look into that. The last thing I want to do is take a bunch of classes that don't transfer over. I've looked at some of the local IBEW's websites around here and it looks like they offer whats called JATC apprenticeship?? Looks like you have to take a test

Below is one I found for an electrical apprenticeship.

http://www.ibew38.org/documents/JATC2012ElectricianAppProgram.pdf
http://www.ibew38.org/pdf/elect_prog_req.pdf

In addition it looks like they offer a telecommunications apprenticeship too:

http://www.ibew38.org/documents/JATC2012TeledataAppProgram.pdf

http://www.ibew38.org/pdf/tel_prog_req.pdf

Does any of this look familiar to the IBEW's in your area? Is it worth trying to get an apprenticeship with a union, or am I better of going to school to get a 2 or 4 Year Degree?

 

Looks the same as iebw here. The classes that they offer here are through ARC community collage so you get credit for it towards degree.the test is easy I only wish I went that route. I'm not looking forward to retaking some of those classes. Degree = more money. Don't get me wrong commercial electricians do good but it get old real fast.i still like my job but I want more money.

 

What is all on the test? Is it electrical related? If you don't mind me asking, what do commerical electricians generally make?