How do I become an electrician?

[Irving]

So I've gotten the idea to see if I can become an electrician. I have zero formal education in this industry, but know that I'm plenty smart enough to learn it.

So....
1) Where is a good place to get some formal education?
2) I need a job in the mean time of course. Is there anyway I can do an apprenticeship or something before I go through a trade school or something?
3) I've already got a Bachelors in Economics. If I find some where to take classes, am I going to be forced to waste my money on a bunch of core classes that I don't need?
4) I'm doing some research about this right now, but thought I'd ask here at the same time. Please don't think I'm expecting to be spoon fed and am not looking for myself at the same time.

[llostwolf]

Usually you have to start as an apprentice and any good company will put you though the classes to get licensed. I may know some folks hiring but starting wage for an apprentice is something like $12 an hour and you would have to log alot of hours to get a wiremans or journeyman's.

[Irving]

Yeah, that's what Marlin was saying earlier. Right now I'm doing okay on $15 an hour, but don't usually even work a 40 hour work week. I might be able to pull off starting at $12/hr depending on how many hours that means and how fast I can move up in pay. I'd also consider a trying to pick up a part time job, but that might be pretty tough if I'm already working 50-60 hours or something at the main job.

If you've got more information or someone I can talk to, I'd gladly take it. Thanks for the response.

[llostwolf]

Taken from Colorados web page

its looks like at least two years before a raise but i can ask tomorrow if your serious

RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN
Applicants for a Colorado residential wireman's license are required to provide verification of two years of electrical construction wiring experience, for lights, heat, and power; of one, two, three, and four family dwellings.
JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN
Applicants for a Colorado journeyman electrician's license are required to provide verification of four years of electrical construction wiring experience, for lights, heat, and power; with a minimum of two years of that time being commercial and/or industrial work. Verification of experience must state the percentage of your time spent performing commercial/industrial wiring, and the percentage of your time spent performing residential wiring.
MASTER ELECTRICIANApplicants for a Colorado master electrician's license are required to provide verification of five years of electrical experience; four years of that time must be electrical construction wiring, for lights, heat, and power; with a minimum of two years of that time being commercial and/or industrial work. One additional year must be in planning, lay-out, supervising, and installing wiring, apparatus, and equipment for electrical light, heat, and power.
Applicants who hold a Colorado journeyman electrician's license are required to provide verification of one full year of planning and lay-out experience, in addition to the time previously verified.

[Irving]

Well, some quick math tells me that I only need to work an extra 10 hours a week to make the same as the $15/hr I've been surviving on for the last two years (got laid off from a $40k job before that. OUCH). So yes, I guess I am serious. I'll call them and feel them out a bit, see just how likely it will be that I can get the hours (or overtime) required to get enough pay to keep supporting my family. I really appreciate your help.

[Irving]

I've found these two websites. Is this the kind of place I need to be looking?

http://www.ibew111.com/

http://www.djeatc68.com/

This second one looks like I could start out working at the wage I earn now, and taking classes at the same time. Seems promising. Also, in the first link, it looks like you can register at the end of March and start in April, which would be about as perfect timing as I could ever hope for.

[Marlin]

Thats what we call a "Redneck backhoe"....

I had no idea when I started that plumbing involved so much digging...

Just replace plumbing with electrical...


I have one for you, Hoisting 4" GRC 70' in the air by hand.

[GreenScoutII]

I have one for you, Hoisting 4" GRC 70' in the air by hand.

Ugh... That sounds heavy.... What exactly is GRC? It sounds like it might suck as much as humping 4" cast iron 35' up on scaffolds by hand...

[Marlin]

Ugh... That sounds heavy.... What exactly is GRC? It sounds like it might suck as much as humping 4" cast iron 35' up on scaffolds by hand...

Galvanized Ridged Conduit... I'd say roughly equvilent to the same sized cast iron..

[Marlin]

If you think you'll escape mud as a sparkie,, Here's a god one for you..

Think it was '93 or '94.. I was out working on the Kaiser building out in Aurora, I got crawlspace duty, Running lights and power, plus run 2" feeders to where they needed to go up..

I got everything layed out and was getting ready to go, when it started snowing.. The building wasn't closed in yet, so all of seemed like it ended up in the crawlspace..

Turned the crawlspace into a nice little mudhole.. They got the floors poured and the first level close in.. Funniest part about it, It turned the crawlspace into it's own self contained weather system.. There would be "fog" in the morning then "rain" in the afternoon..

Fun stuff...