HBI electrical student Lewis Billy at the Talking Leaves Job Corps Center in Tahlequah, Okla.

Fred Humphreys, Home Builders Institute (HBI) president and CEO, was recently interviewed by LowesForPros.com about the benefits of electrical apprenticeships. The following is excerpted from the Lowe’s article.

An apprenticeship certainly isn’t the only way to become an electrician. Trade schools, community colleges and starting as an electrician’s assistant are other options aspiring electricians can pursue.

But the combination of paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction provides apprentices with invaluable experience to become licensed electricians and enjoy a successful career.

“Electricians, in particular, are held to a higher standard because of the nature of the work,” said Humphreys. “Employers want to hire bright, articulate apprentices because their students will have to go to customers’ homes and speak professionally with them about the job.”

The goal of all apprenticeship programs is to provide aspiring electricians the skills and knowledge to become licensed journeymen electricians in their state — which includes all that students are required on exams to know about electrical theory, the National Electrical Code and local electric and building codes.

Apprenticeship training generally lasts three to five years and most programs require 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of classroom instruction.

Classroom instruction — which covers blueprint reading, electrical theory, math calculations, electrical code requirements and safety regulations — is generally held at night or, depending upon the program, one day a week for six to eight hours during an apprentice’s day off.

Common Program Application Requirements

Application requirements vary slightly by program and location, but some are common to all. Applicants must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED — transcripts are sometimes requested
• Be 18 years of age
• Have taken and passed a high school algebra class
• Have reliable transportation

If an applicant meets all of these initial requirements, most programs then require potential apprentices to pass a reading and math comprehension exam followed by an in-person interview.

Employers or committees evaluating apprentices want to see that applicants have the mental capacity to handle the challenges that regularly occur in various professional scenarios, said Humphreys.

To read the full article in LowesForPros.com, click here.

HBI Offers Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

HBI, the workforce development arm of NAHB, offers pre-apprenticeship training programs (PACT) in electrical wiring and several other trade areas, including brick masonry, carpentry, facilities maintenance, landscaping, painting and plumbing.

HBI’s Residential Construction Academy Series and PACT combine academic instruction and hands-on training for HBI’s training programs.

For more information about HBI training programs, visit www.hbi.org.