Literally thousands of people in Northeast Florida are enjoying a variety of careers in the electrical service industry thanks to the Electrical Apprenticeship Program offered through CareerSource Northeast Florida
(CareerSource NEFL).
The program, supported by CareerSource NEFL since 2005, is a customized training program developed in partnership with the Electrical Training Alliance of Jacksonville (ETAJ). CareerSource NEFL reimburses companies for the training necessary for participants to complete an apprentice program for up to five years. Educational topics offered through the apprenticeship program include safety, electrical codes, best practices, installation skills, theory, tools, material and equipment.
“The Electrical Training Alliance has been teaching men and women how to be electricians since 1946, because this is a well-paid career with great benefits and a fantastic future. We look forward to sharing our trade with a new generation of future electricians,” states Tim Hinson, Director of Corporate Training, Miller Electric Company.
CareerSource NEFL provides paid training to the electrical companies, which currently includes Miller Electric Company, Cogburn Brothers, Mardant Electrical Construction Company, White Electrical Construction Company and Vilano Electric, Inc.
According to CareerSource NEFL Director of Training and Career Pathways Sonya Speights, there are typically over 300 apprentices in the program at any given time.
For apprentices, it is a win-win proposition: they receive a salary and full health benefits from their employers throughout the program – and can even take advantage of pension and retirement plans offered through the companies. And, since their tuition is fully covered, they are not saddled with any student loan debt after they complete the program.
Also, participants can apply their apprentice hours as college course credit toward degrees at Florida State College of Jacksonville (30 credit hours toward an associate degree) or Valdosta State University (40 hours toward a bachelor’s degree).
To qualify for the program, applicants must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED) with one algebra credit, possess a driver’s license and be able to perform the work. Also, individuals who have worked at least 2,000 hours in the electrical construction trade and veterans with a copy of their DD214 (with re-enlistment code at the bottom) can also apply. Once they obtain a qualifying score on the electrical trades aptitude test, they are on their way.
“It’s a true ‘earn as you learn’ program, where apprentices immediately start working and receive training at the same time,” Speights said.
Speights can be reached at sspeights@careersourcenefl.com or by phone at 904-798-0060, extension 2175.