Year One

In your first year of apprenticeship, you will attend 2 semesters of related training, each 4 months long, 2 nights a week. During the same period you will work a typical 40 hour work week for your employer. Apprentices start their training earning at least 50% of the average Journeyman wage in Central Florida. The Journeyman rate is adjusted annually and is derived from a survey of FEAT Participating Employers. The FEAT program is known as an open shop or merit shop program. This simply means that you will be paid based on your ability.

Your first semester of school is "Construction Basics". This class has 4 main goals:

  • Refresh your math skills
  • Teach you basic electrical skills
  • Lay the foundation for succeeding classes
  • Safety, safety and more safety

Your second semester will be "Direct Current Fundamentals". In "Direct Current Fundamentals", you'll start by learning atomic theory as it relates to electrical energy. You'll work with Ohm's Law and Watt's Law and learn how voltage and resistance affect current and power. We'll show the different sources of power, including the chemical source of batteries and electro-magnetic production by generators. Sequence of your classes may vary depending on your class locations.

Your first year of OJT will also be focused on the basics. Depending on the jobsite you are assigned to, you may be working on the underslab of a new building, installing conduit (pipe for electrical wires) in commercial buildings or installing boxes and wire in a residential building.

Provided you are progressing as expected, after approximately 6 months (1000 hours) of OJT you will advance to 55% of the Journeyman wage. At the end of your first year (2000 OJT hours) you will be at 60% of the Journeyman wage.

Year Two

Your next class will be "Residential Wiring". This is the class where it all starts to "come together". This semester is based on the wiring of a single family home, but many things you learn are also applicable to a commercial building. In "Residential Wiring" you will learn to differentiate between the types of conduits and conductors. Studying the National Electrical Code (NEC) and how it affects the wiring of residences (single and multi-family homes) is a major part of this semester. There are many mathematical calculations involved, including how many conductors can be legally put in a box or conduit. You finish the semester by calculating what size service (electrical panel amperage) is required for specific houses.

At work, you will be advancing to new tasks. By now, you should be pulling wire in conduits and "trimming out" -- installing switches, receptacles and light fixtures.

After 3000 hours of OJT (approximately one and one half years) you should be at 60% of the Journeyman rate, if your work is progressing as expected. In another 1000 hours (at the end of two years), 65%.

Year Three

The first semester of year 3 starts with "Alternating Current Theory". In this class, you learn how the electricity that we use in our homes and businesses functions.

What factors affect the "flow" of electricity"? We'll teach you about capacitance and inductance. In this semester, you discover the characteristics of motors and transformers.

"Commercial Wiring" is your next class. Commercial wiring encompasses the wiring of businesses, schools and restaurants. Many of the concepts you learned in "Residential Wiring" will be expanded on in this class. You'll work on sizing the service for individual businesses and a shopping center. You'll work in the NEC as it applies to commercial buildings, transformer installation rules, cooling units and sizing conductors

On your job, you will be assuming more responsibility. Your conduit bending skills are ready to be passed on to green (new) helpers. You will be wiring equipment (heating and cooling units) and "landing" panels (terminating wires on lugs and circuit breakers). After 5000 hours of OJT (approximately two and one half years), provided your progress in on-track, you will be at 75% of the Journeyman rate. At the end of your third year (6000 OJT hours), you should be at 80% of the Journeyman rate.

Year Four

At last! Your final year of apprenticeship. Actually, you won't believe it passed so fast. "Motor Control" is most students' favorite semester. After you learn the theory of motor control, you'll be reading schematics and ladder diagrams -- the "blueprints" of motor control. The last half of the semester will be spent in the lab. You may not believe it now, but by the end of this class, terms like limit switch, relay, contactor and starter will be part of your everyday vocabulary.You only have one class left -- "Industrial Wiring". This class is broken into two separate sections. The first section is based on the blueprint of an Industrial building and Unit Substation. The Substation is a building that contains the necessary equipment to connect, transform and distribute power. The NEC regulations that apply to specialized systems in an industrial building are examined. The last part of this semester is actually a review of your classes from the start. This review is designed to help you prepare for successful completion of the Journeyman License Exam that you are qualified to take after your apprenticeship is complete.

On the job you will be assuming increasing responsibilities. You may be in charge of a crew in the portion of the building you are working on -- reading blueprints and selecting appropriate material. You may not be a journeyman yet, but learning supervisory skills is an important lesson. The equipment and lighting fixtures you install will be larger and specialized. After 7000 OJT hours (three and one half years), if you are progressing as expected, you will be at 90% of the Journeyman rate. Not only is your percentage increasing every six months, because the Journeyman rate is evaluated yearly, the rate often increases also.

Four years, eight classes and 8000 OJT hours completed! What can you expect next? You will receive a Certificate of Completion from the State of Florida. Because the FEAT program is registered with the Department of Labor, your accomplishment will be recognized wherever you live in the US. Now, you negotiate your pay with your employer. Remember, FEAT employers operate under the open shop concept - your pay is based on your merits as an electrician.

What can you expect in your future? You may be a project superintendent, estimator or even run your own business. You might want to check FAEC's Career Paths to explore your options. Local chapters of the Electrical Council of Florida, Florida Association of Electrical Contractors and the International Association of Electrical Inspectors offer upgrade and specialized classes. The FEAT calendar has these classes listed for your convenience.

Wherever your career path takes you, the future is up to you.