It always amazes me how much the requirements for the electrical journeyman license vary.

For Shreveport, LA, if you work a few weeks for an electrical contractor, they will write you a journeyman license, with no test.

Hm EC

I personally believe this is what Florida needs. There is a lack of experienced journeyman that have received approved teaching of theory in our field in this state. The only training for appentices at this time that is not union apprenticeship training is through ABCI. This program follows no federal mandates and the drop out rates are high. There needs to be a better program put together that contractors feel is worth the money. As a former instructor for ABC in maryland and it being an approved apprenticeship program via the labor department this is what Florida needs to bring qualified people into the field here.

As an electrical contractor in Michigan, I have always told a prespective apprentice that they will have to go to school if they want to work for me. They cannot learn it all in the field because of time restraints and the need to produce. I applaud the law but I'm also disappointed in the way it was enacted. As recently as August 19th the electrical administrative board ruled exisiting apprentices that had completed an approved program would not need to re-enroll in a program if they were sponsored (employed) by a contractor. If they are not sponsored then any schooling completed to date was null and void and they would have to start over once they were sponsored which is very difficult in this economic environment. So much for a young person trying to improve themselves.

I can't believe how each state varies either. One thing is for sure, here in Michigan it's hard enough to try to keep the doors open due to the nature of the economy, tight bidding, and people working for wages only. There is no such thing as profit margin anymore and with this new law it sure won't help. I understand that education is important and I think educating our apprentices is important and it will help the field of electricians in general, but at what cost and who is paying for it? It seems to me that the more government is in control or the more you are under their thumb, the harder it is to do business. This law isn't as simple as filling out forms and sending your apprentices to school. It involves saying which school each guy will be going to, making sure they are getting their hours, registering with the USDOLOA, stating what you pay you journeyman and then the apprentices wages are based off of that, making sure that you hire people in the USDOLOA's format, etc. If you open up a business and try to live the American Dream, it shouldn't be this hard. I know if I was an electrical contractor I wouldn't be happy about this going into effect.

I am curious to know how other companies are going about this. Would anybody care to share how this is affecting them in Michigan?

I think some responders are missing the important issue here. If you choose to be an electrician, on-the-job training and education are equally important. The apprenticeship education includes the teaching of how lethal electricity can be. It teaches apprentices the paramount importance of safe work practices to protect themselves, their workmates and the public who will use the equipment they install. Theory is so important, it explains why things work electrically and how they work. Teaching the NEC cannot be done in the field, it is best done in the classroom. Our electrical contracting firm has been in business in Michigan for 40 years. We are associated with NECA and IBEW, our apprentice schools turn out excellent journeymen and journeywomen. I applaud Michigan for implementing this educational requirement for all apprentices. It should be a national requirement, our citizens deserve to expect electrical installations to be installed by highly skilled electricians.