No previous knowledge or skill set is required to begin as an apprentice. IN-Tech has designed the curriculum with that in mind. The first year of apprenticeship builds a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and mechanical ability in anyone that is willing to work hard and take initiative. The classes are designed to challenge everyone, and the instructors are there to support anyone working to succeed. The first year of school is 11-weeks long, 8-hours a day. Upon successful completion of the first year of school the apprentice is assigned to a contractor to complete 9-months of on-the-job training. The apprentice will then return to second year school for 9 more weeks of schooling. Once complete, the apprentice will then continue with alternating on-the-job training with schooling until the fourth year of apprenticeship in which fourth- and fifth-year apprentices must complete seminars at night after work.
Paying for Apprenticeship
One of the benefits of the Partnership of ECA and the IBEW is that the apprenticeship will cost you nothing to attend school. The IBEW and ECA have decided to invest in their apprentices and have created an industry scholarship loan program that covers the cost of their education so that the apprentice may concentrate on becoming the best apprentice possible. This loan is paid off through working in the industry for signatory contractors. The only out of pocket expenses through the whole apprenticeship are a $50 application fee, a $500 processing fee that a candidate pays upon being selected for the apprenticeship, and finally, at the completion of first year school, the apprentice is responsible to pay for the tools required on the job. When an apprentice returns for second and third year-school they are paid a stipend for the time they are in school. Apprentices are earning while they are learning and not building large student debts to pay back later.