Frequently Asked Questions
Career Worksheet

What Is An Electrician?
An electrical apprentice works directly under the supervision of a qualified Journeyman Electrician in installing or maintaining a variety of approved wiring methods for distribution of electrical light, heat, power, radio, and signaling utilization systems. The work is performed in existing or new residential, commercial and industrial buildings and includes street and highway lighting, traffic signal and other outdoor above and below grade installations. The trade requires considerable physical effort on the part of the apprentice to do lifting, climbing, crouching, and working in cramped areas.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Applicants must be physically able to perform the work of the trade.
• Must be a high school graduate or the equivalent.
• Must have completed one full year (2 semesters) of high school algebra with a minimum grade of 'C,' or the equivalent or one semester of college albegra with a minimum grade of 'C' or the equivalent. The burden of proof is on the applicant. (Pre-algebra will not meet this requirement).
• Applicant must have a valid California Driver's License at the time of indenture.

Benefits
Our program is sponsored jointly by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). As an employee and union member you will be afforded excellent medical and dental coverage as well as savings and pension plan benefits.

Program
Typically during the term of your apprenticeship you will work 8000 hours on the job for a five year program with various electrical contractors. In addition, you will attend school for 800 hours during the five (5) year period. Wages start at a percentage of full journeyman pay and increase in increments through graduation to full pay.

Application Process
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Local program requirements may vary from area to area please contact individual programs for more information.

Apprentices earn while they learn, working on the job alongside the journeymen. In addition, they attend classes of related and supplemental instruction, approximately 160 hours per year for four years.

Starting wages for a Local 75 ironworker apprentice begin at 60% of a journeyman’s wage. As an apprentice accumulates an established number of on-the-job hours plus related and supplemental instruction hours, wages are increased at regular intervals.

Graduating apprentices attain journeyman status and receive full pay for the skills they have earned.

Ironworking has many sectors. Each sector involves challenging and difficult work, often on tall structures at high elevations. Ironworkers must be willing to work as a team. They must be able to meet rigid standards and deadlines. They must have a good sense of balance and be alert to potential danger to themselves and others. The apprenticeship program includes comprehensive safety training. When you join the apprenticeship you will be trained in the following aspects of the trade.

Structural Steel
•Unload, erect, and connect fabricated iron beams to form the project skeleton.
•Work primarily on industrial, commercial and large residential buildings.
•Build towers, bridges, stadiums, and prefabricated metal buildings
•Erect and install pre-cast beams, columns and panels.

Reinforcing Steel
•Fabricate and place steel bars (rebar) in concrete forms to reinforce structures.
•Place rebar on appropriate supports and tie them together with tie wire.
•Install post-tensioning tendons (cables) to place in concrete forms along reinforcing steel.
•Stress the tendons using hydraulic jacks and pumps after the concrete is poured and hardened.

Ornamental
•Install metal windows into a building’s masonry or wooden openings.
•Erect curtain wall and window wall systems that cover the steel or reinforced concrete structure of a building.
•Install and erect metal stairways, catwalks, gratings, doors, railings, fencing, elevator fronts and building entrances.

Rigging and Machinery Moving
•Load, unload, move and set machinery, structural steel and curtain walls.
•Operate power hoists, cranes, derricks, forklifts and aerial lifts.
•Have knowledge of fiber line, wire rope, hoisting equipment and proper hand signals.

Welding and Burning
Welding and burning equipment are considered tools of the trade.
As a Local 75 apprentice you will have the instruction and opportunity to become a certified structural welder.

The mission of Ironworkers Apprenticeship and Training Program is to ensure that our union ironworkers have the skills, knowledge, and training necessary to be safe on the jobsite, competitive in the workplace, and satisfied in their careers.

If you have questions about the apprenticeship program, please call (602) 276-6055, visit the UNIVERSITY OF IRON website or visit us at:

Field Ironworkers Apprenticeship & Training Center
330 E. Maricopa Freeway, Phoenix, AZ 85004