I was looking for something else (and avoiding work) when I ran across Education Direct's DETC diploma course for electricians. How does this course work? Doesn't the student still have to do years of apprenticeship or does the course replace some of that time?
Typically to become a journeyman electrician you have to have two years experience under a journeyman or master electrician's supervision, or have completed a two year program. So, I would expect that the program alone would not qualify a person for the card. To meet the requirements for the master electrician license you have to have your journeyman and 4 years under a master electrician's supervision. The electrical contractor license is usually the same as the master with the exception of an added contract law section of the testing. This is the way it was when I went through each of these stages years ago, but in some states you can bypass the journeyman and master and go straight to the EC. Hope this helps.
Thank you; your explanation fits with what I've been able to tease out around here. The course would probably be helpful in passing the exams and might make the student a more attractive applicant as a helper, but you have to put in the time. Here, most people take a community college diploma program while serving as apprentices under Union rules. You can't even TAKE the classes unless you are a Union apprentice. BTW, here in New Mexico, four years gets you journeyman and two years gets you something called "residential wireman", apparently a limited certificate to wire houses.
To be a union certified journeyman electrican, you must go through a 4 year apprenticeship which includes extensive classroom training and a hands-on apprenticeship under a journeyman or master electrician. Like any skilled trade, you can tell the difference between the tradesman who went through the full training, and the the do-it-yourselfer who winged it. Bottom line, you get what you paid for. (just look at the Kaufman and Broad homes - most are junk built by marginally skilled tradesman at lower than market rates -- talk about throw away homes!)
Just looking at it as a line of work, being an electrician seems to be a pretty good deal! Work anywhere you want, for yourself or as an employee, good pay, lots of opportunity... So why would ANYONE want to be a lawyer??
An electrician, as well as any skilled labor, is a good honorable profession. I would do it for a living, but to make decent money, you have to be fast (something that I am not). Unfortunately, Lawyers tend to make more money and have a great deal less stress on their body. I know of few 60 year old trades people that don't have bad knees.
