Is anyone here familiar with NJATC? Worked for/with them?

October 10, 2013 7:36 PM

I'm examining possible new career paths (29, failed grad student, three years of uncertain and unpleasant jobs under my belt) and am presently considering a local National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee apprenticeship - I know nothing more about them than I could find on their website and Wikipedia, and I'm looking for anyone who might have personal experience going through an apprenticeship or working with them.

It seems to be a learn while you work program (with a lot to learn), five years, with (apparently) decent and ascending pay. How much does the reality match what's advertised? I've run into work/study programs that are boondoggles, and while it appears legit, I'd be reassured by some tales of personal experience.

I'm not particularly worried about the physical labor involved - I've done a lot of physical jobs these past few years since leaving academia, and rather enjoy them as long as there's some sort of engaging intellectual component. And learning new skills and knowledge is a positive bonus. I just don't want to get into something that isn't as advertised - I've been rather naive in the past and wasted time and energy. I'd also be interested in knowing whether putting in more hours and learning faster will speed up the payscale shifts they outline on their site.

posted by AdamCSnider to Work & Money (6 answers total)

I found my time with the JATC to be quite rewarding. Granted, I only lasted a year before being dropped for drawing pictures of my boss, but whatever. I looked at it as trade school paid for, and the money from the job was decent after the first year. I'm surprised more people don't go this route, at least if you're interested in the building trades. Sounds like you're maybe looking into electrical or plumbing. Only downside I can think of is if you don't work for 5 years in the trade after school, they can come after you for tuition for each year not completed. 5 years school, 5 years work and dues to help pay off your education. Still a good deal. Also, they help with job placement. BTW, I ended up completing my apprenticeship, but through non-union trade school and work.
posted by l2p at 8:37 PM on October 10, 2013

...as long as there's some sort of engaging intellectual component.

FWIW, I've worked closely with union building trades people over the last few years and the other trades call the IBEW members "the nerds of the trades world." I'm pretty sure they mean it lovingly and with some respect.

The "sparkies" (building trades people love their nicknames, I was "Junior" and "Pup," even though I'm nearly 40) are typically pretty smart men and women - good with tools, sure, but also super organized, logical, systems-oriented and possessing a solid background in engineering.

I put out some feelers on FB to see if any of my IBEW pals know anything about NJATC programs. I'll report back if I hear anything.
posted by elmer benson at 8:55 PM on October 10, 2013

Your profile says you're in Tennessee - maybe call IBEW Local 721 and ask if you could talk to their apprenticeship coordinator or people who went through the program?
posted by elmer benson at 9:03 PM on October 10, 2013

I'm your age and recently started an apprenticeship (different trade though, carpentry). From day one, I've been making significantly more money than I ever did with my biochemistry B.S. doing research. It's hard work. I love it and I'm good at it, but it's not for everyone. Be aware that at least in my region, apprenticeships are hugely popular right now and have waiting lists unless you are a direct-entry apprentice - the one for carpentry was at two years when I started.

It used to be possible, for my particular apprenticeship, to fast track thorough it. Nowadays, in order to get a pay raise you need both 1000 work hours (I'm fortunate to get lots of overtime, which is never mandatory and pays even better at 1.5x, 2x on Sundays) and 80 hours of classroom instruction, which is scheduled over four 10-hour days long class every quarter and that's it - so the raises happen every six months. Your program might be totally different, why not call your local coordinator and ask?
posted by halogen at 9:58 PM on October 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

Best answer: When my company joined IBEW many moons ago, I ended up in an NJATC program which I'd have to pass before I'd be considered qualified to do the work I'd been doing. Silly union structure aside, I found the written course material to be depressingly basic (pretty sure I was placed into the wrong class), but also hilariously out of date (Token Ring, really?). On the job was much better than the classroom portion.

Be aware of something else: there's no way to advance quickly if you master the material quickly. Everything in the union is based on calendar days and seniority, rather than ability. I aced the placement test before they realized they shouldn't have let me take it in the first place -- I didn't have enough time on the job to be considered a journeyman, even with the fast-track thing, if I passed. That's why I got wedged into the apprenticeship program. This sort of thing defined my experience in the union.

The people, however, were top-notch. As others have said, I will reiterate -- the electrical trade is full of good folks I was proud to have as colleagues and coworkers. If you can put up with the politics, the work is interesting. I very much enjoye(ed) the satisfaction of working with my hands and going home knowing that a new thing exists which did not exist earlier in the day. If that's what motivates you, give it a shot.
posted by Myself at 12:31 PM on October 11, 2013

there's no way to advance quickly if you master the material quickly. Everything in the union is based on calendar days and seniority, rather than ability. I aced the placement test before they realized they shouldn't have let me take it in the first place -- I didn't have enough time on the job to be considered a journeyman, even with the fast-track thing, if I passed. That's why I got wedged into the apprenticeship program.

Apprenticeship programs in general are like that; without minimum hour standards you end up with the problem that computing has where some guy passes an MSCE or other cert course and passes himself off as a computer expert without knowing anything really besides rote memorization of the exam material. This is even less desirable when it's your plumber, electrician, or framer.

I'd be very sceptical of any progress path that allowed you to be a journeyman whatever without putting in significant supervised hours. Here (it varies from province to province) you need 6000 hours plus a sign off from an FSR holder to become a journeyman electrician and you need an additional full year of related experience to apply for an FSR which allows you to pull permits. Those hours are on top of 1200 hours of schooling for your Red Seal (ticket) and additional course work to sit for the FSR exam.

For quick learners it can be seen as a drawback but there really isn't any substitute for experience and minimum hours are a way of ensuring that everyone with a licence has a minimum of experience.
posted by Mitheral at 1:49 PM on October 11, 2013