Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a training method that has successfully produced craftsmen for centuries. Tradespersons have always known the best way to teach new workers is by using the knowledge of older, experienced journeymen and master craftspersons.

By incorporating modern instructional methods and the proven training process of the centuries, apprenticeship has proved to be the most effective way of educating quality electricians for our current and future workforce. Electrical Apprenticeship is a structured method of training you to become a skilled electrician. One part of the training is working for a FEAT participating electrical contractor where you learn the hands-on skills required for your job as an electrician. The second part of your training is the classroom instruction. Here you’ll learn theory and code — the technical aspects of the trade.

The following will answer some of the questions that you may have about the FEAT Program.

What Does It Cost?

The employer is ultimately responsible for the $225 per semester payment. Each semester is 4 months long and the apprentice will be attending 2 class semesters a year. Employers are billed for tuition 2 weeks after the start of each semester. All apprentices must be sponsored by a participating employer. Tuition payments are accepted only from the employer.

Textbooks are usually issued the first night of class. You may pay then, or sign for your book and a bill will be sent to your contractor. Your employer may “payroll-deduct” your book cost from your pay.

Are There Any Restrictions?

Apprentices must be 18 to enter our program. If one of your employees is 17 and completed a registered pre-apprenticeship program (such as ACT), they may also apply for Apprenticeship. There is no maximum age. Although the average apprentice is 28, we have apprentices from 18 years of age to their early 60s.

Due to child labor laws, persons under 18 years of age don’t normally work in the construction trades. An exciting new exception to this rule is high school students involved in construction training programs such as the Academy of Construction Technologies.

How Long Is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a 4 year program. We monitor apprentices´ on-the-job training progress for 8000 hours. There are 8 semesters of related training. FEAT classes are 2 semesters a year — each class is 4 months long. Apprenticeship is a unique training method, because the students earn a real paycheck while in the program.

Where Are Classes Held?

Apprenticeship is a partnership between Industry and Education. Because of this cooperative effort, we are able to hold classes at 3 locations in Central Florida:

FEAT Office – Mid Florida Campus (South Orlando)
Westside Campus (Winter Garden)
Winter Park Campus (North Orlando)

We always try to place students at the location of their choice.

Classes are held from 6p – 9p two nights/week.
Depending on location it could be either M-W or Tu-Th.

Who Are The Teachers?

The best way to learn is from a teacher who has actual hands-on experience in the electrical trade. All FEAT instructors have a minimum of 6 years experience in the trade. Our instructors are electricians, project superintendents, estimators, inspectors or technicians. Over half of our instructors have completed an apprenticeship program.

What Classes Are Taught?

Construction Basics
In the first class, students learn basic skills: conduit bending, blueprint reading introduction, National Electrical Code structure, conductor and tool identification. We spend several nights on Safety, CPR, First Aid and OSHA.

How many people have forgotten how to multiply fractions or work with percentages? Don’t worry — we’ll bring our students up to speed.

Direct Current Fundamentals

Electron Flow, Magnetism, Electro-magnetic force, Volts, Ohms, Watts, Amps, etc.
Electricians have to know how electricity “works”, to work safely with electricity.

Alternating Current Theory

Sine Waves, Induction, Capacitance, Reactance, transformers, motors, etc. AC Theory builds on the knowledge that you gained in DC Fundamentals. Electricians have to know how electricity “works”, to work safely with electricity.

Structured Cabling

Our newest class started in January, 2005. CAT 5E, CAT 6, Twisted Pair and Fiber Optics. Electricians work with specialty systems in both Residential and Commercial Applications.

Residential Wiring

The Residential Wiring class is based on a residential blueprint and all the codes that apply to non-metallic sheathed cable. In addition, you will learn box fill, conduit fill, ampacity reduction factors and voltage drop.

Commercial Wiring

This class builds on what you learned in Residential Wiring and is based on a commercial blueprint.

Industrial Wiring

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is an important “tool” of our trade. Apprentices work with blueprints and learn the code rules as they relate to each of these types of construction.

Motor Control
There are so many ways to control motors. So many applications that this one topic requires a whole semester. Apprentices learn the theory, then practice in the motor control lab.

Is there a FEAT program outside of Central Florida?

Registered Apprenticeship Programs are available in many areas of the US. The US Department of Labor makes it easy to find an apprenticeship program in other areas of the Country.

Search for apprentice programs in counties surrounding the area that you are looking for an apprenticeship program in. Programs are listed by where their main office is located – they may hold classes in a near-by county.

What do Apprentices get paid?

Apprentice wages are based on the current average Journeyman wage. In the Fall of each year, a Journeyman wage survey is sent to all of the FEAT Participating Employers. The results of this survey are compiled and the Journeyman wage becomes effective at the start of the next year. Apprentices are paid a percentage of the Journeyman wage based on the number of OJT hours they have completed. These are minimums that an employer will pay you but in some instances you could be paid more.

0000 – 1000 Hours 50% of the Average Journeyman wage rate = $12.25/hour starting
1001 – 2000 Hours 55%
2001 – 3000 Hours 60%
3001 – 4000 Hours 65%
4001 – 5000 Hours 70%
5001 – 6000 Hours 75%
6001 – 7000 Hours 80%
7001 – 8000 Hours 90%

The Average Journeyman wage rate effective January 1st, 2023 is $24.50

What is OJT?

On-the-Job Training (OJT) is your employer´s commitment to provide you with practical experience in your electrical work. Each month, during your 4 year apprenticeship, you will fill out an OJT sheet. Your OJT sheet has several work categories. Document the number of hours you worked every day, broken down by category. You won´t work in each skill category every day. In fact, you may spend several months in one category before progressing to a new area.

It is important to be precise about hours allocated to each category. The FEAT staff will monitor hours worked in each category to verify you receive training in all areas.

What is the FEAT Credit Transfer Policy?

If you previously attended a Registered Apprenticeship Program, you may receive credit for OJT hours.

For completed classes that relate to electricity, after you provide FEAT with your transcript and a curriculum outline, we will compare our curriculum to the classes you passed. You may be given credit or allowed to “test-out” of matching FEAT classes.

Contact the FEAT office for complete details.