Education · 1 of 5

The path

An apprenticeship, not a degree. Roughly 80% of it is paid work in a plant and 20% is classroom.

1. 1

   High school diploma or GED (General Educational Development) test

   Grade 12

   Algebra is the gate. Most apprenticeship applications include a math and reading aptitude test you have to pass.

2. 2

   Get accepted into an apprenticeship

   Weeks to a year of applying

   Apply to a joint union and contractor training center, a large employer's own program, or find a sponsor through the federal apprenticeship finder. This is the competitive step.

3. 3

   Work and study together

   4 to 5 years

   Around 8,000 hours on the job across four to five years, plus classroom nights covering theory, code, motors and controls.

4. 4

   Pass the journeyman exam

   After your hours

   Most states test you on the electrical code and practical calculations before issuing a license.

5. 5

   Specialize in industrial work

   Ongoing

   Motor controls, drives, programmable controllers and instrumentation. This is what separates an industrial electrician from a house wirer.