Life after high school was not something Jared Honey gave much thought to, but as his 2005 graduation from Weiner High School neared, he knew the time had come to make a decision. With farming in his blood, Jared assumed that would be his future. But after an introductory trade class in high school and a call to a relative, he got the ball rolling on his future as an electrician. Now, the 22-year-old is in his fourth year of apprenticeship training with the Association of General Contractors of America as an electrician. Jared has been working for his cousin’s company, Arnold & Blevins Electric Company, during his apprenticeship training.

What has the program been like? To be able to work as an electrician, you are required to go through an apprenticeship program and take the Journeyman Electrician Exam after you’ve gained the necessary training hours. You’re then licensed by the state. I work full-time at my cousin’s company and attend class one night a week. I’ll be finished with all of my required hours in December and will take my exam soon after. The classes are great because they’re taught by journeymen and people that have been working in this industry for a long time. They know all of the rules and regulations that you’ll need to know when you are out on a job. It really hasn’t proven that difficult to work full-time and get the training hours I need.

What are your plans for the future? I hope to be a job foreman soon after I am finished with my apprenticeship training. I plan to be there for a couple of years, and then my ultimate goal is to be a job estimator – the one who actually bids on and finds the jobs.

What advice would you give to a high school student who is considering an apprenticeship? If they are remotely interested in trade, just try it. I have never regretted my decision; I’ve had a lot of fun.

Degrees Offered
An apprenticeship offers the best of both worlds: hands-on training and a real salary at the same time. Apprenticeship programs involve a relatively structured system where a business or industry trains you in skilled trades by allowing you to work under the supervision of someone experienced in that particular field while attending classes. After completing the program, you will receive a certificate of license that will allow you to work in any part of the United States. The length of an apprenticeship depends on the craft or trade you choose to learn. The training can take as little as one year, or up to six years, to complete.

Money Factor
Apprenticeships are typically affordable, and many partnering businesses share some of the costs with their employees by paying for textbooks and splitting travel costs to and from site locations. On average, an apprentice earns about 50 percent of what skilled workers earn starting out, with the salary increasing as training progresses.

Admission Requirements
Most apprenticeship programs require a high school diploma, and a supervisor may ask to see a copy of your high school transcript to review your attendance and tardiness records.

Social Life
As an apprentice, you may be so busy working on-site and training to perfect your skill that you may not have a lot of free time. However, don’t adopt an “all work and no play” theory, as that can quickly cause burnout.

Future Digs
You’ll have to make your own housing arrangements when you’re an apprentice, but that should be no problem since there are programs located across the state.