Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC)
A U.S. Department of Labor-recognized four-year electrical apprenticeship combining a minimum of 8,000 hours of paid on-the-job training with an IEC contractor and 576 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction, delivered through local IEC chapters nationwide. Apprentices earn wages starting at roughly half the journeyman rate and can receive 57 college credits through the American Council on Education on completion. Applicants are generally 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED; no prior electrical experience is required.