First off, please understand that membership in the I.B.E.W. is not required to sign the out of work list; everyone starts out the same as unrepresented workers.  Additionally, applicants for the apprenticeship are not offered membership until they past their apprenticeship probation period.  Which path you take to membership is subject to your experience as an electrical worker. 

The apprenticeship is the path for people with little to no background or experience.  Please visit the Apprenticeship’s website. For people with three or more years experience at the trade the path would be with the Union Office; this webpage.

The first step is come on in with information documenting your experiences so we can place you on the highest out of work book you qualify for.  These out of work books are: Inside, Residential, Sound & Communications.  The collective bargaining agreements covering these books cover a number of classifications.  Each of the three agreements covers apprentices.  The Sound & Communications agreement covers installers, technicians and senior technicians.  The Inside and Residential covers journeymen and foremen.  The Inside agreement also covers the newest classifications of construction electrician and wiremen.

The “Journeyman Inside Wireman” classification is defined as having passed a Journeyman Wireman’s Examination given by a duly constituted Inside Construction Local Union of the I.B.E.W. or have been certified as a Journeyman Wireman by any Inside Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.

What if you have not passed the exam or completed an inside apprenticeship; can you go to work?  Not a major concern as a large number of people have gone to work and become members.  In fact, our former Business Manager, Bruce Gourley, came into the IBEW after being discharged from the Navy as a marine electrician and signed inside book four.  However, since then the IBEW has provided additional options.

The Referral Test is option one for people who are State Certified with over 8,000 hours as an electrician.  Pass this short test and meet the other requirements for the referral then you can be placed on book one for up to one year in which time you must take and pass the Journeyman Inside Wireman’s Examination to remain on book one.

The Construction Electrician classification is option two for people who are State Certified with less than 8,000 hours as an electrician.  Training is offered and the Journeyman Inside Wireman’s Examination given at the end.  However, any person can elect to remain at the Construction Electrician classification as long as they wish.

The Construction Wireman classification is option three for people who are uncertified with less than 8,000 hours as an electrician.  This classification requires enrollment in an Electrician Trainee program to allow the person to work under State law.  The program offers the Journeyman Inside Wireman’s Examination at the end.  The goal is to offer advancement to the Construction Electrician classification.

The first step to joining the I.B.E.W. is, and has always been, yours to take.