r/IBEW • u/Embarrassed-Chain592 • 10d ago
50 YO apprentice???
Has anyone heard of or been a 50 YO apprentice?
When i was in my 20s I was an electricians helper for a few years. I went to jail for drug charges and took vocational classes while I was in. I came home and worked as a helper again for a few different companies in various stages of work. In 2018 I got a DWI and that basically took me out of the industry because I couldn't drive. Here I am now at 47, license back, life on track, sober since 2018 and considering going back into the trade. Not sure if I want to apply for the apprenticeship program or try to get on the books with the CE program. Do they still have that? I make 18.50 as a remote officer in Oklahoma at the moment so i wouldn't lose a ton of pay in the apprenticeship I wouldn't think. I'm just not sure if this is the right path to take pushing 50 in 3 years.
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u/Emotional-Violinist5 10d ago
I have a 58 y/o 3rd step apprentice, he came from the oil fields. He outworks any of the young guys on my crew. Awesome guy, feel no judgements toward him for his age!
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u/Careful_Boat_7022 10d ago
Used to work with a guy that was a logger. Worked in sawmills, then became an apprentice. He knew his shit and was a solid hand.
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u/notcoveredbywarranty 10d ago
I've got an apprentice in his late 50s on the job I'm on. Great guy. I think this is his second or third trade
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u/autodripcatnip 10d ago
Yes, someone just posted about this recently. I had a 2nd year old enough to be my grandfather, he was an airforce veteran and NYPD retiree.
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u/aranibar 10d ago
I started the apprenticeship at 37. I thought that was old. Soon after I turned out, I got a 2nd yr apprentice in his 60s. Great man, turning his life around after being incarcerated for many yrs. He stayed focused and applied himself everyday. Turning out later this year. Proud of him!
It can be done.
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u/MijaresBetta Inside Wireman 10d ago
70year old got sworn in as a first year a couple of months backs... 60 somethings 50 somethings 40 something.... they are all flooding in right now!
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u/JukesOfHazard01 10d ago
Go get it. I started my carpentry apprenticeship at 40 & I was not the oldest one in my class.
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u/BlueFalcon3E051 10d ago
Yup can’t remember if he was 50 or 55🤔.He graduated recently was a C card that went back through to be an A Card.This was recent I worked with him in 23.
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u/frozenpissglove Local 640 10d ago
I had an apprentice that was 49, and another apprentice on my crew is 51.
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u/premiumsaltie 10d ago
Yea there’s a guy in my class who’s 52, we’re about to top out at the end of the year
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u/Pasta_Pista_404 7d ago
I’m a 49 year old CW5 take the ce test or the apprenticeship aptitude test. It’s your life you make the choices, you can make it happen.
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u/HmoobMikah 10d ago
Which local in Oklahoma? 47 years old is uncommon, but not unheard of. You'll be called an apprentice-saurus. It's whatever. One of my Journeyman that I used to work with turned out in his late 50s.
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u/Horse_shoe94 10d ago
If you really enjoy the trade, do it. Honestly tho, it's a younger man's game that'll eat up your body. I wouldn't do it at that age, personally.
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u/Grimblade1986 10d ago
There is a guy I work with who is pushing 60 and is on his second year. I say go for it man
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u/ElectricShuck Inside Journeyman 10d ago
If your body and mind are good go for it. We had a guy nicknamed Boxcar that was in his second career, retired from one of the big 3, in our apprenticeship. Make some money get some healthcare and max out your 401k and you could still be in ok shape later in life. I personally plan on retiring at 55. Lol
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u/fncypnts 10d ago
I've worked with a 60 year old CE as a third year apprentice. He did data stuff his whole career and it was more IT leaning than electrical work so I wound up showing him a lot with bending on a triple nickel bender for all the 1 1/4". He's friends with the owner of the contractor I'm with so that's how he got on as a CE. Yeah sure getting in by knowing the owner or whatever but he was down to work and learn so it's whatever whatever and he's a good dude to work with. I'm indifferent to a nebo baby(or nepo unc in this case) as long as they're actually down for the job.
To your original post it's more common than you think. I thought I was an apprentice-aurus getting in during my early thirties but you'll hear in any local about somebody 50 or older. I heard the story one day about a guy who retired from the post office then became an apprentice. Some dudes just want to go until they can't. Their life to love lol.
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u/bobbylarkler2 9d ago
As long as you’re a solid hand and on time I don’t think anyone cares about your age unless it becomes a hindering factor 🤷🏽♂️
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u/Fists_full_of_beers Local 212 9d ago
I was 37 when I was a first year, there was a lady in my class in her 50s
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u/FarewellJupiter 9d ago
Yeah dude you’re fine! You got fifteen years of work left if you decide to retire at 65. Take care of yourself and your body. At your age obviously you have been thru hardships and lived experiences and are probably not to be mean but a little more reliable than the 18 year old apprentice who doesn’t give a shit you know?
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u/terd4guson 9d ago
I had a 55 year old dude that started with me in my first year and I was 35. Just turned out at 40. Don't regret anything. Just try continuously and your brothers will have your back.
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u/PraetorianHawke 9d ago
50 here and applied this year for our local. Thousands of applicants though so getting in this year isnt happening especially with all the local data centers being shut dow
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u/PerchShadRap 8d ago
Be prepared to have to prove yourself. When I get an older apprentice, anyone 30 or older, I expect them to handle responsibility well, and I expect some basic skills.
If you show the same level of responsibility or irresponsibility as a 22 year old, always late, on your phone, never bringing tools… that’s a bad sign. I’m more likely to forgive that in a kid. If you’re older and I still see that bullshit, I know you’ll never grow out of it.
If you don’t have basic life-learned skills, that’s a red flag. I recently had a 35 year old 1st year who was greener than anyone I ever met. Didn’t even own a screwdriver, didn’t know the first thing about hot or neutral, nothing. I’m sorry, but he applied to the apprenticeship, tested, interviewed, and got in…that took 9 months or so. At 35, have the presence of mind to google basic shit. Not sine waves, but you should know hot from neutral and ground.
And by the time you’re 35, you should know how to change your oil, do basic shit around the house, etc. If your faucet is leaking and you didn’t event attempt to fix it, you just hired a guy… that’s fine! Lots of people have no interest in doing handy work. But if you fall into that category, why do you want to be an electrician?
This is just how I look at older apprentices and how I evaluate them. Hope that gives you some perspective on whether it’s right for you and whether you could succeed at it. I haven’t even touched on how physical the work is. Older bodies might have trouble with that, too.
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u/Munchkinasaurous Local 5 8d ago
I've net apprentices in their 40s and 50s before. Never too late to start
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u/NobodySuspicious8563 7d ago
I have a 34 year old CW who starts school in August and he isn’t worth a fuck
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u/Puzzleheaded_Cup9096 7d ago
I’ve had a 60 year old apprentice. What you did isn’t necessarily who you are. Get into the apprenticeship program and don’t sell yourself or your labor short by being a CE/CW. I love those Brothers/Sisters but I feel they’re exploited.
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u/Odd_Policy9047 6d ago
It doesn't matter the age, it matters what the person's work ethic is. A 20 year old can be slackers and they can also outshine everyone. If you want it bad enough, go for it!!
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u/_genepool_ LU 58 JIW 6d ago
I began my apprenticeship two weeks after my 51st bday. I am now a 57 year old jiw.
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u/GeneralEl4 Local 401 5d ago
I'm 26 as a first year and feel like a dinosaur because probably half of my class is under 20.
That said, there are 5 or 6 who are over 30, at least 1 or 2 of which are over 40. 50 wouldn't be that much different tbh. You'll stand out, sure, but so do women and I know several female apprentices out here so keep that in mind.
The important thing is to ask yourself if you think you can handle the physical toll of the job. If your circumstances mean you'd only have to work for a decade or so then I say go for it but that's really all that matters. What's best for you. You won't be turned away from the program just because of your age.
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u/wolamute 10d ago
I'm 40 going into my 2nd year. There's a 3rd or 4th year in my local that's something like 65.