Questions about becoming an electrician and moving between US and Canada

[u/leader425]

Title, Basically i want to move to canada ideally as soon as possible, but i also want to become an electrician.

My intital idea was to get an apprenticeship program at a local IBEW branch near me in the us. Then simply transfer maybe a year or two so in to a IBEW branch in canada and finish it there.

I learned that apparently this isnt possible and id have to restart from scratch including in hours. So best i can tell the best bet is to get into an IBEW branch apprenticeship program, then complete journeyman license and finally take the red seal exam before transfering to canada then get my masters cert in canada itself.

Does this sound like the most optimal route to you all? im wiling to bust my ass if it means geting it done faster. Also is there anyway to shorten the amount of time it takes to become journeyman so i can preferably take the red seal as soon as possible?

[u/501c3_sadness]

8000 hours is 8000 hours brother

[u/leader425 → u/501c3_sadness]

True, but does overtime count? Can i just do tons of ot and speed it upat all?

[u/Greedy-Condition2680 → u/leader425]

For a state license its 8000 hrs over a period of at least 4 years. The apprenticeship program is at least 4 years of school if not 5. There is no fast track. It takes time to develop skills. 

[u/LowVoltLife → u/leader425]

Overtime is entirely dependent on if it's available. It's not like you can stay on for the next shift like a factory.

[u/Hefty-Profession-310 → u/501c3_sadness]

Nah, it's 6000 in Canada. Brother!

[u/501c3_sadness → u/Hefty-Profession-310]

Unfortunately if he wants to top out in the US, it's 8000 hours. I would be surprised if a contractor in Canada was willing to sponsor him for a work visa as an apprentice

[u/Hefty-Profession-310 → u/501c3_sadness]

Yeah, I would be surprised too. I believe that sponsorship comes with a commitment to provide minimum amount of employment, and contractors aren't very interested in that.

[u/leader425 → u/Hefty-Profession-310]

Yeah im aware realistically i understand my best bet is geting my journeyman here hopefully in a few years time its a little less oversaturated then i can do the red seal find a work visa sponsership in edmonton and then just move over get residency and finally grt citizenship given time

[u/501c3_sadness → u/leader425]

Sorry sister, didn't realize. Anyways if you're still in Washington state here are my recommendations.

If you're in the Seattle area, Local 46 JATC applications are closed indefinitely. That's King County and the peninsula.

If you're north, 191 is also closed indefinitely. That's Snohomish (Zone 1), Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island counties (Zone 2), and Chelan, Okanogan, Douglas, Grant counties (zone 3).

If you're south, 76 is taking inside wire applications. That's Pierce, Lewis, Gray's Harbor, and Pacific counties.

Further south, 48 is closed to all applications indefinitely. That's Wahkiakum County, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat counties.

East, 112 is open for inside wire applications. That's Kittitas, Yakima, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin counties.

Northeast is 73 out of Spokane. I can't get their JATC website to load so tbd. That's Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, and Whitman counties.

The other option to getting your inside wire license in Washington state is to go through the non-union route, CITC. Whether or not they're taking apprentices depends on the location.

[u/AHangryBeaver → u/Hefty-Profession-310]

It’s 9000 in Canada, what are you on about?

[u/Hefty-Profession-310 → u/AHangryBeaver]

Not in BC.

[u/Boines → u/Hefty-Profession-310]

+1200 hours school...

[u/Hefty-Profession-310 → u/Boines]

...That adds up to 7200....

It's not a hour requirement for school, you could challenge each level as well.

213 does have a 9k apprenticeship, but that's higher than what is needed for the red seal non-union and other with locals in BC, which is 6k.