As high school students approach graduation and search for options, they often visit colleges and universities and explore different careers. By pursuing opportunities in electrical apprenticeship programs, however, they can obtain an education and learn a skilled trade, often without the burden of debt.
The cost of apprenticeship training programs varies from coast to coast, but the expense is often much lower than tuition at a college or university. For example, the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) of Texas estimates that the cost for each apprentice is $1,000 to $1,500 per year plus a $300 to $500 book package depending upon the location and training year. In addition, the apprentice will receive 8,000 hours of paid, on-the-job learning and at least 576 hours of technical instruction, according to the IEC of Texas.
The cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, room, and board was $17,797 at public institutions, $46,014 for private, nonprofit institutions, and $26,261 at private, for-profit institutions in 2017-2018, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. To see the trends in tuition costs over the years, view the NCES website.
In contrast, electrical apprentices can “earn while they learn” during an IEC apprenticeship program. For a video that you can share with aspiring electrical apprentices, view the clip below.
Fischbach is a freelance writer based in Overland Park, Kan. She can be reached at [email protected].
