Apprentice, journeyman, master electrician: Understanding the path to a career in the trades

By Shannon Tymosko, Electrical Apprentice, IBEW Local 105

It’s nearly impossible to see the benefits of a career path without clearly defined roles and processes. As an electrical apprentice and advocate for the skilled trades, I frequently attend career fairs and facilitate workshops where I see this confusion firsthand. Parents ask questions in an effort to help their children make a career decision, yet they often lack the background knowledge to know what information they need. I also have frustrated individuals interested in the electrical trade reach out to me in search of guidance after receiving misleading advice about the trades.

My goal is to bring some clarity to the roles and expectations associated with becoming a tradesperson. In this article, I’ll walk you through the typical roles that you’ll see in the trades and what to expect on the journey to becoming a licensed professional.

Apprentice and journeyman: Learning the trade

There are three important titles used from the beginning to the end of a career in the skilled trades. The first is the apprentice. I often tell young people to think of an apprentice as equivalent to a college student. Apprentices go to work each day earning hours toward their apprenticeship at a real wage, while learning their craft from licensed professionals called journeymen.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training and classroom learning. Through this process, an individual earns a certificate or diploma and obtains a license to work in their trade. These valuable credentials serve as a clear barrier to entry for anyone looking to enter their chosen trade.

Much like teaching, medicine, law, or accounting, an electrical apprenticeship requires up-to-date licensing and ongoing safety training. Mandatory continuing education prevents unqualified applicants from flooding the job market.

Starting your journey as an apprentice

Although an apprenticeship is the skilled trade-equivalent to a college diploma, earning one differs in several ways.

Colleges and universities follow a model that resembles high school, where students sit in a classroom and learn from teachers or professors while earning credits toward a diploma or degree. An apprenticeship, on the other hand, is an hour-based system. Apprentices accumulate hours through schooling and hands-on work in the field, learning alongside a journeyman in a paid, learn-while-you-earn pathway.

The application process is also different. Colleges and universities actively recruit in high schools, promoting their programs, offering financial aid, and highlighting the social aspects of post-secondary life. In contrast, apprenticeships are typically found through online job searches, where applicants apply directly to job postings such as “1st Year Electrical Apprentice.”

Once hired as an apprentice, it is your responsibility to ask questions, practice safe work habits, learn, adapt, try new things, and show initiative. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel sufficiently experienced or knowledgeable. That’s the purpose of an apprenticeship. It provides you with the necessary education and practical experience to competently work in a trade.

I want to remind and empower apprentices everywhere that the construction site is their classroom; it’s crucial that you advocate for your own learning and safety!

Beyond apprenticeship: What is a journeyman?

Once an apprenticeship is completed and all requirements are met, a licensed professional earns the title of journeyman and becomes the teacher.

A message to future journeyman: don’t forget the struggles you faced the first few years on the job. The best journeymen are those who remember what it was like to learn their trade from the beginning and can pass on the details, skills, and tricks necessary to help their own apprentices succeed.

Considering the vital responsibility journeyman have as educators, I believe they deserve more support in the role than they typically receive.

While qualifications vary depending on region, certified teachers usually receive education and training related not only their subject matter of choice, but also broader educational theory and practices. Journeymen, however, teach apprentices solely based on personal experience and are often provided limited training, resources, or support, which is a disservice to both parties.

For advanced journeyman: What is a master electrician?

If you’re ambitious, there is an opportunity to go a step above journeyman by earning the title of master electrician.

Becoming a master electrician requires additional years of work after obtaining your license and journeyman status, as well as further testing. Earning this designation allows an electrician to pull permits with the governing authority to complete electrical work. Again, requirements may differ by region, but in most cases, a master electrician is required for a contractor to legally complete work that meets code standards.

Contractors and accountability

Apprentices, journeymen, and master electricians are employed by contractors — companies that are legally responsible for both the workers and the work being performed. Contractors must ensure that all governing standards and policies are met, including (but not limited to) safety, training, tools, equipment rentals, and insurance.

Building the future of the trades

With the right knowledge, we can empower ourselves. Understanding creates awareness, plants seeds, and opens doors to new possibilities. These roles play a crucial part in creating the next generation of tradespeople and shaping our future.

On a journey, no two paths are identical, and this is especially true in the electrical trade. It’s vast, with many branches and specialties to explore. Since the construction site is where most of an electrical apprenticeship takes place, each apprentice’s experience is uniquely their own.

The goal is not perfection; it’s progress. Show up. Play your part. Pursue a career in the skilled trades and help foster the next generation.

About the author

Shannon Tymosko is an electrical apprentice with IBEW Local 105 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and the voice behind Lady Voltz, a growing platform dedicated to skilled trades advocacy, mentorship, and education. After completing a child and youth worker diploma, Shannon began her career in the skilled trades as a machinist apprentice. She then transitioned into electrical work and has since become a passionate ambassador for the trades, speaking to over 2,000 students and professionals across Canada and the U.S. Shannon’s mission is to empower early-career electricians and apprentices with real-world insight, confidence, and encouragement as they navigate their path in the industry. Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn.