Journeyman Training

Best in the Region in Quality, Education & Technical Expertise

IBEW Local 347’s members are highly trained professionals who receive ongoing industry training throughout their career.

Our curriculum is constantly upgraded to include the latest technological developments and our instructors are the most qualified in the industry. Each one is a direct graduate of our training program with several years of field experience and on-going education. Each apprentice who graduates to “Journeyman Wireman” status has logged over 10,000 hours of combined classroom and field experience. Journeyman Technicians and Journeyman Residential Wiremen have logged over 6,000 hours of combined classroom and field experience. All apprentices are held to the strictest of standards and are overseen by an Apprenticeship Committee. Journeymen are required to complete 6 training hours per year of continuing education at one of our Training Centers to stay ahead of emerging technologies in the marketplace.

Training expenses for each apprentice and Journeyman including tuition, instructor fees, curriculum development, facility fees, and equipment and overhead costs are covered by a scholarship through our Training Trust which is funded through our collective bargaining agreement with the IOWA NECA.

Apprenticeship Training

Quality Pre-apprenticeship Program - Not Just Any Job

Inside Wireman- 5 Year program

While the Outside Lineman works on the distribution network, bringing power from sources of generation to the customers, the Inside Wireman's job is to distribute and connect the customer's electrical equipment to that power source. The Inside Wireman installs and maintains all of the various types of electrical systems found in commercial and industrial facilities. This equipment may be lighting and receptacles, to motors, to heating equipment, to systems that control the operation of all of a facility's energy usage.

The Inside Wireman installs conduit systems that contain the wire from the motor control centers or panelboards to all of the equipment that uses electricity. Those conduits may contain power cables or control cables. Many of the conduit systems are exposed and must be installed to exacting standards using neat and workmanlike craftsmanship.

The work of an Inside Wireman can vary. One day the Inside Wireman could be installing a Fire Alarm System or Security System in a high rise building and the next day he or she could be installing conduit in a ditch on the outside of the building. Inside Wireman also install electrical systems in industrial facilities such as chemical plants, power plants, chip manufacturing facilities and automobile plants. Each type of installation has specific electrical needs and systems to support those needs. While there are many tasks associated with the Inside Wireman classification, the apprenticeship training provides all of the knowledge necessary for an individual to perform these tasks in a professional manner while helping the individual to sharpen his or her skills and abilities to be the best workers in the electrical construction and maintenance industry.

Installer Technician- 3 Year Program

While the Inside Wireman is installing the conduit and power feeders on a project, the Installer Technician is working beside the Wireman, installing the network of low voltage cabling that is used for video, voice and data or other low voltage signaling.

While most installations are in buildings that are partially or fully enclosed to protect from sun, wind and rain, these installations oftenoccur before air conditioning, heat or permanent light fixtures have been installed in the buildings.

Backbone voice and data cables are routed between the entrance facility, where communications signals enter a building, to equipment and telephone rooms. Voice and data horizontal cables are routed between telephone or equipment rooms and individual workstations throughout the building.

Equipment rooms often contain energized equipment such as hubs, file servers or telephone switches. These devices are configured and connected to the communications network that serves the building, and must not be interrupted.

The Installer Technician installs voice and data outlets at workstations. In addition, they install punch down blocks and cross connects in telephone rooms. These may be wall-mounted or rack-mounted, and must be grouped and identified according to specific installation standards. Whether the work is in new construction or in existing office or manufacturing space, the IBEW-NECA craftsperson takes pride in the work he or she has and can performed.

Residential Wireman- 3 Year Program

The Residential Wiremen, like the Inside Wireman, installs the systems that distribute power from the point of entry in a building to the equipment within a building that uses that power. The difference between the Inside Wireman and the Residential Wireman is that, while the Inside Wireman is performing electrical work in commercial and industrial facilities, the Residential Wireman is performing and maintaining the electrical systems in homes and other types of residential installations.

As technology continues to grow, houses place more and more demand on their electrical systems.The tasks associated with the Residential Wiremancontinually evolve. Today's homes are now being equipped with computer networks, energy management systems, security systems, fire alarm systems as well as the standard power distribution systems to lights and receptacles throughout the home. The Residential Wireman installs all of these various systems. These craftspeople are learning the background knowledge and the skills necessary to make these systems work for today's homeowner.