By Tiffany Pierce, Big River Electric
Big River Electric, Inc. has been working with Mike Bridier at the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship to organize and create an in-house apprenticeship program for new and existing employees. The electrical industry is experiencing a very high demand for skilled electricians. With the need so desperate, we knew that we needed to do something to help get skilled workers.
Our program is a certified National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) program and uses the NCCER curriculum to guide the program. All of our apprentices are registered with the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship through the U.S. Department of Labor. The Alabama State Electrical Board allows for individuals to attempt the Journeyman electrician test at 8000 on-the-job hours or 6000 on-the-job training hours with at least 2 years of credited schooling in the electrical field.
Our program consists of four levels following the NCCER curriculum. While gaining the required on-the-job hours, apprentices attend classes with hands-on performance evaluations, preparing them for the Journeyman examination, and gaining the technical knowledge needed to excel in the field as well to earn their Journeyman’s certification.
We look forward to expanding our program and offering it to others in the community that are interested in the electrical trade. The need has never been greater for skilled workers than it is now. We, as employers, have to invest in our employees and educate them to become the best that they can be.
Big River Electric, Inc. has been in business since September of 2005. Owner, Jeffrey Talbot, has been an electrician for over 30 years. We do commercial and industrial electrical all over North Alabama. Many of our projects include schools, apartment living facilities, Publix Supermarkets, restaurants, and plant repair/renovations.
Interested in setting up an apprenticeship program in your company? Contact the Alabama Office Of Apprenticeship for a discussion!
Michael Bridier
Region 1 Project Manager, Alabama Office of Apprenticeship
