Apprenticeship
Powering Your Path to an Electrical Career
WATT - Workplace Alternative Trades Training
Your Bridge to a Career in the Electrical Field – WJETS
Workplace Alternative Trades Training (WATT) is a hands-on pre-apprenticeship program that equips individuals with the practical skills and experience needed for a successful career in the trades. The program offers real-world training in essential trade skills and safety practices, helping participants smoothly transition into apprenticeship roles. WATT is designed to bridge the gap between formal education and real-world employment, ensuring participants are job-ready and confident in their new trades.
For more information, visit their official website.
Electrical Apprenticeship
An Electrical Apprenticeship is a four year program that requires time spent on the job (6,000 workplace hours) along with technical training (4 levels) for 10 weeks per level. To start an apprenticeship in BC, you must be 16/17 years of age, a Canadian citizen or have your permanent residency, and possess a Class 5 license.
To start your apprenticeship with IBEW Local 230, you’ll need pre-apprenticeship education. This can be done either through our union-specific WATT pre-apprenticeship program, or an Electrical Foundations program at an institution like Camosun, BCIT, North Island College, etc. As a WATT graduate, you will naturally begin your apprenticeship with an IBEW Local 230 Contractor. If you’re coming from a different education stream, you can fill out our apprentice application package and submit it to dispatcher@ibew230.org
Knowledge is Power
Scholarships And Grants
Powering Your Path to an Electrical Career
Bursary & Textbooks
IBEW Local 230 apprentice members who have successfully completed a term of technical training could be eligible to receive a bursary of up to $750 per term, and reimbursement of required textbooks.
SCHOOL BURSARY:
One bursary is available for each term of technical training for a total of four (4) bursaries throughout your apprenticeship:
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
- Level 4
TEXTBOOK REIMBURSMENT:
Reimbursement is for books required for the course up to a maximum of $500 each year.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
In order to be eligible for the school bursaries and textbook reimbursements, you must have attended four (4) Union Meetings within fifteen (15) months surrounding your term. The 15 months include the twelve (12) months before the successful completion of a term of technical training (e.g. if you completed a term of school on March 30th, 2026, the 12 months before span from April 1st, 2025 to March 30th, 2026) and/or within the three (3) months after the successful completion of a term (for a total of 15 months). Keep track of your meeting attendance as you’ll need to include these dates in your bursary application submission. The dates you provide will be verified with our attendance records. Incorrect dates may result in denial of your bursary application. Union Meetings include monthly Unit Meetings, New Member Orientation, Code of Excellence, committee meetings, and other mentorship classes offered through IBEW Local 230.
You must submit your bursary application and textbook receipts within 90 days of successful completion of a term of technical training.
Remember to pay your non-working dues while you’re in school to keep your membership in good standing. Your employer will not pay your non-working dues while you’re attending school. You must self-pay your nonworking dues. Failure to pay your dues and letting your membership slip into bad standing will result in your bursary application and textbook reimbursement being denied or not processed.
To apply, simply complete the form below, and submit it to the Apprenticeship Coordinator at apprenticeship@ibew230.org
