How do I actually start becoming an electrician with no experience?
Breaking into the electrical trade independently is confusing because entry paths are split between formal schooling and on-the-job training, and the field can feel oversaturated at the start. This lack of a clear entry point leaves job seekers stuck trying to figure out which path to take without any industry connections.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Searching for local community colleges or trade schoolsDid this help you?
- 2Looking for local employers willing to take on a helper for on-the-job trainingDid this help you?
- 3Considering or avoiding union apprenticeshipsDid this help you?
- 4Researching other major trades like electrician, HVAC, and plumbingDid this help you?
- 5Transitioning from military or law enforcement backgrounds into alternative service fieldsDid this help you?
- 6Considering starting an independent business instead of working for an employerDid this help you?
- 7getting a GED and applying directly to local plumbing shopsDid this help you?
- 8finding a local United Association plumbing local and applying for an apprenticeshipDid this help you?
- 9Relocating to a state or region like Texas that does not require a high school diploma or GED to register as a plumbing apprentice.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I don’t know if this is the place to ask but I wanted to hear from people who are in the industry. I’ve cycled through many careers and now I’m deciding to do a trade, of course I know of the big ones like electrician, HVAC, plumbing, etc. But it feels as though they are becoming oversaturated with competitive entry as a result.”source ↗
“I’m planning on getting my GED now, I didn’t graduate for personal reasons but I have always had my eye on becoming a plumber”source ↗
“I know NOTHING about plumbing, all I have ever done is help my friends dad change a boiler once”source ↗
“Is it a good idea to apply for a Plumbers Apprenticeship in the state of Tx, with no HS diploma or an equivalent to one?”source ↗
“The problem is i have not been able to pass the final exams here, called the OGE, to finish the 9th grade.”source ↗
“i just turned 15 in july, i got kicked out of school in febuary... and im lost i do nothing everyday 24/7 i really want to start my plumbing journey, i have a extremley high passion for it, my dreams to run my own plumbing company as soon as i hit 18 i jus need all the qualifications etc and i have no clue how to get there, what to start studying at home or learning, or like even what to do”source ↗
“i havent spoak to that side of the family for 4 years, they want nothing to do with me”source ↗
“Hey everyone, I’m between jobs right now and trying to get into a trade. I’m really interested in becoming an electrician, but I honestly have no clue where to begin.”source ↗
Where this came up
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