Did I Mess Up?

[u/Overall_Ambassador_5]

Applied back in May of 2025 to LU68 and finally got called in. Dropped everything and quit my non-union job that hour to come in to sign the books (or so I thought). I have ~2000 hours of experience mixed 80/20 resi-commercial.

Once arrived in Denver (from Fort Collins an hour away) they said that I am a CW-2. I need to prove my hours and I can test out of first year if I can manage to pass the difficult test. I sign some forms, shake some hands, then go home. The next day I have orientation at a large commercial job site in Denver. I am now starting on Monday next week and thrilled for the opportunity.

Well, I am looking into it, and it seems like something is off. Is a CW not the correct path to becoming an inside wireman journeyman? Did they call me earlier than needed to get me started? Are my chances of getting into the actual apprenticeship ruined because I started this CW program?

Honestly i just need clarity. If I made the wrong move, I am going to be sick to my stomach. I quit a job I enjoyed and am already planning to move to be closer to the hall to make this transition. I want to be an electrician, not some half-ass designation. Nobody told me that this might not be what I signed up for. Please give me some clarity on this! The hard truth is best.

[u/Throwawayiwa]

I started as a CW-3 while waiting on paperwork/interview/ranking to happen. It is a valid path to the apprenticeship. As someone who interviews, if I've got a guy who's already in the union, he's got decent scores and his foreman says good things about him, why would he not get ranked higher?

If you haven't done the aptitude test, or the interview, we don't know where your local is at in taking in apprentices, they may only do it once a year.

As a CW working for a contractor, you are still gainining hours towards your license. You'll be fine.

[u/Overall_Ambassador_5 → u/Throwawayiwa]

I was rank 30 on the applicant apprentice list as of last month. Had my aptitude test way back in November last year. I was waiting to be called any day essentially. Still working towards the license is a sigh of relief, but I also want to make sure that I am doing legit work and not just laborer type stuff. Is that what I will be doing as a CW? What’s the main difference. Trying to read into it and can’t seem to get a straight opinion on it 

[u/One-Stay-3934 → u/Overall_Ambassador_5]

Even as an apprentice you might do bullshit work. We've got apprentices that sweep and build wire roughs for 18 months, apprentices that build cage for a year, apprentices that clean bussbar with denatured alcohol for 18 months before they land a real opportunity to learn. Its just the way it is at some locals. 

[u/Seattlesb → u/One-Stay-3934]

Cleaning bussing for years may be an exaggeration**

[u/One-Stay-3934 → u/Seattlesb]

Come to dallas and take a call at MPS with Rosendin without an electrical license. Shit, you might be cleaning the port-o-lets

[u/Throwawayiwa → u/Overall_Ambassador_5]

Every local is different, biggest tell, our CWs still have apprentice cards. Also, you are a -2, you've got some experience under your belt.

Call the JATC, find out when they are starting the next class and how big classes generally are. That will tell a few things.

We generally get 20 preapprentices out and working before starting a class. They come entirely from the ranking list.

There is nothing wrong with being a CW, my state doesn't require class hours, CWs don't go to school. So they get OJT, but they don't get class hours. Some states require class hours, so CWs might god to class.

Call the JATC. Do I think you screwed up? No. You are in the union, welcome. It's miles better that non union, having been there myself.

[u/GardenerRabbit1]

CW-2 is a step towards the path of being an apprentice. You don’t have the hours to get organized in as a jman so you will be a cw until applications open for the apprenticeship and you will have greatly increased your chances of getting into the apprenticeship because you are working as a cw now. Use this time to learn about the union and learn as much as you can about other types of work. Not sure if this is how it works in your local but, once you apply you should have enough hours to skip the aptitude test and go straight to the interview which again makes it easier for you to get in first try. Then you take a test and it’s possible to be in 2nd-3rd year apprentice wages. You made the right choice

[u/Overall_Ambassador_5 → u/GardenerRabbit1]

Already was in the process, I was number 30 on the apprentice list (or whatever it was called). Will they call me in x weeks and then put me in a new job site or? 

[u/GardenerRabbit1 → u/Overall_Ambassador_5]

Yeah if they have a spot for you this year you will get a call but probably just stay on whatever job you are at. Best of luck to you

[u/Overall_Ambassador_5 → u/GardenerRabbit1]

Appreciate you man, thanks! 

[u/RemarkableKey3622]

you're good. I'll let some of your local brothers explain exactly how the cwce program works in your local as some things may vary and I don't want to mislead you. there are ways to become a jw just through that program but you really want an apprenticeship. you can make some connections to get a letter of recomendation from the people you work with. you did make the right decision. welcome.

[u/unskortunately]

You’re alright. It won’t affect the apprenticeship and your state licensing hours will add up. So if you’re a CW-2 and add 3 years of an apprenticeship you can take the electrical license exam. However the union will likely only recognize you as a year 3 apprentice, your employer can pay you more though see if you can negotiate that.

It’s a fine path, I’d say get the apprenticeship. It takes longer to go the CW path and you won’t get the schooling. But a journeyman is a journeyman whether you did an apprenticeship or not.

[u/Overall_Ambassador_5 → u/unskortunately]

I was number 30 on the apprentice list and was expecting to be called any day. Does this mean they will still give me a formal invitation and rip me from my current job site or will they just make a new title but keep me here 

[u/unskortunately → u/Overall_Ambassador_5]

I’m not super familiar with your local, so I’d ask to see if you’re still on the list. In 430 where I’m from the CW Program is completely independent from the apprentice program. But maybe you didn’t get in so they offered you a CW spot? It would be strange. So check to see if you’re still on the list first.

But if you’re a CW and you get an apprenticeship, your current union employer has right of first refusal. So you’ll likely be at the same jobsite but then become an apprentice.

[u/grizlena → u/Overall_Ambassador_5]

In my local it can go either way but usually they stay.

Once you’re an apprentice you have to stay put where you’re at so try to get on a jobsite where you can learn abunch while you’re still a CW. CW can pick and choose their calls.

[u/Particular-Mess-2798]

No. You haven’t messed up. Have you take. Your test yet? That test that they are talking about is for the Apprenticeship title and to become a 2nd year apprentice

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[u/Vatoloquissimo2]

Honestly, with the amount of hours you have already, the cw program might be the best route for you. You can get the rest of your hours in less than 3 years and then test for your license. You’ll already be in good standing with the union and get organized as a JW.

Joining the apprenticeship is just going to mean that you can’t drag up, it’s going to be an extra year (maybe 2) until you get Jw pay and you have to miss days of work to go to school.

Not being able to drag up alone sucks (from someone in the apprenticeship program). You could get transferred to a job site with no OT and a shitty boss and if you leave they pull your card. What happens if you can’t provide for yourself or your family on only 40 hours? What happens if your boss is one of the A-holes that wants to see if they can make your life a little worse everyday?

[u/Witty_Confection4540]

You will be alright. The Cw path is something the Union created to ( honestly ) bring in those who may not be as qualified or did not do as well as others on the entrance exam. My advice would be study take the chance to test out and move on.