Electricians are highly trained professionals who earn one of the top hourly wage rates in the construction industry. Training may also be used in manufacturing and industrial settings. Many experienced electricians continue their careers as supervisors, superintendents, or owners of electrical contracting businesses.

Nationally, IEC trains more than 10,000 apprentices annually.  IEC is the largest nationwide association of merit shop electrical contractors and is the second largest trainer of electricians in the United States.

Independent Electrical Contractors of Washington, Educational Training Fund was created by the Northwest Washington chapter of IEC in the 1980's, finally receiving formal approval and sanction by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council in July of 1993 after a hard-fought battle. Originally, IEC of Washington apprenticeship was limited to the Northwest portion of the state training only construction or 01 electrical apprentices.  The Northwest Washington Chapter reorganized in 2002, splitting into two separate chapters - Northwest Washington and Puget Sound - and establishing IEC of Washington as a stand-alone training organization. Our apprenticeship program is  a non-profit electrical contractor trade association.  Members include more than 40 merit shop electrical contractors throughout the state of Washington.  

In 2005 IEC of Washington expanded program offerings to include residential and low energy/sound technician training.  The construction electrician program involves 800 hours of class training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.  The residential program includes 330 classroom hours and 4,000 hours on-the-job training. Low energy classroom instruction consists of 495 hours in conjunction with 4800 hours on-the-job training.  Classes start in September and continue through June at sites in Everett, Bellingham, Tacoma, Bremerton, Pasco, and Spokane.

IEC of Washington was the first merit-shop apprenticeship program to be approved state-wide (2004) and as such is proud to provide top quality training of electricians. In 2006, IEC of Washington began offering Continuing Education Units both online and in traditional classrooms in order to further support the electrical industry by assisting licensed journeymen maintain their licenses.  With the Washington State revised requirements for renewing trainee licenses, IEC is also supporting these individuals, making the CEU's available at low cost to individuals throughout the state. 

Board of Directors     Apprenticeship and Training Committee

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IEC of Washington will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations.  The recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices during their apprenticeship shall be without discrimination because of race, religion, national origin, or sex.