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Electrician Apprenticeship Program in St. Maries, Idaho: Training, Skills, and Certification



01/14/2025


Electrician Apprenticeship Program in St. Maries, Idaho: Training, Skills, and Certification
Our electrician apprenticeship program at the St. Maries, Idaho facility combines online/classroom education with hands-on experience. Apprentices are required to complete 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and enroll in an accredited electrician school for their classroom learning. They can choose to partner with either North Idaho College or the College of Southern Idaho for their coursework.

Typically, it takes candidates about four years to finish the eight levels of the apprenticeship, with each year requiring 144 hours of instruction, totaling 576 hours. The curriculum covers a variety of topics, including electrical codes, wiring, troubleshooting, motor installation, controls, and finish work. Apprentices also take courses in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC).

Electricians at St. Maries play a crucial role in our wood products operations. Properly functioning electrical tools, wiring, fuses, receptacles, circuits, and motors are essential to ensuring mill efficiency. Electricians must adhere to all Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) safety standards and follow National Fire Protection Association guidelines, along with any local regulations.

One key responsibility is maintaining lockout/tagout systems, which are vital for mill worker safety. Daily tasks include rough-in wiring for switches, receptacles, circuits, motors, and fuses; preparing sketches or interpreting blueprints to ensure proper equipment placement and code compliance; diagnosing and repairing malfunctioning electrical systems; and advising management on the longevity of electrical infrastructure for capital planning.

Currently, nine electrician apprentices are at different stages of their training at our St. Maries facility. The program helps team members gain valuable skills and certifications in a high-demand trade while providing the company with a steady stream of qualified labor. Many former apprentices have successfully completed the program and are now fully qualified electricians within our facilities. Upon completing the apprenticeship, individuals are eligible to take the state journeyman test to earn their journeyman card. Over the past five years, eight apprentices have advanced to journeyman status after completing the program.