Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Attention Commercial Electrical, Residential Electrical, and Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship Grads in California, Arizona, and Utah:

Did You Know That You Can Seek College Credits for Program Completion?


 

WECA's California Commercial and Residential Electrical Apprenticeship programs received college credit recommendations from the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) in 2018, and the California Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program received the college credit recommendation in 2021. WECA's Arizona and Utah Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship programs also received recommendations from NCCRS in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

This benefit provides WECA Commercial, Residential, and Low Voltage Electrical apprentice graduates the ability to gain access to college credits for completion of any of these programs by using credit recommendations set forth by NCCRS. While admissions and acceptance of transfer credit isn't guaranteed, more than 1,400 colleges and universities nationwide currently consider awarding credit based on NCCRS recommendations.

Using This Benefit: a Guide for Our Apprentices and Graduates

Q: Who is eligible?
A: Any graduates of WECA's Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program in the class of 2021, or beyond. (Any graduates of WECA's Commercial or Residential Electrical Apprenticeships since September of 2013 are eligible for those programs.

Q: So WECA apprentice grads automatically have college credits?
A: No. NCCRS makes college credit recommendations. (From NCCRS: A college credit recommendation is an academic advisement about the comparability of a learning experience to college-level instruction, such as undergraduate or graduate course work, the amount of credit that may be awarded, and areas where credit could apply. The credit recommendations are intended to guide college officials as they consider awarding credit to persons who have successfully completed NCCRS evaluated learning experiences. College credit recommendations are not actual college credits because the New York State Board of Regents does not award college credit. Through the results of the NCCRS evaluations, however, the Board of Regents encourages colleges and universities to consider accepting the credit recommendations.)

Q: How does acceptance of college credit recommendations work?
A: It is up to the college or university to choose whether to grant college credits, how many, and in what subjects, for completion of a WECA program. NCCRS recommends specific credit amounts and subjects. College and university admissions departments should reference NCCRS' WECA listing here. NCCRS recommends up to 30 semester credit hours for completion of WECA's Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program, up to 66 semester credit hours for completion of WECA's Commercial Electrical Apprenticeship program, and up to 40 semester credit hours for completion of WECA's Residential Electrical Apprenticeship program.

Q: How do WECA Commercial and Residential Electrical Apprenticeship grads use this benefit?
A: Apprentice grads should:

• Identify the college or university they wish to ask to accept a credit recommendation from NCCRS for work completed at WECA. (A list of colleges and universities who have previously participated with NCCRS is here. Seeing a college or university on this list is a promising sign that they will consider NCCRS' recommendation, but is not a guarantee. Further, just because a college or university is not yet shown on the list, does not mean the apprentice grad shouldn't request that they consider the credit recommendation.
• Work with their admissions advisor at their college or university of choice to learn the process for seeking college credits for their WECA Commercial, Residential, or Low Voltage Electrical Apprenticeship program completion. The college or university may refer to this as their PLA (prior learning assessment) process or policy. The applicant should share NCCRS' WECA credit recommendation with the decision makers at their college or university.
• Request a transcript from WECA as requested by their college or university. Email apregistrar@goweca.com with transcript requests.
• If the applicant encounters problems with their transfer credit request, they can contact NCCRS to request that NCCRS advocate on the applicant's behalf.

Q: What about the Electrician Trainee Program?
A: WECA is currently evaluating demand for college credit recommendations for its Electrician Trainee Program.

Q: What if I still have questions?
A: Please call us at 877-444-9322 and we'll do our best to help you out.