I just got approved for the VA VR&E program and I found an electrician apprenticeship program right down the road from where I live. I start next week, so I’m excited but also pretty anxious about everything.
I’m starting as a first-year apprentice, so the pay is pretty low at first, although I’ll get raises twice a year and by year 4 I should be making decent money.
My main questions are:
- Does VR&E help pay for tools for electrician apprentices?
- Does VR&E provide a monthly housing stipend during apprenticeship programs?
I just got my tool list from the company and it’s easily over $400–$500 already, and that’s not even including power tools. I asked my VR&E counselor if they could help cover the tools and help with a monthly stipend since taking the pay cut is going to make paying bills difficult.
My counselor told me they can’t pay for anything right now because the apprenticeship classes already ended for this year. The company does classes once a week from September through May, and apparently I’d have to wait until September to receive any help from VR&E.
I guess I just thought VR&E would start helping as soon as I officially entered the electrician apprenticeship program, not only when the classroom portion starts.
Has anyone here gone through VR&E while doing an electrical apprenticeship or trade program? Were you able to get tools covered or receive housing stipend payments before classes started again?
Any advice or experiences would really help.