Sangamon Sun

State Representative Mike Coffey addressed the topic of electrician apprenticeships in a Facebook post dated December 8. He said, "The CWLP Electrical Apprenticeship program includes on-the-job training and coursework to provide knowledge and technical information about the various positions offered."

"The CWLP Electrical Apprenticeship program includes on-the-job training and coursework to provide knowledge and technical information about the various positions offered," said Coffey, according to Facebook. "CWLP will be hiring Linemen and Substation Electrician Apprentices in early 2025."

According to the City of Springfield’s webpage, City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) offers apprenticeships that prepare participants for diverse job opportunities such as communications technicians, linemen, powerhouse electricians, traffic and metering technicians, relay technicians, and instrument technicians. Apprentices receive on-the-job training alongside coursework designed to equip them for future roles.

Screenshot of State Representative Mike Coffey's Dec.8 Facebook post | State Representative Mike Coffey's Facebook page

Applicants for these apprenticeships must be at least 17 years old with a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED). They are required to have unrestricted 20/20 eyesight or vision correctable to 20/20 without color blindness, possess a valid driver’s license, and potentially obtain a commercial driver’s license depending on their chosen apprenticeship area. Additionally, applicants must pass the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee's (NJATC) Electrical Training Alliance online exam with a score of six or higher if they have taken it within the past 24 months.

The next Joint Apprentice Training Committee (JATC) exams at the CWLP facility in Springfield are scheduled for January 9 and February 13. Each session is limited to 12 candidates. To register for the exam, interested individuals can call 217-757-8520 extension 226 or email jobs@CWLP with an exam request. Test takers must bring a photo ID and $15 for the testing fee; electronic devices are prohibited inside the facility.

Qualified applicants will undergo an interview with the Joint Apprentice Training Committee. The top half of applicants will receive a second interview. Offers of employment will be extended to top candidates following background checks and medical examinations.

Coffey was appointed to fill a vacancy in Illinois State House District 95 after Tim Butler's retirement. A lifelong resident of Springfield and business owner, Coffey joined his family's restaurant business Saputo’s in Springfield in 1992 after its establishment by his parents in 1948. He later opened Papa Frank’s in Springfield in 2015. Coffey holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois.