Lee H. from Maine State Prison asked, “Bob, can I become a plumber or electrician with my felony? If so, how?”
The good news is your felony won’t keep you from getting a plumbing or electrician license, assuming there’s not something in your sentence specifically restricting you from those things. Most construction trades have so many of us formerly incarcerated citizens in them they usually welcome people with felonies. That, and they are desperate for good workers.
Licensed plumbers and electricians are among the best-paid tradespeople.
A master plumber or master electrician can easily bring in $90-$120/hour or more, and that’s as an employee, often plus overtime! You will have to start at the bottom, but even those positions start with great pay.
Once you learn the ropes and get licensed, you can always start your own business and make even more, if that’s what you want. It can take 8-12 years on the job to become either a master plumber or electrician. To better prepare you for work in construction make sure to take my upcoming tablet courses on How To Read A Tape Measure, Basic Plan Reading, Reading Construction Plans & Blueprints.
Get in touch with plumber and electrician unions.
The most direct way to get one of those licenses is to contact your local union and see if you can get an apprenticeship, or get an entry-level job with a plumbing or electrical contractor. Union companies sometimes have better access to license training. Another route is to enroll in a community college. Upon release, you likely can get financial aid to pay for all or part of your tuition and books. Start by filling out a Federal financial aid form online.
One thing about going back to school: I talk to a lot of guys who say they didn’t get good grades in school, so they’re concerned about how hard classes might be now. I remind people a couple things: when you’re younger you don’t have the focus or drive that you have now, knowing your future is at stake. Most guys I see are past school age, but go back and take classes now, do great!
Keep in mind plumbers tend to get a lot dirtier and have more physical work than electricians. Electricians can do high voltage, or make great money doing low voltage too! You don’t see too many old plumbers, but you can see old electricians. I think that’s because plumbing is more physical, but that’s my opinion.
Good luck on your quest to become a plumber, or electrician!
© 2022 Pelshaw Group, Inc. Used with permission.
Ask Bob is an advice column by Bob Pelshaw, formerly incarcerated citizen, successful entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the award-winning Illegal to Legal: Business Success for the (Formerly) Incarcerated. (Book and workbook available on Amazon). Bob also provides content to Edovo, GTL, PayTel, and jails and prisons nationally.
Ask Bob answers questions about life, successful re-entry, starting a business and entrepreneurship, and most anything that adds value, except the column does not cover legal issues, sentencing matters, or case issues. To ask Bob a question, write to him at: ASK BOB c/o Pelshaw Group, Inc. PO Box 460671, Papillon, NE 68046
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