The Craft Championship is a national competition that brings together the best skilled tradespeople to demonstrate their superior skills in the industry.

In August, Nickle hosted its first annual Craft Championships where seven third and fourth-year Apprentices competed in a written and hands-on skills test to determine who would move on to the state competition. The hands-on portion required the Apprentices to complete various residential panel and lighting wiring.

Andrew Antinora and third-year Apprentice Adrian Cosgrove came out on top and both competed at the state level against Apprentices from other local electrical contractors.

State winner Andrew Antinora said he was a little nervous going into the Nickle event. “I wasn’t totally sure what to expect but I was also eager to get on the tools and start the skills test,” he said. On his favorite part of the competition: “Just being around the whole Nickle crew and hanging out with friends and coworkers,” he said. “I also really enjoyed having my wife there to cheer me on.”

Along with the written test proctored by Director of Commercial Construction Randy Spencer, there were employees who volunteered as judges for the hands-on portion at Nickle’s event. Service Foreman Mike Frieze, Layout Foreman Luis Rivera, Service Foreman Ryan Wade, Safety Director Paul Woodland, and Estimator Dietrich Yontz scored the competitors on aspects such as following the provided drawings, using correct dimensions, overall appearance of the job, performing the job safely, and more. Foreman Mike Frieze, a 25-year Nickle Elite, competed in the State and National Craft Championship back in 2001. ABC Delaware President Ed Capodanno was present and he commended the organizers and competitors. “The competition went flawlessly,” he said. “I am happy to have been able to witness the craftsmanship and quality of work done by your apprentices.”

Nickle’s first annual event was put together by Chief Operating Officer Jeromy Newton, Project Manager Brandon Cale, Service Manager Jonathan Harrison, and Project Manager Kevin Woodland. “It was an exciting challenge organizing our first annual Nickle Craft Championship, and it made it truly worthwhile seeing how much our apprentices enjoyed the competition,” said Brandon Cale.

Andrew Antinora will compete in the 35th Annual National Craft Championship in Kissimmee, Florida in March 2024.

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When exam time comes, you need to be prepared, just as you would for any other test. Exams and licensing obligations vary from state to state, so double check the requirements near you.

Start studying as soon as possible. Once you’ve signed up to take the test, don’t waste any time before studying. Keep all the knowledge from your apprenticeship fresh in your memory. Don’t procrastinate.

Find the right environment materials. Make sure you have everything you need to study properly. This includes reviewing notes from class, reflecting on your experiences in the field, and buying study guides or practice books. You’ll also need a quiet space to study. Choose an environment with little to no distractions.

Learn the NEC. You have to know the National Electrical Code in order to pass. You should have a copy of the code and it should be your main source of information. It’s updated every few years so make sure you’re studying the most recent version.

Practice. You’re putting all of your knowledge into the test. Reading about the code is different than being asked test questions about the code. You want to be prepared from all angles and you should anticipate what some of the questions may look like. The test is typically timed so practicing will help you manage your time better.

Use a computer. Some exams are proctored through a computer system, not a written test. If you’re not familiar with using a computer, become familiar. You don’t want to be struggling with the technology when you get there. It will be distracting and time consuming.

Don’t stress. Walk into the exam confident. Get a good night’s sleep, make sure you’ve eaten properly, and stay hydrated. You want to feel good mentally and physically. Clearing your mind and body of stress will make for a better exam experience.

When you pass, many opportunities lay before you. You’ll have the potential to excel as a journeyman and work your way up if you focus and stay dedicated to the job. You can also further your career by taking additional classes or training.

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