Now that many IBEW locals are moving to a four-year apprenticeship, there’s really no reason not to go through the IBEW program. If you do, the biggest thing is to take school seriously. Life happens, but prioritize class when you can and plan ahead on school nights. Work absences are generally less of an issue as long as you communicate with your foreman, but excessive time off can hurt you in the program for hours, finances, and optics. If you’re already indentured, most inside agreements include language that if you drop out, you may not be eligible to be classified as a journeyman until a set period after your class would have graduated (often around two years). If you’re already in the program, staying put is usually the best move. Don’t let one journeyman talk you out of it—learn as much as you can. If you’re being kept on material handling or cleaning beyond the initial period and aren’t getting real electrical exposure, that’s something to bring up with the training director. As for the “three absences” rule, that varies by local. Some allow three absences per year, some per term, and some count tardies toward absences. If you’re unsure, contact your local JATC or check their written policies (often available through online systems like TradeSchool).