Hello Mike
I read this in the morning and did not have time to respond and actually was hoping someone would have done so. When I first read this I did not know how to take it. Is this a joke or are you serious? looking at your profile you have to be at least in your 40's. Strike one. Job market is slow to begin with and most companies are downsizing. Strike 2. Just taking a few college courses in the electrical field will not qualify you for very much.
If you are serious you need to take a long hard look at what type electrician you want to be. Will this become a career changing move??? Do you want to be a house wirer, plant electrician, commercial and industrial electrician, technician, electrical engineer, ship yard electrician, and so on.
Books will only get you so far and it is the hands on experience that will be needed. You ask how do you get it well again I have to refer to, decide what you want to do and go from there. If it is house wiring you maybe able to hook up with a small house contractor. If it is industrial and commercial work you seek then I highly recommmend the Union way. You were given a link to their web site and just plug in the data and it will lead you to the union hall number and then look to see when the test is given for new apprentices. Go to the hall and talk to a business manager and they will help you. If it is plant electrician, good luck with that one. I suggest you do some sort of basic electrical work such as working with a house contractor to get some basic knowledge and then use that for experience. Plant electricians are more trained to operate the equipment in their place and may require an electronics background also. Todays machinery operate on alot of solid state electronics.
In my opinion, and yes I am a IBEW member for 38 years, no better way to learn to become a well rounded experienced electrician journeyman. With their 5 year apprenticeship program and training program you get to see all aspects of the industry and and then you can make those drastic career moves easier. I can not stress this and mean it ELECTRICITY can kill and it needs to be respected and learned from proper teachers. Times are tough and changing careers is not easy. Good luck though in whatever you decide. I hope I did not discourage you but wanted to let you know it is not easy to get the experience you ask for.
