First Year Apprentice Kit
The 5 tools every journeyman expects you to have on day one. These are the cult classics that get lost, broken, or borrowed—buy quality once.
Milwaukee
Fastback II Flip Utility Knife
You will lose at least 3 of these in your first year. They fall out of pouches, get borrowed and never returned, or walk off the job site. Buy two.
Pro Tip
Keep one in your pouch and one in your bag. The press-and-flip action is faster than any other knife on the market.
Fluke
1AC-A1-II VoltAlert Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Test before you touch. Every. Single. Time. This isn't optional—it's the tool that keeps you alive. Journeymen will check if you have one.
Pro Tip
Clip it to your shirt pocket. If you have to dig for it, you won't use it. Make it automatic.
Knipex
87 01 250 Cobra Water Pump Pliers 10"
The Knipex Cobras are a status symbol for a reason. Push-button adjustment, zero slip, and they'll outlast you. Every JW notices when an apprentice has these.
Pro Tip
Don't cheap out with knockoffs. The push-button mechanism on real Knipex is worth every penny. You'll use these daily for 20+ years.
Klein Tools
32500 11-in-1 Screwdriver/Nut Driver
One tool, 11 bits, always in your back pocket. Slotted, Phillips, square, and nut drivers. This is your daily driver for 90% of tasks.
Pro Tip
The bits store in the handle. Learn to swap them one-handed—you'll look like a pro in front of customers.
3M
Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape (10-Pack)
You will go through tape like water. This 10-pack of the industry standard will last months, not weeks. Always have a fresh roll in your pouch.
Pro Tip
Super 33+ stretches and conforms better than cheap tape. For outdoor/wet locations, pair it with rubber splicing tape.
Pro Tip: Buy Quality Once
Cheap tools break, fail at critical moments, and cost more in the long run. Every item on this list is what actual journeymen recommend to their own apprentices. These will last your entire career if you treat them right.
Safety First—Always
The voltage tester isn't optional. Test before you touch, every time, even if someone tells you "it's off." LOTO procedures exist for a reason. Your life is worth more than any job.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices shown may differ from current Amazon pricing. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves. Last updated January 2026.