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IBEW apprenticeship

How to join an IBEW apprenticeship

By the nodiexam teamUpdated

To join an IBEW apprenticeship, apply to the JATC that runs your local's program, meet its requirements and take the aptitude test. The electrical training ALLIANCE says a JATC's minimum requirements may include a high school diploma or GED (or a two-year degree) and a passing grade in one year of high school algebra or one algebra course after high school. Each local sets its own dates and fees.

IBEW apprenticeships are run by local programs called JATCs. In short, a JATC is a joint apprenticeship and training committee run together by an IBEW local and a NECA chapter. You don't apply to the IBEW nationally. You apply to the program that covers the area where you want to work, and that program sets its own dates and steps.

The steps below are the ones the electrical training ALLIANCE and local JATC pages describe. Where a step changes from local to local, we say so. Your local's letter or website always has the final word.

1. Find your local's program

Start with the official list: the electrical training ALLIANCE's training center locator lists the local JATC training centers for inside wireman and outside lineman apprenticeships. Open the locator and pick the program for the area where you want to work. You can also search for "IBEW local" and your city, or "JATC" and your area. On the program's own apprenticeship page, look for:

  • when it takes applications,
  • which apprenticeship you are applying for, such as inside wireman,
  • the papers it asks for and the fee.

Write down the dates. Missing an application window can mean waiting for the next one.

2. Check the requirements

Each JATC decides what it asks for. The electrical training ALLIANCE's booklet puts it this way: a JATC's minimum requirements may include a high school diploma or GED (or a two-year degree) and a passing grade in one year of high school algebra or one algebra course after high school. Also, these minimums can be waived if you have enough documented work hours in electrical construction to meet the JATC's requirement. Age rules vary too. NIETC in Oregon has no age limit to apply, but you must be 18 when the apprenticeship starts. Local 1579 in Georgia lists age 18 or older as a basic qualification.

Your local tells you which papers it wants as proof. If it asks for a school transcript, order it early, because schools can take a while to send one.

3. Apply and pay the fee

Fill in your local's application and pay its fee. Fees vary. For example, Local 325 charges a $22 test fee (2026 to 2027 recruitment), and Local 1340 charges a $25 processing fee.

4. Get your test date

Your local tells you when and where to take the aptitude test. Read that letter or email closely. It should say which test you take, what to bring and when to arrive. If anything is missing, ask the local.

Many IBEW and NECA programs use the electrical training ALLIANCE aptitude test, but some locals, such as Local 26, use a GAN assessment instead. If your letter names a different test, prepare for that one.

5. Prepare for the aptitude test

The test has two timed parts, and calculators are not allowed:

PartQuestionsTime
Algebra and Functions3346 minutes
Reading Comprehension3651 minutes

Use the weeks between the letter and the test. Take the free full-length practice test to see where you stand, then follow a 2- or 4-week plan in the study guide.

6. Take the test

Each part has its own clock, with a short break between them. Plan on about 3 hours at the test center. Bring what your letter lists, and arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled testing time.

7. Get your result

After the test, you learn whether your score qualifies, not your exact score. As for timing, your local JATC receives the results about 2 to 4 weeks after the test, then lets you know. Some locals are quicker. Local 1340 says its JATC receives the results about 24 to 48 hours after the test. Some locals, such as Local 1340, set their cutoff on a stanine scale (1 to 9). Local 1340 asks for a stanine of 4 or better. Other locals set their own cutoff.

If you don't qualify, wait three months (90 days) before retesting. Wait the full time: a retest taken early does not count. NIETC and Local 1340 both allow a retest after 3 months.

8. What your local does next

At programs such as NIETC and Local 1340, after a qualifying score you are scheduled for an interview, then placed on a ranked list. Your local may also ask for more papers. The steps, the order and the timing are set by each JATC, so follow your local's letter and website from here.

Questions people ask

What are the requirements to join an IBEW apprenticeship?

Each JATC sets its own. The electrical training ALLIANCE says they may include a high school diploma or GED and a passed algebra course, and that documented work hours in the trade can stand in for them. Some programs also set an age rule. Step 2 has the details and the sources.

What is a JATC?

The committee that runs the apprenticeship for an area, set up by an IBEW local and a NECA chapter together. It takes the applications and sets the dates.

How much does it cost to apply?

Each local sets its own fee. As one example, Local 1340 charges a $25 processing fee. Step 3 has another, and your local's page has its own amount.

Can I retake the IBEW aptitude test if I don't pass?

Yes, after a wait. You need to wait three months (90 days) before retesting, and testing sooner voids the new score. See step 7.

What happens after the aptitude test?

At NIETC and Local 1340, a qualifying score leads to an interview and then a ranked list. Each JATC sets its own steps and timing, so follow your local's letter. See step 8.

Do all IBEW locals use the same aptitude test?

No. Some locals use a different test, such as the GAN. Your local's letter says which test you take. See step 4.

Sources

Exam facts on this page come from these pages. We checked each one on the date shown.