Program Details
The Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) is responsible for training the electrical and telecommunication workers employed by all signatory contractors of the IBEW Local 26 union, which covers the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and central to southwestern Virginia.
The JATC offers three fully subsidized tracks that combine cutting-edge classroom and lab-based education with hands-on, in-the-field experience, putting apprentices on a path to great pay, best-in-class benefits and job security with growth potential.
Program graduates have the opportunity to earn top dollar anywhere in the U.S., and even to transition from field work to the professional arena as a foreman, estimator, project manager, contractor or business owner. Like college, you have to apply to be accepted—not everyone is cut out for this competitive field. Unlike college, it won’t cost tens of thousands of dollars or require SAT scores for admittance.
Minimum of 800 hours of instruction and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training. During your first four years, you’ll attend one class every other week year-round, covering topics such as Ohm’s Law, AC/DC theory and fiber optic theory. The rest of the time, you’ll be on the job site, applying the skills you learned in areas such as conduit bending, branch circuit wiring, panel and switchgear installations, and fire alarm and security systems. In your last year, you’ll attend two electives while continuing on-site training.
Earning upon completion: more than $96,000* annually, plus over $40,300 in health and retirement benefits.
Minimum of 168 hours of instruction and 10,000 hours of on-the-job training. Learn in the field with electrical contractors performing commercial work, where you’ll gain hands-on experience in branch circuit wiring; light fixture, receptacle and panelboard installation; and blueprint reading. Take related classroom instruction one night per week in the first two years to learn Ohm’s Law, AC/DC theory, safety, basic blueprint reading and wiring of elementary circuits.
Earning upon completion: over $52,440* annually, plus $24,733 in health and retirement benefits.
Minimum of 480 hours of instruction and 4,800 hours of on-the-job training. For the first two years, attend class once every other week while working with electrical contractors in voice-data-video installations. In the last year, attend electives and continue your on-the-job training. In class and lab, learn EIA/TIA standards; AC/DC theory; Category 5, 5E and 6 cables; structured wiring systems; local area networks and fiber optic theory. On the job, train on various installations, including cabling, coaxial and fiber optic cable and security systems.
Earning upon completion: up to $57,100* annually, plus $22,973 in health and retirement benefits.
