Which electrical career fits you before you fill out a single form? The Long Island JATC offers 3 routes into the electrical trade: electrician apprenticeships, construction wireman training, and telecommunications training. All three pathways lead to opportunities with IBEW Local 25 across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
These IBEW apprenticeship programs and trainee options lead to different kinds of work. If you're thinking about becoming an electrician, compare what each involves before you apply.
Pay matters, too. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median electrician wage of $63,190 in May 2025. It also projects 9% employment growth from 2025 to 2035. That figure covers electricians nationwide, so it isn't a starting apprentice wage.
An electrician apprenticeship combines paid work during the day with classes at night. You learn from skilled workers, then use classroom instruction to understand why the work follows certain steps. This earn while you learn approach lets you build skills while earning an income.
Each option below is a New York State registered apprenticeship, with set hours for work and school. The JATC also lists health insurance and retirement benefits. If you need coverage for your family, confirm when those benefits start before you plan around them.
If you want to install electrical systems in large buildings, this route deserves a close look. Inside Wiremen work on projects such as malls, offices, generation plants, and street lighting.
You'll need at least 8,200 on-the-job training hours and 900 hours of classroom instruction. As you train, you learn how wiring, equipment, and controls work together.
The Maintenance Technician apprenticeship focuses on keeping electrical systems running. If you like finding the cause of a fault and fixing it, this work may suit you.
You'll need at least 10,000 work hours and 900 classroom hours. That training helps you find faults, make repairs, and keep systems in good working order.
The Residential Electrician apprenticeship prepares you to work in homes, condos, townhouses, and apartment buildings. You complete at least 4,800 work hours and 480 classroom hours.
Much of the wiring sits behind finished walls, so you need to get the work right from the start. A hidden fault can damage a home and put the people living there at risk.
Your classes support the work you do in the field. Depending on the track, subjects include:
For a broader look at the early years, ULA Network explains how to become an electrician, including training and pay.
If you're ready to learn on a jobsite, the Construction Wireman route offers another entry point. The JATC lists weekday applications throughout the year, so you can apply outside apprenticeship recruitment periods.
There is a naming detail to confirm before you commit. The program heading says Construction Wireman Trainee Program, but the description calls it a 3-year Service Assistant Trainee program. Confirm the current title and length with the office.
For this route, you'll need to:
Some electrical knowledge helps, but you don't need prior experience. Working with journeymen can help you understand jobsite routines as you learn the trade. Confirm which layout, rough-in, and finish tasks the current training includes.
Before choosing, compare union apprenticeship versus non-union work to understand differences in training, pay, and benefits.
The Telecommunications Trainee Program combines work and school over 4 years. If networks interest you, this route focuses on voice, data, and video systems.
You may work in equipment rooms with hubs, routers, file servers, and telephone switches. Because a system may serve an entire building, you need to work without interrupting service.
Training covers:
The same weekday hours, minimum age, residency, transportation, and tool requirements apply as for construction trainees. The JATC may also require a substance abuse test.
For context on demand, including data center work, read why union apprenticeships are growing. Growth can create opportunities, but it doesn't promise continuous work for every trainee.
Choose based on the work you want to learn and the time you can commit. At ULA Network, our union electrician career comparison helps you weigh pay, benefits, and training before you decide.
|
Career interest |
Program |
Training commitment |
|
Installing or maintaining electrical systems |
Inside Wireman, Maintenance Technician, or Residential Electrician |
4,800 to 10,000 work hours, plus classes |
|
Practical construction and service work |
Construction Wireman Trainee |
Confirm the listed 3-year trainee route |
|
Networks and communications systems |
Telecommunications Trainee |
4 years |
If your goal includes an electrical license, confirm the local licensing requirements separately. Completing training does not automatically grant every license.
Start with the current application information, because apprenticeship and trainee schedules differ. For the Inside Wireman, Maintenance Technician, and Residential programs:
Call (631) 434-3939 ext. 2 for recruitment information before making the trip. Meanwhile, follow New York State apprenticeship openings for other options.
You might prefer running conduit on a commercial project, terminating fiber, or wiring a home safely. Each takes practice, and choosing work that holds your interest gives that practice a purpose.
Each week, we share labor careers and workforce stories from across the union community, and we'd like to hear yours. If your local or training committee wants to reach future applicants, connect with us to discuss how ULA Network can help.
No. The listed entry requirements don't demand prior electrical experience. However, apprentices still need to meet the education and testing requirements.
The JATC requires at least 12 months of residency in either county before application for every listed route.
Yes. You earn wages for field work while attending classes. However, confirm your starting rate and when each benefit begins.
You can apply for either trainee program during listed weekday hours. If you later seek an apprenticeship, confirm the separate application process.
No. The published instructions require an in-person application in Hauppauge. Bring the required documents and confirm office availability before traveling.