What an apprenticeship is
A registered apprenticeship is a job and a school program at the same time. You work for an electrical contractor and are paid for your hours, and you take related classes, often in the evenings or in blocks. Most electrical apprenticeships take 4 or 5 years, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus technical instruction. BLS
Classes cover electrical theory, blueprint reading, math, the electrical code, and safety and first aid. Apprentices earn less than fully trained electricians at first, and pay goes up as they learn. BLS
Union and non-union programs
Several groups sponsor electrical apprenticeships, including unions and contractor associations. BLS In California you’ll usually see:
- Joint labor-management programs, run together by the electricians’ union (IBEW) and union contractors (NECA). These are often called JATCs.
- Programs run by contractor groups and individual employers, such as chapters of the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
What matters most is that the program is approved by the state. Programs approved by the California Apprenticeship Council or the federal government count toward electrician certification. The best way to see what’s actually registered near you is the DAS program search.
How to apply
- Search DAS. Search by county and occupation. Each listing shows the program’s requirements, such as minimum age, education, physical requirements, any tests, and whether you need a driver’s license, plus how and where to apply. DAS: How to become an apprentice
- Contact the programs. Each program sets its own application schedule, so a program can be registered but not taking applications right now. Ask when the next opening is. DAS search
- Prepare. Some programs give an aptitude test (often math and reading). Most require English proficiency. Some prefer a high school diploma or equivalent, some ask for more, and some have no education requirement. DAS
- Show up ready to work. Qualities DAS says successful apprentices share: perseverance, ambition and initiative.
The other way in: electrician trainee
If an apprenticeship isn’t open to you right now, California also has a trainee path. You enroll in an approved electrical curriculum, register with the Labor Commissioner ($25, renewed every year), and work for a C-10 contractor under the direct supervision of a certified electrician. DIR trainee page · Approved schools
| Apprenticeship | Registered trainee | |
|---|---|---|
| How you start | Apply to a state-approved program | Enroll in an approved school and register with the Labor Commissioner |
| Work | Placed with or hired by a participating contractor | You find work with a C-10 contractor |
| Classes | Part of the program | 720 hours for the General Electrician path |
| Hours for General Electrician | Completing the approved program qualifies you | 8,000 hours of experience |
| Exam | May test within 1 year of finishing | May test after finishing classes; card held until hours are met |
Sources: Title 8, §291.2, DIR trainee page, DIR curriculum.
Apprenticeship and the C-10 license
An apprenticeship also counts later if you want your own contractor license: the CSLB can give up to three years of credit toward the four years of experience for an apprenticeship completion certificate. CSLB experience requirements
Help for veterans, women and young people
DAS has resources for veterans, women in construction, and youth. For women, DAS points to grants that may help with costs like child care, and to groups such as Tradeswomen Inc. and NAWIC. DAS: Women in Construction Veterans may get credit for military experience; ask the program or the Electrician Certification Unit. Nationwide, you can also search Apprenticeship.gov or call 877-872-5627.
Common questions
How do I find an electrical apprenticeship near me?
Use the Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) program search. You can search by county and occupation, see each program’s requirements, and find out how and where to apply. Programs set their own schedules, so contact the ones you like to ask when they take applications.
Are apprenticeships union or non-union?
Both. Many unions and contractor associations sponsor electrical apprenticeship programs. In California, registered programs of both kinds are listed in the DAS search.
Do apprentices get paid?
Yes. Apprentices are paid for their on-the-job hours. Apprentices earn less than fully trained electricians, and their pay goes up as they learn to do more.
What is a pre-apprenticeship?
A pre-apprenticeship is a shorter training program that helps people get ready to apply to an apprenticeship, with basics like math, safety and what the trades are like. Ask the apprenticeship programs near you which pre-apprenticeship programs they work with.
Thinking about the trade? We’d be glad to talk.
We’re Innovative Electrical Services, a family-run C‑10 electrical contractor in Auburn, working on homes, businesses and industrial sites from the Oregon border down to Southern California, and everywhere in between, including San Francisco and the Bay Area. Part of our mission is to help change how the world thinks about construction, construction workers and the trades.
We’re always interested in hearing from people who take pride in their work and put safety first, including apprentices. Tell us where you are: just curious, in school, an apprentice or trainee, or already certified.
Official sources
- DAS: How to become an apprentice www.dir.ca.gov
- DAS: Find apprenticeship programs www.dir.ca.gov
- DAS: Women in Construction Apprenticeships www.dir.ca.gov
- Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) www.apprenticeship.gov
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Electricians www.bls.gov
- Title 8, Section 291.2 (exam eligibility) www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Electrician trainee registration www.dir.ca.gov
- DIR: Approved schools for electrician trainees www.dir.ca.gov
- CSLB: Experience requirements www.cslb.ca.gov
General information, checked against the official sources above in October 2026. Requirements and fees can change; the Labor Commissioner (DIR), the CSLB and each apprenticeship program have the final word.