Program Structure
Charleston Electrical Training Alliance is an independent training trust working with IBEW Local 776 and the Atlantic Coast Chapter of NECA. Its electrical-construction apprenticeship combines contractor employment with classroom and laboratory instruction. The sponsor describes four years, eight semesters, and 8,000 on-the-job hours. Instruction covers electrical theory, safety, motors, controls, grounding, bonding, and the National Electrical Code.
Work can take apprentices across coastal and central South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia, and Florence. CETA assigns accepted apprentices to participating contractors; apprentices do not need to find their own assignment. A 40-hour workweek is not guaranteed. Classes take place in North Charleston. The application page lists 3350 Hill Park Drive, while another homepage section and the July 2026 state directory retain 7281 Cross Park Drive, Building 200. Confirm the correct classroom and appointment address before travelling.
Requirements
The dedicated qualifications page requires age 18 or older, a valid state-issued driver's license, Social Security card, high school transcript, and diploma or GED with test scores. The FAQ additionally specifies algebra credit. Veterans and reservists supply the listed military documents. Applicants must be able to lift 75 pounds. After acceptance, a negative ten-panel drug screen from CETA's designated facility is required at the applicant's expense. Electrical experience is not required, though prior experience or instruction may be evaluated for placement or credit.
Application Process
The FAQ says applications and selection occur year-round, with selection dependent on job-training opportunities and applicant qualifications. Request an application packet through the published email instruction or begin with the official application-page inquiry form. CETA communicates by email. An inquiry is not an acceptance or job offer. Confirm the current document checklist, class timetable, and next selection steps directly with CETA.
What You Earn
Contractor employment provides wages and employer-funded benefit contributions. Current wage amounts and a guaranteed job start are not established here. Tuition is industry-funded, but apprentices pay an administrative bill generally described as $300–$600 per semester for textbooks, online fees, shipping, and consumables. Work clothes, boots, hand tools, and the required drug screen add costs. The range is not a total program price. CETA states that its program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, and South Carolina's registered-apprenticeship directory identifies CETA's electrician program. Program completion and any occupational licensing requirements are separate.