Program Structure
The Hartford Electricians Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee is a partnership of the Connecticut Chapter of NECA and IBEW Local 35. Its electrical construction apprenticeship is a five-year program of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training with a contractor plus five years of related theory classes in the evening. The school year runs from August or September into May or June, while work continues year-round. Up to 60 JATC training credits can count toward a two- or four-year college degree. The program page lists the JATC at 961 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, which matches the Connecticut Department of Labor's sponsor list; an older Local 35 page still describes offices and training at 208 Murphy Road, so confirm where classes meet. Local 35's jurisdiction covers Hartford, Manchester, Middletown, Norwich and dozens of other central and eastern Connecticut towns.
Requirements
You must be at least 17 when you apply and have a high school diploma, GED, or two-year associate degree or higher. You must have passed algebra, or the NJATC Tech Math course, and be drug free. Applications are filled out in person, and you must bring a valid photo ID showing your current address and a sealed high school transcript with an original stamp showing a passing grade in Algebra 1. Conditionally accepted applicants must pass a drug test. Meeting the minimums makes you eligible for consideration, not selection.
Application Process
The program page says the JATC now accepts applications year-round, available at the office Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, or by appointment, but other wording on the same page still refers to an application period that closes before testing. Call 860-525-5982 to confirm current intake and hours before visiting. Qualified candidates are notified of the NJATC aptitude test date; results determine who is invited to interview with the JATC Committee, and the class is selected after interviews.
What You Earn
Apprentices employed by a contractor earn a percentage of the journeyman wage, starting at 40% in the first period and rising to 80% in the sixth; no dollar rates or effective dates are published. First-year apprentices receive health and welfare and NEBF benefits, with pension and annuity starting in the second year unless on a prevailing-wage project. There is no cost for the training itself, but apprentices buy their educational materials each year. The Connecticut Department of Labor's September 2026 sponsor list includes Hartford Electricians JATC Local 35 for Electrician (E-2). Completion is separate from Connecticut electrician licensing.