Program Structure
The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Electricians, IBEW Local Union #41, runs a 5-year inside wireman apprenticeship from Local 41's hall in Orchard Park, near Buffalo. You complete 8,200 hours of on-the-job training and at least 208 hours of classroom training in each of the 5 years. Classes meet one to two nights a week from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., from September to the end of May, with more nights or weekends as needed for OSHA and other training. The first 2,000 hours are a probationary period. Local 41's jurisdiction is all of Erie County and parts of Genesee, Wyoming and Cattaraugus counties.
Requirements
New York's notice for the current recruitment says you must be at least 18; have a high school diploma or equivalency diploma such as the TASC or GED (an associate degree or higher also counts) and one full year of high school algebra or a post-high-school algebra course, unless you can verify at least 4,000 hours of electrical construction experience; pass the Electrical Trades' aptitude test; live within Local 41's jurisdiction; have reliable transportation to job sites and classes; and have a valid New York driver's license. After selection you must pass a drug test, which the sponsor pays for. Proof of age, education, license and residency is required after selection and before enrollment.
Application Process
The New York State Department of Labor announced a recruitment from October 7, 2026 through September 29, 2027 for 10 Electrician apprentices (and four residential apprentices). Pick up an application in person at Local 41, S. 3546 California Road, Orchard Park, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. any Wednesday during the recruitment, except November 25, December 23 and December 30, 2026. Mail the completed application by U.S. Mail only to Recruitment, Electrical Industry Education Fund, at the same address; it must be postmarked no later than 30 days from the date on the application. For questions, call 716-662-6111.
What You Earn
Local 41 lists the current journeyworker rate as $47.50 an hour. Apprentices start at 50% of it, $23.75 an hour, for the first 1,000 hours, and reach 85%, $40.40 an hour, in the sixth period (6,500 to 8,200 hours); the page gives no effective date for these rates. Employers pay annuity, health, pension, E.I.E.F. and NEBF benefits. You pay for your own hand tools (about $249), a $262 union initiation fee and quarterly dues of $153.60. New York's list of active apprenticeship sponsors includes Electricians Jac Buffalo Lu #41 for the Electrician trade.