Program Structure
The Minneapolis Electrical JATC’s five-year Metro apprenticeship combines full-time employment with a Local 292 contractor and classroom/laboratory training. The committee is sponsored by IBEW Local 292 and the Minneapolis Chapter of NECA. If selected, apprentices are assigned to employment by the JATC; applicants do not need to secure their own apprenticeship job first.
Training takes place at 13100 Frankfort Parkway NE in St. Michael. Classes run one day per week from September through May for thirty weeks per school year, normally 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. with breaks. Labs cover subjects including motor controls, transformers, building automation, solar and pipe bending. Total workplace and classroom hours are not quoted because the checked pages do not establish those totals.
Requirements
You must be at least 17 to apply and 18 to be hired, have a high-school diploma or GED, hold a valid driver’s license, and document one full credit of algebra or qualifying higher math with C or better. A current high-school student may submit an on-track letter and transcripts, followed by final graduation documents.
Electrical experience is not required. The Personal Experience Form records education, work, training and applicable military history; upload supporting documents rather than relying on unverified descriptions. A recommendation letter is optional but encouraged. All applicants take the GAN aptitude test, which contributes to the overall ranking.
Application Process
When checked October 6, 2026, the current deadline to open an application was February 15, 2027; the FAQ says online applications are accepted year-round, with deadlines tied to the aptitude tests held four times a year. Paying the $40 fee starts a separate 30-day completion window. Complete the forms, acknowledgements, PEF and document uploads within that period; incomplete files close automatically. Approved applicants receive testing instructions.
Applicants are ranked on the eligibility list, and employment offers depend on openings and industry demand; the JATC reports 15 hires in 2026 against 190 in 2025. The list remains active for up to one year. The separate pre-apprentice hiring freeze posted on the site does not close this apprenticeship application process. Contact 763-497-0072 or [email protected] for assistance.
What You Earn
Apprentices work full-time for contractors. Wages effective May 1, 2026 start at $27.90 per hour, 45% of the $62.00 journeyman rate, for new apprentices without prior experience or trade school. Pay rises to $52.70 (85%) in the 6th period as hours and school years are completed. Tuition is not charged. The application fee and union dues are separate expenses; a complete books, tools and other participant-cost total was not established.
The sponsor identifies the five-year program as registered through the Minnesota Department of Labor, and Minnesota DLI lists the specific construction-electrician program. Registration, competitive selection, paid employment and any individual licensing requirements remain distinct.