Electrical Training Alliance

What Electrical Training Alliance does

The Electrical Training Alliance (etA), formerly the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC), is a nonprofit joint labor-management training organization founded in 1941 by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Headquartered in Bowie, Maryland, etA operates the largest electrical apprenticeship program in North America, delivering four registered apprenticeship tracks — Inside Wireman (5 years), Outside Lineman (3.5 years), Residential Wireman (3 years), and Telecommunications Installer-Technician (3 years) — through a network of more than 300 local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs) and Area Wide JATCs (AJATCs) across all 50 U.S. states and Canada, with 55,000+ active apprentices and 350,000+ apprentices trained to journeyman status since founding.

The organization delivers training via a blended learning platform that combines classroom instruction with online tools, including the PTSI (ProTech Skills Institute) Online Learning System, Online Tech Math, an e-commerce bookstore for curriculum materials (ecust2.electricaltrainingalliance.org), and the Testing Platform and Process (TPP) using Respondus LockDown Browser. Recent additions funded by the Google.org partnership include AI Essentials training for apprentices and VR/AR modules for skills development. Certifications are delivered through partnerships with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for Standardized Task Evaluations and Instrumentation, Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) for Solar PV, and the National Cable Splicing Certification Board. College credit articulation is provided through Rowan University, Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), and American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations covering 17-60 semester credit hours.

The business model is nonprofit and contribution-funded: apprenticeship tuition is free to participants, financed by signatory NECA contractor contributions and IBEW union trust funds, with apprentices earning wages while learning. Recurring revenue streams include contractor/union trust contributions, bookstore sales of curriculum materials, and licensing/articulation fees from college-credit and continuing education partnerships. Capital structure is augmented by major philanthropic grants — $15 million from Google.org in April 2025, a $50 million Google.org skilled trades expansion in June 2026, $30 million from the BlackRock Foundation in May 2026, and roughly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Labor in 2022. Customer segments span aspiring apprentices, journeyman electricians seeking continuing education, NECA member contractors, IBEW local unions, military veterans (via Helmets to Hardhats), and high school students (via Interim Credentials).

Name

Electrical Training Alliance

Legal name

electrical training ALLIANCE

Website

https://electricaltrainingalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Electrical Training Alliance (etA) is a nonprofit, IBEW-NECA joint training organization founded in 1941 that operates North America's largest electrical apprenticeship program, delivering registered Inside Wireman, Outside Lineman, Residential Wireman, and Telecommunications apprenticeships through 300+ local JATCs to 55,000+ active apprentices across the U.S. and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Apprenticeship Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrician Training (Residential & Commercial) (EDAOABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Electrician & Plant Electrical Systems (EDAOABAB), Electrical Power Systems & Utility Linework (Transmission/Distribution) (EDAOABAC), Renewable Energy Electrical (Solar PV, Wind, Storage) (EDAOABAI), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

Keywords

• Electrical apprenticeship training
• Skilled trades education
• Vocational training programs
• Electrical workforce development
• Continuing education certifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship Training (Free to Apprentices): Apprentices receive free tuition in exchange for on-the-job training. The program is funded through contributions from signatory contractors (NECA members) and union trust funds. Apprentices earn wages based on a percentage of the journeyworker rate while learning.
2. Google.org Grants: Philanthropic funding from Google.org: $15 million in April 2025 for 100,000 electrical workers and 30,000 apprentices, plus $50 million expansion in 2026 for 300,000+ workers across 20+ states.
3. BlackRock Foundation Grants: BlackRock Foundation Future Builders initiative: $30 million investment in Texas to train 12,000 Texans for electrical careers over three years.
4. College Credit and CEU Programs: Partnership with Rowan University and Community College of Allegheny County provides college credit pathways. ACE (American Council on Education) has evaluated apprenticeship programs awarding 17-60 semester credit hours. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) offered through University of Tennessee.
5. Bookstore Sales: Online bookstore selling curriculum materials, training guides, evaluation packages, and setup guides to JATCs and training centers. Revenue from sale of training materials and resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Electrical Training Alliance operates the largest electrical apprenticeship and training program in North America, delivering registered apprenticeship programs (Inside Wireman, Outside Lineman, Residential Wireman, Telecommunications Installer-Technician), continuing journeyman upgrade training, and specialized certifications (Craft, Instrumentation, Cable Splicing, Solar PV) through a network of 300+ local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs). Training is funded by NECA contractor and IBEW union contributions and delivered via blended classroom and online learning.

Product overview

The Electrical Training Alliance (etA) operates a multi-product training ecosystem centered on four electrical apprenticeship programs: Inside Wireman (5 years), Outside Lineman (3.5 years), Residential Wireman (3 years), and Telecommunications Installer-Technician (3 years). These core programs are supplemented by Journeyman upgrade training and a comprehensive certifications portfolio including Craft Certification, Instrumentation Certification, Cable Splicing Certification, Solar PV Certification, and the EPRI-based Standardized Task Evaluation Program. The organization delivers training through multiple platforms including Blended Learning (combining classroom with online tools), Online Tech Math, NJATCU manufacturer courses, and an Outside Blended Learning system. Recent additions include VR/AR training modules and AI Essentials training funded through Google.org partnerships. The College Credit Program provides pathways to degrees through partnerships with Rowan University and Community College of Allegheny County, while the Online Bookstore serves as the e-commerce platform for curriculum materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inside Wireman Apprenticeship Program A five-year registered apprenticeship program training electricians for commercial and industrial electrical construction work, covering installation of conduit, wiring, fixtures, motors, HVAC controls, and fire alarm systems. For aspiring apprentices sponsored through local JATCs.
• Outside Lineman Apprenticeship Program A 3.5-year apprenticeship program focused on construction and maintenance of electrical transmission and distribution lines, including pole climbing, bucket truck operations, and overhead and underground systems. For aspiring outside linemen entering the IBEW Outside apprenticeship.
• Residential Wireman Apprenticeship Program A three-year apprenticeship program training electricians for residential electrical installations including power distribution, computer networks, security systems, fire alarms, and energy management systems in single-family and multi-family dwellings. For aspiring residential electricians.
• Telecommunications Installer-Technician Apprenticeship Program A three-year apprenticeship program for installing low voltage systems including telephone circuits, computer networks, video distribution, security, access control, and fiber-optic cabling. For aspiring telecommunications installer-technicians.
• Journeyman Training Continuing education and skills upgrade courses for journey-level electrical workers to keep them current on newest technologies, delivered directly with equipment manufacturers and technology developers. Tens of thousands trained annually.
• Craft Certification Performance-based certification program evaluating knowledge, skills, and abilities of electrical workers through hands-on practical evaluations including thinwall conduit fabrication, branch circuit installation, transformer installation, motor control, fire alarm systems, and structured cabling. Eight distinct standardized 2-hour and 4-hour evaluations.
• Instrumentation Certification Certification program for Journeyman Wiremen in instrumentation, covering calibration of pressure, temperature, flow, and level transmitters, administered in partnership with the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters and monitored by EPRI.
• Cable Splicing Certification National certification for medium voltage cable splicing and terminating, including written and performance examinations for manufactured kits, hand-applied taping, and PILC splicing, administered by the National Cable Splicing Certification Board.
• Solar PV Certification Certification exam for Journey-Level Workers and final-year apprentices demonstrating proficiency in photovoltaics, administered in partnership with UL Knowledge Services. Successful candidates receive UL credentials.
• Standardized Task Evaluation (STE) Program EPRI-based standardized task evaluation program for credentialing electrical workers, consisting of Part A knowledge examinations and Part B performance evaluations.
• College Credit Program Partnership programs allowing apprentices and journeymen to earn college credit for apprenticeship training toward associate and bachelor's degrees through Rowan University (online Construction Management degrees), Community College of Allegheny County (Associate of Science in Electrical Construction Technology), and ACE credit recommendations.
• Online Bookstore E-commerce platform (ecust2.electricaltrainingalliance.org) for purchasing electrical training curriculum materials, course books, apprenticeship year kits, and Craft Certification evaluation packages.
• NJATCU Manufacturer Courses Condensed training courses hosted through BlueVolt from industry manufacturers for continuing education of electrical workers.
• VR/AR Training Modules Virtual reality and augmented reality modules for electrical skills development, deployed as part of the Google.org funded initiative to modernize electrical training programs.
• AI Essentials Training AI training curriculum for electrical apprentices, integrating AI tools into the apprenticeship program to improve apprentice placement and modernize training as part of the Google.org partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350,000+ apprentices trained to journeyman status since 1941
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Rowan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Partnership signed February 17, 2026 creating online pathway for union electricians to earn Construction Management degrees by receiving college credit for completed apprenticeship training. Endorsed by North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU). Allows apprentices from Inside Wireman, Outside Lineman, and Telecommunications programs to save up to 60% on tuition through stackable certificates. Participants can pursue BA in Construction Management, Master of Engineering Management, or construction management certificates.
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNECA is the joint founding partner of the Electrical Training Alliance (along with IBEW). NECA represents electrical contractors and jointly sponsors the apprenticeship training programs with IBEW. The organization has hundreds of local chapters that participate in local JATC programs.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBEW is the joint founding partner of the Electrical Training Alliance (along with NECA). IBEW represents electrical workers and jointly sponsors the apprenticeship training programs with NECA. The organization has hundreds of local unions that participate in local JATC programs across North America.
• Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering Associate of Science in Electrical Construction Technology degree. Apprenticeship training counts as 40 credits toward the 64-credit degree. In-state tuition ($236/credit) offered regardless of residency. Allows apprentices to complete remaining general education courses online through CCAC.
• Training Partners (100+ companies)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 100 electrical industry companies and organizations serve as training partners, including Platinum Level partners: 3M, Brady, Bridgeport, Eaton, Fluke, Graybar, Greenlee, Harger, Hilti, Hubbell, IDEAL, Klein Tools, Lutron, Milwaukee, Robroy, Schneider, Southwire, Tempo Communications, Thorogood, Tyndale (Inside); Buckingham (Outside). Partners provide product training and collaboration with etA curriculum development.
• Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationEPRI provides oversight for the Standardized Task Evaluation (STE) program and instrumentation certification testing, ensuring independent assessment of knowledge and skills for Journeyman Wiremen.
• Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) Knowledge ServicessecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for Solar PV certification exams. UL administers certification exams for Journey-Level Workers and apprentices (in their last year) to demonstrate proficiency in photovoltaics. Successful candidates receive UL credentials.
• American Institute for Research (AIR)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationAIR conducted the original Inside Wireman Job Analysis in 2005, providing comprehensive study of duties and tasks performed by Inside Wiremen through input from electrical contractors, Journeymen, apprentices, training directors, and industry leaders. This analysis informed the Craft Certification program development.
• American Council on Education (ACE)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerACE has evaluated all four etA apprenticeship programs: Inside Apprenticeship (60 semester credit hours), Outside Apprenticeship (25 credits), Residential Apprenticeship (17 credits), and Telecommunications Installer-Technician Apprenticeship (37 credits).
• Helmets to HardhatssecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit program connecting quality men and women from the Armed Forces with building and construction careers. etA participates as a career pathway for transitioning service members with automatic entry into electrical apprenticeship.
• University of TennesseesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for etA skills upgrade training courses and sponsored training programs, enabling journey-level workers to maintain records of completed coursework.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC): National trade association running apprenticeship and training programs for open-shop (non-union) electrical contractors; the direct non-union counterpart to etA and the most relevant head-to-head competitor for electrician trainees in the U.S.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): National construction trade association with a craft training program including electrical apprenticeship; competes with etA for open-shop apprentices and offers an alternative endorsement pathway for non-union contractors.
• Mike Holt Enterprises: Leading publisher of electrical exam preparation and code training materials serving apprentice and journeyman electricians; competes with etA's bookstore curriculum and Continuing Education offerings on content quality and instructor brand.
• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): Provides standardized craft training curricula and credentials across multiple construction trades including electrical; comparable to etA in producing industry-recognized training content and certification, but for the broader construction craft space.
• Penn Foster: Online career school offering self-paced electrical training programs and pre-apprenticeship coursework; overlaps with etA's Online Tech Math and blended learning products as an alternative entry pathway for aspiring electricians.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Tech: Multi-campus for-profit trade school offering electrical, HVAC, and other skilled trades programs; broader vocational education operator that overlaps with etA in electrician training delivery format.

Emerging players

• Home Builders Institute (HBI): National nonprofit providing pre-apprenticeship and craft training for residential construction trades including electrical; overlaps with etA's Residential Wireman program and Interim Credentials high school pathway as an emerging player in entry-level electrical training.

Others

• IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers): Co-founding labor union sponsor of etA that supplies apprentices, instructors, and curriculum oversight; not a direct competitor but a tightly coupled partner whose bargaining and political posture directly shapes etA's demand.
• Helmets to Hardhats: Non-profit veteran transition program that funnels military service members into union apprenticeship pathways including electrical; an upstream referral channel for etA's recruitment pipeline rather than a competitor.
• NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association): Co-founding contractor association sponsor of etA that funds training through trust contributions and supplies signatory contractor demand for apprentices; partner, not competitor, but a key stakeholder shaping training economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IBEWNECAetA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTFM1LNVM6k1YvRkjL1Iw2g
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBEWNECAetA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/electrical-training-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibewnecaeta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Electrical Training Alliance